To not support England?!

[Feetballislife]

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.

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.

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

YANBU.

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

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.

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.

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"

@Feetballislife

get aht o' ma pub -->

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

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.

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.

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

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 ⚽️🏆

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…

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?

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.

Bit weird to live in a place you dislike but that's your problem. I wouldn't care who you support.

When I have lived abroad, I have found myself supporting the local team out of affinity with my friends/colleagues, enjoying them being happy and liking the general buzz on the streets.

i think it’s the commentators and pundits that really put people off, from what I’ve gathered.

They’re just so OTT! Not saying other countries don’t have this too but it’s excruciating.

Except for Ian Wright who is lovely of course

Support who you like. Nobody else cares.

Not sure I’d set up home somewhere then tell people I supported anyone but them in sporting events. There lots of Anyone but England’s about though. One more won’t hurt.

Thank you for your support, op. We need all the help we can get 😂
From Scotland 🙏

Every. Single. Time 🙄

And yet they think the 'whip up a Scotland/England bun fight' thread is so original 🥱

Last time I supported England Michael Owen played for them, and we supported him as a local kid.

The England team have plenty of support, I don't think they'll miss the OP cheering for Scotland.

I'm so glad I don't have to worry about such nonsense.
Support whichever group of millionaires running around a field you like.

I don't suppose anyone really cares but you sound like you enjoy being a bit different and make a big deal about it. Probably just cheer for whatever team is playing England to try and get a response.

I've seen it a few times. If I lived in another country I'd probably root for that team if my own country wasn't playing.

It doesn't matter if you were born in England or elsewhere or even how long you have been in England for, who you support in the world cup as no baring on how integrated you are.
Support whoever you like

My DH is from South Africa (he is now British though). He will always support SA over England. My kids chose who to support - in the women's England vs Wales rugby match they chose Wales. I'm sure with the football, it will be whichever team looks better stats wise for my DS and whichever team has the better coloured kit for my DD. It really doesn't matter.