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Original poster

To not support England?!

640 replies

Feetballislife · 11/06/2026 10:12

Live and work in England. Not English. My team didn’t qualify for the World Cup so I’m supporting Scotland! Lobe a plucky underdog, have some Scots heritage ( and some English to be fair) plus I NEVER support English sports teams. EVER.
Football has inevitably come up in the office and several colleagues are generally pissed off that I’m not supporting England, insist I should be etc etc. Stupidly I mentioned that I never support England … did not gone down well.
If you live here then you should etc etc

YANBU - support who you like!
YABU - you ingrate, you live in the country you should support the national team.

OP posts:
Cooshawn · 11/06/2026 10:22

TheJuryIsOut · 11/06/2026 10:19

I do think it's a bit odd that you would set up home and make a life in a country and then make a point of supporting someone else. I mean of course it's your choice but it does seem a bit strange to me.

Why? I love football. I've been a fan of my domestic team since I was a nipper. I don't live in my home city and haven't done for a long time. Should I have just started supporting the local team here where I live now instead?

This woman is still whatever nationality she is, despite living in England. Are all the expats in Spain waving Spanish flags for the world cup? Ditto those in Saudi. Its a bizarre notion.

TheJuryIsOut · 11/06/2026 10:21

Oh and the way you've worded it "I'd NEVER support English sport teams EVER" it does come across as a bit, I don't know, pointed?

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 11/06/2026 10:21

I really think people should be allowed to support whoever they want! It’s football not an actual war (when going against the country you live in would be a real problem).

Most of my family on one side had always supported our country of origin - one that also didn’t qualify (wonder if it’s the same one 😂)

I’ve always supported England as well as said county - ok, it’s Italy - and also Wales as we have family from there too. But nothing wrong with supporting Scotland too or whoever you want!

I’m adding Norway as well because that would be my nationality if we were fully matrilineal- as in my all maternal line great great grandmother was from there 😂 So I think that’s feminist of me…

mumofoneAloneandwell · 11/06/2026 10:21

Just popping in to tell you we have a thread here:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5538652-fifa-world-cup-2026-discussion-and-watchalong-thread?page=1

FOOTBALL IS LIFE ⚽️🏆

Ted Lasso Scissor Kick GIF by Mashable
VoiceFromThePit · 11/06/2026 10:20

I’m English, live in England and supporting Germany. Last time I supported Denmark.

TheJuryIsOut · 11/06/2026 10:19

I do think it's a bit odd that you would set up home and make a life in a country and then make a point of supporting someone else. I mean of course it's your choice but it does seem a bit strange to me.

Cooshawn · 11/06/2026 10:19

Imanautumn · 11/06/2026 10:16

Support who you want but seems deliberately inflammatory to announce you never support England to a group of England fans.

Oh behave. It's perfectly natural to respond to people speaking to you about England that you don't support England.

I don't support England. I've always followed my heritage team because of my parent supporting them. I don't feel like I have to pretend otherwise. If people are so fucking fragile that they're offended by someone not supporting the same football team as them then they need help.

EmeraldRoulette · 11/06/2026 10:19

@Feetballislife

get aht o' ma pub -->

i'm just kidding you can support who you like. I don't mind.

Gladystheimpaler · 11/06/2026 10:18

I was born in England but to Scottish parents, you know who I'm supporting 🤣 As my Uncle always said (Scottish but living in London) "There's no Scot as Scottish as one who left"

Indianajet · 11/06/2026 10:18

Well you can support who you like, but I find it a bit odd you never support England in any sporting event, if your home country isn't involved. I support Wales, but as they aren't in the World Cup, I hope England do well.

TimeForTeaAndG · 11/06/2026 10:17

Yanbu, I don't support teams of any sport I'm not interested in and if chat in work comes round to something like that I just say oh I don't follow "sport" and get on with my day.

Imanautumn · 11/06/2026 10:16

Support who you want but seems deliberately inflammatory to announce you never support England to a group of England fans.

Goblinmusic · 11/06/2026 10:16

Didn't know that was a requirement of living in England. I don't watch football so I don't support any team.

YANBU.

LizardyGuts · 11/06/2026 10:16

Depends how long you've lived in England I suppose. Two years - it's normal that your outlook is still international. Twenty years - a bit unusual that you don't want to support the national team of the country you have made home (as well as your country of origin if applicable).

But 'unusual' is your choice, and shouldn't be viewed as some kind of personal or national insult by others.

KitchenReno · 11/06/2026 10:16
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