England’s hopes of reaching its first World Cup final since 1966 ended with a 2-1 semifinal defeat to Argentina. The Three Lions led through Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute goal before Argentina scored twice in the closing stages.
Days earlier, Captain Harry Kane confirmed that he had played golf with President Donald Trump about 18 months earlier. After England’s defeat, some social-media users jokingly linked the result to the so-called “Trump curse,” an internet theory based on coincidence rather than evidence.
England falls to Argentina in the semifinal
England faced Argentina in Atlanta for a place in the World Cup final. Anthony Gordon put the Three Lions ahead in the 55th minute, and England remained in front until the closing stages.
Thomas Tuchel adopted a more defensive approach and introduced additional defenders as England attempted to protect its lead. Argentina gained greater control, and Lionel Messi created the equalizer for Enzo Fernández in the 85th minute.
Messi then assisted Lautaro Martínez’s stoppage-time winner to complete Argentina’s 2-1 comeback. England advanced to the third-place match against France instead of Sunday’s final.
Harry Kane’s golf outing sparks online debate
Before the semifinal, Kane confirmed that he had played golf with Trump about 18 months earlier. He said Trump invited him while he was in Palm Beach and described the round as a “pretty surreal experience.”
Kane said he was grateful for the invitation and praised Trump’s golf game. Trump had also publicly described Kane as a great soccer player and a good golfer.
After England’s semifinal defeat, some online users jokingly connected the meeting and Trump’s praise to the so-called “Trump curse.”
What is the “Trump curse” theory?
The “Trump curse” is an informal social-media joke suggesting that athletes or teams associated with Trump sometimes lose afterward. Posts commonly cite teams he has praised, supported or watched in person.
There is no scientific or statistical evidence establishing such a curse. The theory relies on selectively connecting unrelated sporting results with Trump’s comments or attendance.
The phrase periodically resurfaces after prominent defeats, including England’s World Cup semifinal loss following Trump’s public praise of Kane.
Other sporting defeats linked to the joke
Online users have attached the “Trump curse” label to several unrelated sporting defeats. Trump attended a 2019 World Series game in Washington when the Nationals lost 7-1 to the Houston Astros, and he attended the opening day of the 2025 Ryder Cup, which Europe ultimately won.
During the 2026 World Cup, Trump contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension. The ban was lifted, but the United States was later eliminated by Belgium in the round of 16.
Fun fact: Harry Kane moved past Pelé’s men’s World Cup goal total by scoring twice against Congo DR in 2026.
Fans joke about the supposed curse
England’s defeat prompted social media jokes linking the result to Kane’s golf outing with Trump and to Trump’s public praise of the England captain.
Some users joked that Kane would now have more time for golf, while others called on Trump to praise Messi before Argentina’s final against Spain.
Other reactions focused on England’s tactics and its failure to protect a 1-0 lead, particularly during the final stages of the semifinal..
Tuchel’s substitutions draw criticism
Beyond the online curse jokes, Tuchel faced substantial criticism for England’s defensive approach after taking the lead. He replaced attacking players with additional defenders as England attempted to protect its advantage.
Argentina gained control during the closing stages, and Messi assisted goals by Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez. Several pundits argued that England’s retreat invited pressure, although Tuchel said the defeat reflected broader problems with retaining possession.
Tuchel entered the England job with experience at major European clubs and a UEFA Champions League title with Chelsea. Reaching the semifinal matched England’s 2018 World Cup finish, but the manner of the defeat prompted questions about his tactical decisions.
England’s long wait for a major men’s trophy
England’s men have not won a major international title since lifting the World Cup in 1966. The country has never won the UEFA European Championship, although it reached the finals in 2021 and 2024.
The 2026 semifinal run matched England’s finish at the 2018 World Cup and represented another deep tournament appearance. England led Argentina until the 85th minute but ultimately missed the opportunity to reach its first World Cup final in 60 years.
What comes next for England and Trump
Argentina moved on to face Spain in the final. That match was set for MetLife Stadium on Sunday, per Yahoo Sports. Trump was expected to help present the trophy to the winning team.
His role in the ceremony has already drawn some controversy. Critics questioned why he would present the award instead of FIFA’s own president. Trump had done something similar at last year’s Club World Cup.
For England, attention now turns to rebuilding after another near miss. Tuchel will face questions about his tactics and lineup choices. The Trump curse talk, meanwhile, will likely fade until the next big game.
Little-known fact: Adding credence to the Trump curse theory is last year’s NFL game, which saw the Washington Commanders face off against the Detroit Lions. The Lions ended up winning, to the sounds of boos aimed at Trump, who was in attendance.
TL;DR
- England lost to Argentina 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final despite an early lead.
- Harry Kane’s revealed golf outing with Trump fueled curse talk online.
- The Trump curse theory has no real evidence behind it, just coincidence.
- Tuchel’s late defensive substitutions also drew heavy criticism from fans.
- Argentina will face Spain in the final, with Trump set to present the trophy.
If you liked this story, don’t forget to follow us for more exclusive content.
This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
If you liked this, you might also like:
