The women behind Harry Kane's men: Inspirational mothers who sacrificed so much for their boys to become World Cup heroes

By AIDAN RADNEDGE, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 22:12, 17 June 2026 | Updated: 22:29, 17 June 2026 England captain Harry Kane and his Three Lions team-mates have finally kicked off their bid for glory at the 2026 World Cup - having shared fond memories of the parents who helped encourage their footballing dreams as youngsters. England head coach Thomas Tuchel appears to have discouraged the kind of friends and family 'WAGs' culture seen in Baden-Baden in Germany 20 years ago. Yet the nurturing influence of the current side's family upbringings has been hailed, with mothers such as Kim Kane, Susan Pickford and Stephanie Rice recognised. This World Cup might have begun on Thursday last week, with co-hosts Mexico defeating South Africa, but only on Wednesday evening do England finally see action - against Croatia, their conquerors in the 2018 World Cup semi-final in Russia.  Relatives of the current squad are a mix of low-profile and outspoken. Ollie Watkins, one of the centre-forward back-ups for England's all-time leading goalscorer Kane, was at the centre of a viral moment at the last major tournament, the European Championship in 2024 - thanks to his mother. Delsi-May Watkins, who performs under the stage name Ruby Washington in the soul band the Superstitions, was seen in footage from a pub shared widely on TikTok. She was heard demanding that then-England manager 'finally let my son come on the f***ing pitch'. England captain Harry Kane is pictured celebrating Bayern Munich's latest Bundesliga title triumph on May 10 2025 alongside family members including parents Pat and Kim Jude Bellingham's parents, Mark and Denise, in the stands at Dallas Stadium in Texas this evening Jude Bellingham's mother Denise and his girlfriend Ashlyn Castro Declan Rice was joined by parents Sean and Stephanie celebrating Arsenal's recent league title Midfielder Jude Bellingham embraced his mother Denise after the Champions League final triumph for Real Madrid in June 2024 at Wembley - he has hailed her as his 'queen' Watkins went on to score a last-minute winner against the Netherlands in that tournament's semi-final, although England then lost the final 2-1 to Spain.  The players have spoken in the past about the sacrifices their parents made to help them on their way during aspiring childhood trials and training. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford's mother Susan would drive him to coaching sessions and matches. She worked as a school receptionist while her husband Lee is a builder. Young Jordan, who now plays for Everton after a £30million move from boyhood club Sunderland in 2017, would tuck into Tupperware tubs of pasta and chicken on the backseat. Coach Mark Prudhoe recalled an occasion where a truculent nine-year-old Jordan started kicking the goalposts and having a tantrum after conceding a goal. He recalled: 'His mam came and gave him a little clip, to tell him to stop being a baby.' Other mothers of current England stars include a nurse, a farmer and a chartered accountant who moved here from Nigeria. Three Lions skipper Kane, who was born in the same east London hospital as predecessor David Beckham, is the son of mother Kim and father Patrick. Harry Kane's parents Patrick and Kim are seen at his Bayern Munich unveiling in August 2023 Also there that day, alongside Kane's mother Kim, was his wife Katie The couple were seen alongside his wife Kate, mother of his four children, at the official announcement of his move from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern Munich in Germany in August 2023.  Kim is said to be a regular visitor to the Spanish resort of Lanzarote along with her mother Brenda - and has been welcomed by fans of fifth-tier club UD Lanzarote.  She is said to have regularly taken time off work to take the young Harry to training sessions, in a childhood that saw him released by Arsenal before moving to Watford and then being taken on by Spurs.  His great aunt Bette Bovington, 81, told in 2021 how the family 'could not be prouder' after he scored in England's 2-0 victory over Germany at that summer's Euros. And she said her niece Kim, Kane's mother, as well as his father Pat had supported him throughout his youth as he looked to make his way as a professional footballer. She said: 'He could not have a better mum. She used to take him everywhere - she will be absolutely delighted after the Germany game. 'We're all so proud of him. He's doing his best for his country and it’s brilliant to see. He's also one of the nicest footballers out there.'  Tuchel announced earlier this month that Declan Rice would be England vice-captain, days after the Arsenal midfielder celebrated his side's Premier League title victory though they lost the Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain. Declan Rice embraces his mother Stephanie after the team's draw in the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between England and Slovenia at Cologne Stadium on June 25 2024 Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins is pictured with his singer mother Delsi-May She congratulated Watkins after his late winner against the Netherlands in England's 2024 European Championship semi-final in Dortmund, Germany Rice made his mother a focus of England's World Cup preparations - admitting she told him off for appearing sunburnt in a new official team picture. He told reporters last Wednesday: 'I think everyone has seen those photos. I was bright red in that photo shoot - my mum was killing me! 'Honestly, the first day we came, it was just getting used to that heat. 'Coming from England, where it’s hot-cold and all different types of weather, to here where it’s always 30 degrees - it really does hit you in the face.' Rice's parents Stephanie and Sean, who brought him up in New Malden in Surrey, posed alongside him at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium to celebrate the club's first league title win since 2002.  Playing alongside him for both club and country is winger Bukayo Saka, whose parents provided him with support after his missed penalty sealed England's shoot-out defeat to Italy in the final of the 2020 European Championship. His mother Adenike, married to his father Yomi, is a qualified chartered accountant - initially educated in the Nigerian city of Lagos. She studied veterinary medicine in Zaria before the family moved to Britain and she achieved a diploma in accounting at the University of West London. England captain Harry Kane has been supported fervently by his mother Kim Saka shared a post on Instagram in March 2023 after scoring twice for Arsenal against Crystal Palace, saying: 'Those were for you Mum. Happy Mother's Day to all the Mum's out there.' His former PE teacher Mark Harvey has previously said of Saka's parents: 'They kept him grounded when he was growing up. 'His dad would make him do his homework in the car as they were travelling up and down the country to games.' Meanwhile, a source was quoted as saying: 'Bukayo is incredibly close to his family, and still lives with his mum and dad. They're lovely people - very hard-working and down to earth.' One of Pickford's back-up goalkeepers, Crystal Palace stopper Dean Henderson, has opened up about his upbringing and his parents' help. He said in a post on the official England website: 'I grew up in Whitehaven, in Cumbria, and you could say that, luckily, there wasn’t much going on outside of hobbies for the youngsters. 'And because I had football, I just got obsessed with it and getting better at it and seeing improvements.  'I still remember trying to improve on crosses and getting my mum and dad to throw balls for me on the cul-de-sac at home and I think I was obsessed with it in a way.' Three Lions goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, with family including mother Susan and wife Megan Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford's mother Susan would drive him to coaching sessions and matches. She worked as a school receptionist while her husband Lee is a builder His mother Yvonne works as a nurse - with Henderson saying in 2019 he 'couldn't do anything" in life and his career without his parents. Ahead of helping his side Crystal Palace beat Manchester City in the 2025 FA Cup final, Henderson revealed how his father Dougie had died aged 57 the previous year. He hailed his father as his 'best friend', 'first coach' and 'role model', adding: 'I always look up and he's always there in my corner. He will be kicking every ball with me. 'I'm looking forward to seeing what power he can give me on the day. He passed away a couple of days after the Euros, so luckily I got home to see him, which was nice.' He previously flew his mother and other relatives out to Finland on a private jet to see his England debut in October 2024 not long after his father's death. He said at the time: 'It was a bit of a mad one because obviously I wanted my mum and my missus to come out - so we were trying to do last-minute flights to get them here. 'I had to go all out and get them over here on a plane. I did it because I knew that it was such a big thing for the family. I didn't want them to miss it.  'They landed on Sunday morning. I could see them up in the crowd. I could see that they were emotional. I’m delighted that they made it.' Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is pictured with his chartered accountant mother Adenike Fellow Three Lions goalkeeper James Trafford, who plays for Manchester City, has spoken about his farming family upbringing in Cumbria with parents James and Allison. He said: 'I am a farmer’s son, all my family are farmers. I am from Cockermouth and everyone is supporting me at home. 'When I was younger I thought about taking on the family farm but as I have got older, I have seen my dad and how hard he works and so not now.' He was joined by and posed with his parents as well as his sister Charlotte when signing for Burnley in July 2023. Trafford said of his mother and father: 'They were the main part of why I’m here today and a professional footballer. 'I moved away from home at 12 but still came home every week - my mum had to drive me at ridiculous hours down to Manchester or to train stations. They're the biggest part of why I'm here today.' Former Manchester City team-mate and fellow England player John Stones has paid tribute to his parents too - crediting mother Janet for his laidback attitude.  When a concussion ruled the South Yorkshire-born player out of an England Under-21s game in 2015, then-manager Gareth Southgate called Janet to reassure her John would be well looked after. England centre-back John Stones has credited mother Janet for his laidback attitude After leaving Penistone Grammar School at 16, Stones signed with Barnsley and was paid £500 a week, but his parents Janet and kept him grounded.  He said: 'They came to every home and away game, did mum and dad - they've put some miles in.'  Another supportive parent is Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham's mother Denise, who manages his financial affairs and is called him his 'queen'.  There have also been suggestions she still makes his bed at their shared flat in Madrid's exclusive La Finca neighbourhood. When joining the Spanish club in 2024, he said: 'The role my mum is playing is massive. 'It is probably the biggest role of anyone, more than my coaches and managers, to be honest. 'Without my mum, sometimes I'd get too low with the lows or too high with the highs and I stay pretty humble because I've got her around. 'It's also great to have her there because she's a great laugh as well. We get on so well and we're always doing stuff together.' Manchester City full-back Nico O'Reilly previously shared the importance to him of mother Holli, who brought him up as a single parent. Jude Bellingham has been open about the importance of his mother to his career. Pictured: Jude, left, with mother Denise, father Mark and younger brother Jobe on holiday in July 2021 Pictured: Jude Bellingham with his mother during his youth spell at boyhood club Birmingham Nico O’Reilly’s mum has a very personal message for the Manchester City starlet. ❤️ It’s an emotional watch… 🥹 #mancity #nicooreilly #manchestercity #motherandson #familylife Nico O'Reilly's mother Holli shared an emotional message on social media last year She was a single parent when she raised O'Reilly who plays for England and Manchester City She shared a video message when he signed a new contract with the club last year, telling him: 'I always remember, when you were about three months old, I looked at you and I knew you were special.  'Nothing in the world makes me happier than watching you play football, son - you know that. 'I've always believed in you, and I always will. You've never changed. Don't ever change. I am so proud of you. Congratulations, son.' O'Reilly himself said in response: 'I've always been there by her side. 'She brought me up by herself. I'm just happy I am making her proud.'  Another social media post by an England player paying tribute to their mother was by Chelsea right-back Reece James in August 2022. He wrote, alongside the picture of him with his arm around mother Emma: 'Happy birthday Mum. Thank you for everything! Love you always & forever.' His father Nigel James is a Uefa-qualified coach and his sister Lauren has 40 caps for England's Lionesses, winning the Uefa Women's Championship in 2025. Chelsea and England right-back Reece James posted on Instagram in August 2022 this photo, saying: 'Happy birthday Mum Thank you for everything! Love you always & forever' One mother missing from this summer's World Cup has nevertheless been outspoken about the absence of her son Harry Maguire. The Manchester United centre-back has appeared 66 times for England and scored in the 2-0 quarter-final victory over Sweden at the 2018 World Cup. But he was one of several high-profile omissions from Tuchel's squad for these finals, along with Manchester City's Phil Foden and Chelsea's Cole Palmer. Maguire responded by posting on social media: 'I was confident I could have played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had. 'I've been left shocked and gutted by the decision. I wish the players all the best.' His mother Zoe replied: 'You couldn't have done anymore. Hold your head high... Disgraceful. Disgusted.' Maguire's brother Joe wrote: 'This might possibly be the worst decision I’ve ever seen in my life. No words.' The Football Association was criticised in 2015 for a tweet about the England women's team returning from that summer's World Cup, at which they finished third. Harry Maguire was left out of this summer's squad - to the fury of his mother Zoe Maguire's mother Zoe (right) branded his omission 'disgraceful' in a social media post The FA's post said: 'Our Lionesses go back to being mothers, partners and daughters today, but they have taken on another title - heroes.' The tweet was swiftly removed, with the organisation acknowledging its mistake. An FA spokesperson said: 'The full story was a wider homecoming feature attempting to reflect the many personal stories within the playing squad as has been told throughout the course of the tournament. 'However, we understand that an element of the story appears to have been taken out of context and the opening paragraph was subsequently revised to reflect that fact.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. 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