With the World Cup kicking off in June, there’s only one question on everyone’s lips. Is football coming home? It’s been 60 years since England last won the World Cup, but the 2026 squad could be one to do it.
To get behind the buzz, we’re looking at four members of the England World Cup squad and the causes they support.
Harry Kane
Captain of the England squad, Harry Kane, has been playing football since he was six years old. He cut his teeth at Ridgeway Rovers, joined the Arsenal youth academy when he was eight and has been playing ever since. Harry’s now regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation and is England’s all-time top goalscorer.
On World Mental Health Day in October 2022, he launched the Harry Kane Foundation (HKF). The foundation collaborates with charities and organisations to build mental fitness and prioritise healthy habits, and promote the importance of seeking help and the power of social connections.
Marcus Rashford
England forward, Marcus Rashford, started playing football with Fletcher Moss Rangers when he was five and joined the academy system at Manchester United aged seven. He currently plays as a forward for La Liga club Barcelona, on loan from Manchester United.
Marcus has been using his profile to promote charitable causes since 2019, when he launched In the Box with Selfridges and Lifeshare to give homeless people essential items over Christmas. During lockdown, he teamed up with FareShare to deliver meals to those no longer receiving free school meals and wrote an open letter to the UK government calling on them to end UK child poverty, which resulted in a change in policy. He also launched the Marcus Rashford Book Club with the National Literacy Trust, delivering free books to children who need them most.
Declan Rice
Midfielder Declan Rice joined the Chelsea Academy at just seven years old, before moving to the West Ham United Academy at 14. He progressed to youth level for two years before signing his first professional contract with the club. He now plays for Arsenal and has been on the part of the England national team since 2019.
Declan is an ambassador for the mental health charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably). While playing for West Ham United, he served as an ambassador for the DT38 foundation, supporting the charity in its mission to raise awareness of testicular cancer.
Ollie Watkins
Forward Ollie Watkins started playing grassroots football with the academy of Buckland Athletic when he was six. He joined Exeter City’s academy at Under-11 level, securing a scholarship in 2012 and going professional with the club in 2014. He now plays for Aston Villa and has been on the England national team since 2021.
Ollie supports Skylarks, a charity that provides activities and therapies for children with disabilities and additional needs and has collaborated with McDonald’s for the Happy Readers campaign. He also works with the Aston Villa Foundation to support children and young people from inner-city Birmingham through sporting, youth engagement, educational, employment and health-based projects and activities.
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