A 36-year-old construction worker from Wigan named Sean Carrington is either the most confident England supporter on the planet or the most impulsive guy in the pub. Probably both.
Carrington walked into Holy Trinity Tattoo Studio in Tenerife and asked for a permanent World Cup trophy on his skin with the words “England World Cup Winner 2026” underneath. The artist didn’t hesitate. They inked it up. The catch: England hadn’t even beaten Norway in the quarterfinals yet. The tattoo was finished before the knockout rounds really got going.
The Telegraph reported the story Wednesday. Carrington said the idea hit him while he was on holiday, watching England’s 2-1 win over DR Congo in the Round of 32, with his friends cheering him on. He admits it was a heat-of-the-moment thing. But he’s got a backup plan just in case.
“I’m very impulsive, really. If we lose, I’ll just add the words ‘only joking’ right after it,” he told reporters. That’s the kind of energy you have to respect, even if it’s wildly optimistic.
The tattoo set him back £550, which is about $700 or so. When he walked into the shop and explained what he wanted, the artist didn’t try to talk him out of it. Jamie Taylor, the studio’s manager, said he did give Carrington a warning. “I told him it’s permanent and doesn’t come off with water. I was unsure at first, but he was adamant and wanted to have some fun with it.”
Carrington’s girlfriend usually talks him out of questionable tattoos, but this time she gave the thumbs up. He’s already got nine others, most of them dedicated to family. So this one stands out a bit.
Meanwhile, the British government is taking a different approach to the whole World Cup thing. Outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer refused to say whether he’d declare a national holiday if England wins. His reasoning? He doesn’t want to jinx the team, especially with a semifinal against Argentina coming up. The guy literally said that in Parliament. So you’ve got one fan putting the trophy on his body before the quarterfinals, and the country’s leader avoiding basic questions because of superstition. That’s a contrast.
Carrington’s tattoo is already out there though. No going back. If England actually pulls this off, he’ll look like a genius. If they don’t, well, at least he’s got a sense of humor about it.
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