Prince Harry Disappointed by England World Cup Loss at Gala

Prince Harry expressed his disappointment over England's World Cup elimination during his first public appearance following a family visit to the United Kingdom, attending the TIME100 Sports Gala in New York City on Thursday, July 16, 2026. The Duke of Sussex was honored at the event for founding the Invictus Games.

When asked on the red carpet if he was saddened by England's semifinal loss to Argentina, Harry replied, "Of course!" His comments followed similar sentiments from other senior royals. Prince William had written on social media that he was "gutted" by the defeat but proud of the team, while King Charles made lighthearted remarks about drowning sorrows. No member of the British royal family attended the tournament this year, though Harry had previously attended a World Cup match in Brazil in 2014.

At the gala, Harry was recognized in the "Leaders" category of TIME's 100 Most Influential People in Sports for establishing the Invictus Games, the international sporting competition for wounded, injured, and sick military personnel and veterans. In a statement to TIME, Harry reflected on the role of sports in his own life, saying, "Sport held me together. I was one of...