IT’S a game of two halves for England’s World Cup Wags as the influencers and childhood sweethearts go head to head.
For the first time, content creators are tipped to steal the spotlight from the long-term wives and girlfriends by posing for glam Insta snaps at the finest restaurants – and maybe even delivering daily vlogs.
But despite their differences, we’re told the players’ partners won’t let any drama kick off and will unite as one team.
Our footie insider said: “In the past it could have sparked tension, but these are all modern and inspirational women and they will make sure there is no beef.”
Fay Leyfield looks at the ladies’ line-up.
THE CHILDHOOD SWEETHEARTS
MEGAN & JORDAN PICKFORD
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AGE: 30.
LOVE LIFE: Megan and Jordan met as teenagers and started dating when she was 14 and he was 16. They tied the knot in 2020.
OCCUPATION: Mum.
CHILDREN: Arlo, seven, Ostara, two, and Misty, one.
FROM: Sunderland.
MATCH STATS: On paper, Megan is your traditional glamorous Wag.
Before flying to the States, we’re told she went shopping at Selfridges with a personal stylist.
Their private dressing room was filled with branded items worth up to £6,000.
She said of the World Cup: “I’m not coming home without my husband and a trophy.”
LAUREN FRYER & DECLAN RICE
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LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!
This year’s World Cup will be like no other as a record-breaking 48 nations compete to lift football’s biggest prize.
England manager Thomas Tuchel is hoping to finally bring football home after a 60-year drought.
But footballing legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have other plans in what will likely be their final World Cup appearance.
SunSport have got everything you need for the huge tournament
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AGE: 27.
LOVE LIFE: Lauren met and fell for Arsenal star Declan ten years ago when they were both 17.
OCCUPATION: Mum.
FROM: Chessington, South West London.
CHILDREN: A son called Jude, three.
MATCH STATS: Lauren is perhaps the most low-key Wag in town.
She made the decision to delete her social media after being horrendously trolled with hundreds of disgusting messages suggesting the star footballer could “do better” than her.
Ignoring further cruel comments, Lauren has continued to support Declan on and off the pitch.
And, in turn, he has defended her, saying: “She is the love of my life and I don’t need an upgrade.”
NAIMA CORBIN & EBERECHI EZE
WORLD CUP 2026 FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS
AGE: 27.
LOVE LIFE: Naima and Eberechi are childhood sweethearts who met when they were studying for their GCSEs.
They officially tied the knot in 2022, but hosted a hat-trick of weddings and celebrations that spanned three years.
OCCUPATION: Intensive care nurse.
FROM: Naima is of Jamaican descent and born and raised in Greenwich, South East London.
MATCH STATS: Naima is a grounding force in Eberechi’s life. Unlike her influencer counterparts, she does not use social media.
In fact, the glam nurse isn’t your stereotypical Wag. She graduated from King’s College London with a degree in nursing and joked that she splits her time between Intensive Care Units and the VIP areas at top stadiums – two “very, very different” arenas.
ANNIE KEATING & ANTHONY GORDON
AGE: 25.
LOVE LIFE: Annie is the childhood sweetheart of Barcelona’s latest star signing Anthony Gordon. They began dating during their teens.
OCCUPATION: Make-up artist.
FROM: Liverpool.
MATCH STATS: They may have been together forever, but Annie is known for her reserved presence on social media and rarely makes public appearances with her man.
In 2024, the ex-Everton star said he was determined to play in that year’s Euros in Germany.
He joked of booking a holiday: “I don’t think that I should. My missus has been nagging me. I’ve told her, ‘Germany is very nice’.”
KATE & HARRY KANE
AGE: 33
LOVE LIFE: Harry’s childhood sweetheart, they wed in 2019
OCCUPATION: Qualified fitness instructor
CHILDREN: Ivy, nine, Vivienne, seven, Louis, five, and Henry, two
FROM: Chingford.
MATCH STATS: Kate prefers to dodge the circus surrounding the team. Rather than post about herself on social media, she likes to share captain Harry’s achievements, but she’s not afraid to put him in his place.
He once said: “She brings me down to earth. If I score a hat-trick, Kate will say, ‘Well done, you can make me a cup of tea when you get home’.”
THE INFLUENCERS
TOLAMI BENSON & BUKAYO SAKA
AGE: 25
LOVE LIFE: She started quietly dating Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka in 2020 and the pair got engaged in November.
OCCUPATION: PR and influencer
FROM: Hertfordshire
MATCH STATS: Tolami is a fashion icon thanks to her custom-made match day outfits.
Even Vogue mag is a fan, naming her as a leader of the “new-gen Wags”.
She won’t be sharing the ins and outs of the World Cup, but you can expect some impressive fits and Insta friendly restaurants.
She has a taste for the finer things in life, saying: “I’m a Novikov girl: lunch, dinner, you will find me there, always.”
LUCIA LOI & MARCUS RASHFORD
AGE: 28.
LOVE LIFE: Lucia and Barcelona star Marcus, who is on loan from Manchester United, first dated when they were just 15.
They split in 2021 but got back together and got engaged, before breaking up again in 2023. They reunited last year and have been living together in Spain.
OCCUPATION: PR and rising influencer.
FROM: Manchester.
MATCH STATS: She earned a first-class honours degree in Advertising from Manchester Metropolitan University, but is believed to have taken time out from her PR career after moving to Spain with Marcus.
This past year she’s been embracing the influencer lifestyle and giving fans an insight into her daily routine.
We look forward to a “day in the life at the World Cup” content. As both a childhood sweetheart and an influencer, Lucia can bridge the gap between the Wag camps.
LAYLA ROYE & KOBBIE MAINOO
AGE: 22.
LOVE LIFE: Layla is very new on the scene and has been dating Manchester’s Mainoo since the start of the year
OCCUPATION: Still at Salford University, studying fashion business, she is also a model/ influencer
FROM: Manchester
MATCH STATS: Already Stateside supporting her man, she was spotted at the team hotel in Florida last week.
Layla is a rising TikTok star, sharing her “fits” and exotic holidays – and hopefully that won’t stop while she’s across the pod.
ELLIE & OLLIE WATKINS
AGE: 30
LOVE LIFE: Started dating Aston Villa star Ollie in 2018. They wed in 2025.
CHILDREN: Daughter Amara, four, and son Marley, three
OCCUPATION: Influencer
FROM: Berkshire.
MATCH STATS: Ellie, who has a diploma in interior design, shares make-up tutorials and glimpses of her luxury life with Ollie.
It wasn’t always that glamorous though, their first date was at Pizza Express.
ASHLYN CASTRO & JUDE BELLINGHAM
AGE: 28
LOVE LIFE: She has been dating Jude Bellingham for a year and a half.
OCCUPATION: Model and social media influencer.
FROM: Long Beach, California
MATCH STATS: After England’s warm-up game against New Zealand in Tampa, Florida, last week, Ashlyn was driven four hours to where Jude is staying.
Together, they enjoyed a night playing card games such as Skyjo, which is similar to Uno, outside as the sun set.
Known as a “baddie” by fans online, Ashlyn is from LA and has been linked to a string of famous men previously, including actor Michael B Jordan and NBA star LaMelo Ball.
Don’t mess with her though – she will hit back.
When rumours spread about her online, she ranted: “People lying about my age . . . making up stories about me, linking me to so many people I don’t know . . . have gone too far.”
