An England football fan has drawn attention for his bold confidence in the team’s World Cup prospects by getting a tattoo proclaiming England as the 2026 World Cup winners, despite the team’s recent elimination from the tournament.

Sean Carrington, a 36-year-old roofer from Wigan, Greater Manchester, decided to commemorate England’s progress through the knockout rounds with a tattoo featuring a prominent World Cup trophy and the inscription “England World Cup Winner 2026” beneath it. The decision came after England’s 2-1 victory over DR Congo in the round of 32, a moment that convinced Carrington of the team’s ultimate success.

The tattoo, which cost £550, was done at Holy Trinity Tattoo Studio in Standish shortly before England’s quarter-final win against Norway. Carrington described the choice as impulsive and admitted that although the design represented his optimism, he planned to add the words “only joking” to the tattoo following England’s loss to Argentina in the semi-finals.

“I’m just impulsive, really,” Carrington said, acknowledging the risk involved. He explained that the idea originated while watching the DR Congo match during a holiday in Tenerife, where friends encouraged his confidence in England’s campaign. Despite the spontaneous nature of the decision, Carrington’s girlfriend agreed to the tattoo, even though she had previously been hesitant about some of his other inkings.

Jamie Taylor, manager of Holy Trinity Tattoo Studio, said the shop was busy when Carrington arrived but made space for him once the artist understood the concept. Taylor commented that although he initially had reservations about the permanence of the tattoo, Carrington was “adamant” and treated the experience as light-hearted fun. “He was the life and soul of the studio that day,” Taylor said.

Carrington, who has nine tattoos primarily dedicated to family members, reflected on the situation with a lighthearted perspective, saying, “It’s not the end of the world, it’s just a tattoo.”

Meanwhile, on the political front, outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer refrained from committing to any potential celebrations should England have won the tournament. During his final Prime Minister’s Questions session, held before England’s semi-final against Argentina, Sir Keir declined to confirm whether he would declare a bank holiday for an England World Cup victory, citing a reluctance to “jinx” the team’s remaining matches.