Fact Check: Did FIFA threaten to eject England fans over anti-Trump chants?

ARLINGTON, TEXAS: A viral rumor claims that FIFA has warned England supporters they could be ejected from matches during the 2026 World Cup in the United States for chanting offensive slogans about President Donald Trump.

The claim gained traction alongside an image of England fans in a stadium overlaid with vulgar lyrics and a sarcastic caption describing it as the "best chant."

Claim: FIFA warns England fans could be kicked out over offensive chants

According to the X account Troll England, England fans chanted vulgar anti-Trump slogans during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The post featured a meme showing supporters mocking Trump with lyrics that referenced claims about the Epstein files. It also included a caption that stated, "FIFA warns England supporters could be kicked out mid-game for offensive chants."

The post generated mixed reactions online. Some users praised England's fan culture and found the chants humorous, while others questioned whether FIFA had the authority to punish fans for such behavior. Several commenters also pointed out that Australian supporters had previously directed similar chants at Trump.

The alleged anti-Trump chant gained significant attention during England's opening World Cup group-stage match against Croatia. England defeated Croatia 4-2 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in mid-June 2026. Videos and references to the chant spread widely on social media during and shortly after the match.

Fact Check: Misleading

FIFA and tournament organizers indeed warned England supporters about political and offensive chants ahead of the World Cup. Reports indicated that fans could face ejection from matches, while the England Football Association could face sanctions for repeated violations.

These warnings primarily focused on anti-Keir Starmer chants and certain politically charged flags that had appeared before the tournament. However, the warnings were not specifically aimed at anti-Trump chants or at expelling England fans for criticizing Trump. This raises a separate question: did England supporters actually sing the alleged anti-Trump chant during the match?

The viral claim, amplified by the TrollFootball account, alleges that England supporters sang a specific vulgar anti-Trump chant during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, particularly during their opening group-stage match against Croatia. However, there is no credible evidence confirming that fans sang the chant inside the stadium during the match.

The anti-Trump chant gained traction online after meme accounts such as TrollFootball shared it across X, Instagram, Reddit, and other social media platforms between June 16 and June 18, 2026. The post spread rapidly and generated significant engagement.

Notably, major news outlets and match reports did not verify that England fans actually sang the specific chant during the Croatia match. While Australian supporters had previously performed anti-Trump chants before one of their World Cup matches, the England version appears to be a variation inspired by existing football terrace culture rather than a documented chant from the stadium.

The style and wording of the chant are consistent with the often humorous, provocative, and topical nature of English football chants. Nevertheless, the viral post itself appears to be meme or troll content.

TrollFootball is widely known for sharing jokes, satire, and exaggerated football-related content, and many users responding to the post described the claim as fake or overstated.