Will Harry Kane play at the 2030 World Cup or achieve his NFL dream instead?

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FT Desk

One former Bayern Munich star has doubts about whether Harry Kane will be key to England's plans by the time the 2030 World Cup comes around, which could open the door for the striker to achieve his dream of playing in the NFL.

Kane is England's greatest ever goalscorer but recently turned 33, which means by the start of the next World Cup, which takes place primarily in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, he'll be 36 years old on the cusp of 37.

At the recent 2026 World Cup, we saw superstar veterans like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo feature at the tournament in their twilight years. The Argentine dragged his country to the final, only to suffer defeat against Spain, while CR7 and Portugal were disappointing.

With sports science impressively keeping players fitter for longer, it isn't out of the realm of possibility that Kane could play for England in 2030, though one former Bayern Munich star thinks it's unlikely.

“He’s turned 33 now so he'll be 36 going on 37 in four years' time. It's a big ask," Dietmar Hamann told Goal.

“Obviously, we saw two of the all-time greats playing in the World Cup, one 39, one 41. One did well, the other one didn't. You know, I wouldn't put him in the same bracket as those two.

“Even though he would be a few years younger than these two guys playing in the World Cup, I think it's a big ask. It's a big ask because he started playing pretty early. He went out on loan in the lower leagues, played an awful lot of games in the Premier League, didn't really have many injuries. The odd ankle injury, I think he's had.

“He hardly missed a game in the last couple of years here in Munich. To see him in the World Cup in four years' time, if you put me down to an answer now, I'd probably say no.”

Kane won the European Golden Boot for the 2025/26 season and is one of the favourites to win the next Ballon d'Or thanks to his exploits for Bayern Munich and England over the past year.

There was some speculation about his future this summer, but the Times reports he is set to sign a new contract with the German giants until 2029.

Harry Kane - a future NFL star?

Whether Kane plays at the 2030 World Cup or not may depend on his desire to feature as a kicker in the NFL at some point in his sporting career.

He is a huge fan of American football, idolising legendary New England Patriots quarter-back, Tom Brady.

Speaking on Good Morning America in 2023, Kane told presenter and ex-NFL star Michael Strahan:

“It’s [become a kicker] something I want to definitely explore. I know it’ll be a lot of hard work; I’m not expecting to just walk up and start kicking field goals.

“It’ll be a lot of practice, a lot of hard work – but yeah, it’s something I’d love to do. The NFL is something I’ve been following for about 10 years now, and I love it – so I’d love to give it a go.”

He's even been backed to one day play in the NFL and succeed. World Soccer journalist Henry Winter once told BBC 5 Live:

"If I was taking a punt, as it were, I would say that within three years he'll be a kicker in the NFL. He's talked about it, he's big mates with Tom Brady, and it has been done before."

When asked by BBC Sport if Kane has what it takes to succeed in American football, Dustin Colquitt, a Super Bowl winner with the Kansas City Chiefs, said:

"Absolutely, if he focused on it. He would do fantastic. I've seen some of his finishing skills.

"I would love to actually work with him just because I love soccer, and his excitement. He's seeking this out - that's part of the fibre of his being, that he wants to try this NFL thing."

"[For Kickers] it's one shot, one kill - you've got one shot and you better kill it".

"You only need them when you need them, but they've got to be money when they're counted on."

Field Goals like penalties

Kane is a master goalscorer and an expert penalty taker and he thinks his prowess from the spot may actually serve him well when taking field goals.

"A lot of people can score penalties in training or kick it a long way, but can you do it under pressure when the moment's big, when the game's on the line?" Kane told Gary Neville on the Overlap.

"That aspect is the bit where maybe I have a bit of an advantage over some younger people coming through."

Jason Myers' fifth field goal of the night is a new Super Bowl record.

🎥 @NFL | #SBLX pic.twitter.com/PICgguVqgA

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 9, 2026

Kickers – whose responsibility is to score field goals and the extra point after a touchdown, both of which can prove decisive – regularly play on into their 40s.

Former Patriots and Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri, for example, was still active in the NFL until just before his 47th birthday – and only officially retired at the ripe old age of 48.

There is the possibility that Kane plays in the World Cup in 2030 and then assesses his potential NFL future.

Recently, the NFL has seen athletes from other sports take up kicker positions, including Charlie Smyth who had a career in Gaelic football in Ireland before joining the International Player Pathway Program and becoming the placekicker for the New Orleans Saints.

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FT Desk

FootballTransfers' desk

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