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Jason and Travis Kelce have welcomed celebrity royalty onto their "New Heights" podcast in the past. In their most recent episode, their special guest was actual royalty.Prince William joined the "New Heights" podcast on a special episode on July 3 to discuss the 2026 World Cup, his soccer fandom and his expectations for the English national football team in the tournament: "Winning it."The podcast was posted on the day Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift are reportedly set to celebrate their marriage at Madison Square Garden in New York City.Prince William first mentioned his experience growing up watching Wayne Rooney, who played for the English national team from 2003-2018, and how the team has evolved since his retirement. After years of feeling like Rooney-led squads had a "really good chance" to win the World Cup, "a little bit of hope [got] chipped away each time" when England was unable to win the tournament. This year, a bit of hope has returned."I'm taking it calmly and quietly," Prince William said. "I am quietly confident. I think [head coach] Thomas Tuchel ... has got them into a really good frame of mind. The team are playing with more freedom, more fluidity."So far, so good for the Three Lions, who moved on to the round of 16 with a 2-1 win over DR Congo on July 1. The English national soccer team will play Mexico in the next round on July 5.As far as overall World Cup impressions, Prince William said he's been pleased with how the United States has done as one of the host countries for the massive tournament. At the same time, he mentioned how transportation is more difficult with three different countries hosting, requiring travel across the Mexican and Canadian borders as well."It's fantastic, I think it's been a brilliant World Cup," Prince William said. "It's been really well started, and I think the tournament's been well balanced. Logistically, for everyone, being in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico makes it really hard for the teams moving around."The Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the British throne, also serves as the Patron of the Football Association (FA). Prince William shared what efforts he's put forth in his role supporting the FA, including trying to bring an international tournament to the United Kingdom."This country particularly is mad about soccer – football – so trying to get a World Cup to be hosted here, or a Euros here is fantastic," Prince William said. "But also I've been trying to help reform the system a bit as well. Some of our football legislation and the way we do football registry stuff goes back a long way, and (we're) trying to update it at times."Prince William mentioned the women's game in particular as something that has emerged as "something massive" in recent years, and he said he wants to improve the way the FA "looks after" the women's side of the sport as it grows.The Kelce brothers also made sure to ask the prince some questions about his view on American football and Kansas City barbecue."Have you had barbecue before, Prince?" Travis Kelce asked."Probably not one of your barbecues, Travis, no," Prince William said before sharing he had never heard of a burnt end. "It doesn't sound great, Travis. I don't want anyone's burnt end."And of course, the two co-hosts asked Prince William what he believed was Travis' most iconic moment at London's Wembley Stadium: his touchdown against the Lions in 2015 or his appearance as a backup dancer for Swift during her Eras Tour."Travis as a backup dancer," Prince William said. "I think you should do it again."
