Harry Kane, the captain of England’s national football team, has long admired the spirit exhibited by American athletes. He perceives a unique, unwavering determination among them, which mirrors the broader belief that anyone can achieve success through hard work and passion—a sentiment often associated with the American dream.
Kane’s intrigue with this ideal began in 2011 when he started his professional journey with Tottenham Hotspur, a path marked by obstacles. During this period, his interest in the NFL intensified, especially regarding Tom Brady, the iconic quarterback of the New England Patriots.
He watched the documentaryThe Brady 6, which chronicles how Brady was underestimated during the 2000 NFL Draft, being selected as the 199th pick after six other quarterbacks. By the time the documentary aired, Brady had already led the Patriots to three Super Bowl victories and would later secure four additional championships, including a notable win in 2019 against the Los Angeles Rams, which Kane attended.
After the game, Brady invited Kane to join the team’s post-game celebration, resulting in an unforgettable photograph of the two, with Kane sporting a Patriots replica jersey adorned with Brady’s No. 12. Their friendship has blossomed since, although Kane also admires numerous other NFL players and American sports figures.
For Kane, his affection for the United States goes beyond just Brady. He feels a sense of belonging in the country, recalling his first pre-season tour with Spurs in 2012 when he was recognized by fans on the streets of New York. The city’s enthusiastic Tottenham supporters have lured him back several times, particularly to New York and Florida, where he enjoys playing golf.
His appearances on American television shows, such asThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonin 2022 andGood Morning Americathe following year, have provided him opportunities to express his dream of becoming an NFL kicker after retirement. He first shared this aspiration in 2019, stating, “It goes back to that drive to be the best,”
Kane has truly lived his interpretation of the American dream, highlighted by his breakthrough at Spurs in 2014, his rise as England’s leading goalscorer, and his high-profile transfer to Bayern Munich in 2023, alongside the titles he has secured there.
“Even if I download a game on my phone, can I be the best in the world? If you play in the Premier League and the World Cup, and you then play in the NFL, would you be considered one of the greatest sportsmen ever?” Kane reflects. “People didn’t expect much from Tom Brady,”
He values the openness of American athletes and their frankness during media interactions. “Seeing the way he went about his business, his journey from the start … to go on and be the greatest ever player in his sport is maybe reminiscent of me earlier in my career. In that people doubted me and I worked hard to turn that around. “In terms of the US, it’s how open it is from the athlete and media point of view. Everyone wears their heart on their sleeve and they are maybe more honest in how they talk in the media. I enjoy being here. I’ve had good experiences in pre-season. I come here on holiday a bit to play golf. It’s been good memories.” he shares about his time in the United States.
Kane’s ultimate American dream will come to fruition on Wednesday when he leads England onto the field at Dallas Stadium for their World Cup opener against Croatia. It feels appropriate that this match occurs in an NFL stadium, home to the Dallas Cowboys; however, Kane admits he would have preferred to play at the Patriots’ Gillette Stadium, where England is set to meet Ghana in their second group match. “That’s probably the one I’m excited to go to being a Patriots fan,” he notes, mentioning he has never visited Gillette Stadium before.
While Kane feels excitement, it is also laced with confidence. His demeanor reflects a keen awareness of his reputation in the sport after a remarkable season, where he netted 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern, along with clinching a second Bundesliga title and the DFB-Pokal.
Having participated in five major finals—three with Spurs and two with England—where he failed to find the net, Kane found redemption by scoring a hat-trick in Bayern’s recent 3-0 triumph over Stuttgart.
At 32, Kane is enjoying the most prolific scoring season of his career, surpassing his previous club record of 44 goals. His impressive performance has sparked discussions about a potential Ballon d’Or, contingent on a successful World Cup. After experiencing a trophyless spell at Spurs, he senses a shift in how he is perceived, which he considers empowering.
“I’ve never been to the Gillette Stadium before.” Kane acknowledges. “There’s a different feeling, for sure,”
As he earns his 115th cap against Croatia, Kane will join David Beckham as the joint-third player on the all-time England list, trailing only Peter Shilton (125) and Wayne Rooney (120). With 79 goals for England, he has scored nine in knockout matches of World Cups and Euros, more than any other player, as he nears Gary Lineker’s record of 10 World Cup goals.
“For me to have that weight off my shoulders [having won things at Bayern] is important. Especially this year having the trophies and having the cup final where I scored a hat-trick – my first big moment in a final. The perception around me has probably changed in the last few years.” Kane asserts. “I’m coming into this tournament in the best way possible; the best place physically and mentally,”
He recognizes the pressures associated with being the team’s primary goalscorer. “Throughout a career, there aren’t loads of times when all the pieces of the puzzle will come together at the right moment. Talking now, I feel like I’m in that place. “With every tournament, I always feel under pressure being the goalscorer … people expect you to score and help the team and I guess this year is no different. But I’m comfortable having that responsibility. I’m probably even more comfortable going into this year because of the way the season was for me.”
Kane reminisced about a well-known photograph from 2005, taken when he was 11, alongside Beckham at the launch of Beckham’s football academy. “Looking back on that with me and him and obviously my wife there, who was just a friend at the time … it’s a pretty crazy picture.” he reflects.
Having participated in five previous tournaments since Euro 2016, Kane admits that he tends to remember the lows more vividly, especially his crucial penalty miss in the quarter-final defeat to France in the 2022 World Cup.
“The downs have almost motivated me [more] to be better, going back to the last World Cup and the disappointment with the way that ended,” he shares. “After the time it took me to process it all and move on, it gave me an extra bite, an extra edge to really improve and push on.”
Kane is now focused on the future, contemplating what his final words will be to the team before their match against Croatia. “The messaging will be to go with freedom,” he explains. “We have an extremely strong team, a physical team. That’s going to be a big aspect of our game, so go out there and use that. We’re here to go far, that’s our goal. “The only regrets you can have coming away from tournaments is that you didn’t go for it. You can make mistakes. You can miss penalties like I’ve missed. But I don’t think those are the moments that stop you from sleeping at night. “It’s the ones where you feel like you could have given more, you could have been a bit more free, you could have just gone for it. When you lose, you lose anyway. I’d rather lose giving it everything, showing my best abilities, whether you make mistakes or not. The message is just to be free and don’t be afraid of any outcome. Then, we’ll have a great chance.”
“The only regrets you can have coming away from tournaments is that you didn’t go for it. You can make mistakes. You can miss penalties like I’ve missed. But I don’t think those are the moments that stop you from sleeping at night.
“It’s the ones where you feel like you could have given more, you could have been a bit more free, you could have just gone for it. When you lose, you lose anyway. I’d rather lose giving it everything, showing my best abilities, whether you make mistakes or not. The message is just to be free and don’t be afraid of any outcome. Then, we’ll have a great chance.”
