A member of Three Lions Pride explains why they won’t be attending the World Cup this year
Robert*, 33, is part of Three Lions Pride, the official LGBT+ supporters’ group for the England national football team. The group serves to provide a safe, inclusive, and highly visible space for queer football fans and their allies.
However, this year they’ve decided not to attend the FIFA World Cup 2026, out of fears for their safety.
My first memory of football was Arsenal losing to Liverpool in the FA Cup Final in 2001. I was distraught. The following year, England lost to Brazil in the World Cup, and I still remember Ronaldinho lobbing the ball over David Seaman. For me, football was exciting, an emotional rollercoaster.
Going to matches with my dad became a weekly ritual. He was a massive Arsenal fan so for me, if I was going to like football, it was Arsenal or nobody. The atmosphere was wonderful, electric. I would go to any match; I just wanted to watch football in any capacity.
