The England team, led by captain Harry Kane, is hoping to end 60 years of bitter disappointment by taking home the World Cup the 2026 tournament. Heading into Wednesday’s opening game against Croatia, Harry is determined to prove he's at the top of his gme.
"I’m coming into it in the best way possible, the best place physically, mentally, coming off the season that I’ve had. 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," the 32-year-old footballer told The Telegraph.
But who is cheering the captain on behind the scenes? Harry's main supporter is his wife Kate Goodland, his childhood sweetheart. It's clear that the pair have the strongest bond, with Harry always covering his wedding band with medical tape during his matches to prevent it from getting damaged during matches.
Read on to find out all you need to know about the love of Harry's life…
Kate Goodland
© Ian MacNicolKate is a 33-year-old fitness instructor and has quite a fan base herself – almost 300k followers on her Instagram page. The sports psychology graduate has a career of her own, working in a gym in Walthamstow.
Speaking about how Kate was adjusting to the WAG spotlight, Harry previously told Esquire about how Kate was finding life as a WAG. "She's finding it a little crazy. I think she's even been in the papers a couple of times taking the dogs out."
How they met
Kate and Harry really are childhood sweethearts. The pair first met while they were pupils at Chingford Foundation Schoo. They had a celebrity connection from an early age – they were both photographed with David Beckham in 2005 aged just 11 and 12 for the launch of his football academy.
© InstagramHarry previously revealed how lucky he was to have found his childhood sweetheart. "If I was single now and meeting people, you'd never know if they were with you for the right reasons," he said to the Evening Standard. "Is it the money? You'd never really know. So I'm lucky that I've got a childhood sweetheart. She always wanted to do her own thing. She went to university and worked hard. I have a great family, they keep me grounded and they've worked just as hard as me to get me where I am."
Engagement
The couple got engaged in the summer of 2017 while on holiday in the Bahamas. The pair were on a romantic break with their daughter Ivy when Harry popped the question on the beach. The star shared a photo on social media of himself bending down on one knee as he asked Kate to be his wife. He wrote: "She said YES!"
© XWedding
The couple tied the knot a couple of years after getting engaged, with Harry announcing the news via social media in June 2019. Although the couple opted to keep the location of their nuptials out of the public domain, the photos looked incredibly romantic with Harry holding and kissing his bride with the open sea stretching out behind them.
Children
Harry and Kate have quite the brood, welcoming two daughters and two sons. The proud couple are parents to nine-year-old Ivy Jane and Vivienne Jane, seven. Their two sons are Louis Harry, five, and Henry Edward, two. In addition, the family has two Labradors, making it a full house!
After their younger daughter's birth, Harry shared a snap of the new arrival on Instagram, writing: "Our beautiful addition to the family! Vivienne Jane Kane. So proud of @KateGoodlandx for having the most amazing water birth with no pain relief at all."
© InstagramKate previously wrote about her love of hypnobirthing on her own Instagram page. She penned: "Once Harry and I started a hypnobirthing course it completely changed our opinions on birth. It took away all of the fear and we were both really excited. It taught us how natural birth is, and gave us the tools to deal with birth."
International move
In 2023, Harry made the high-profile move to Germany after signing a lucrative four-year contract with Bayern Munich, a deal worth an estimated £104 million. Harry and his family moved into a £30 million mansion in an exclusive area known as 'Bavarian Hollywood.'
© InstagramPerched on a hilltop, their luxurious new home boasts incredible views overlooking the River Isar. Harry told TNT Sports at the time "It’s been difficult. It was my first move in my career so I probably didn’t realise what went into it. Not only the new team, but the personal, the family - I’ve got four kids. So thankfully, we’ve found a house now, we’ll be looking to move in after the winter break. The only problem is, if I stop scoring when they come, I might have to send them back!
"[The most difficult thing is] All the stuff outside you have to sort out. From work permit, to finding houses and school. I try to do as much as I can but I’ve got good people and family around me. Overall, I’m just enjoying the new experience. Playing in new stadiums with different fans it’s given me real excitement."
