England player exploring KC learned it’s a bad idea to wear the wrong NFL jersey
Kansas City has welcomed the world with open arms.
Between four base camps and matches, no city has had quite the World Cup experience like we have seen. Kansas Citians have been thrilled to meet with fans who are visiting and players who are working here.
But there is a limit to that friendliness as England forward Ollie Watkins learned.
Watkins, who plays for Aston Villa, is staying with his teammates at the Inn at Meadowbrook in Prairie Village. The players have been given an opportunity to explore KC and that’s what Watkins did recently.
But he wore a Dallas Cowboys jersey when he was out and about and that didn’t sit well with at least one Kansas Citian, as Watkins recalled Sunday with a smile.
“I wore a Dallas Cowboys jersey into Kansas the other day, and I was with my family, and the guy said to me, ‘You can’t wear that around here,’” Watkins told reporters at England’s press center at the Kansas City Parks & Recreation building. “So yeah, I won’t be wearing that again.”
Yep, this is Chiefs country.
However, that encounter didn’t alter Watkins’ view of Kansas City, as he has enjoyed the reception his team has received. And he’s eager to try barbecue.
“Yeah, I don’t know too much about American sports, but look, the hospitality has been amazing, and I felt like everyone’s so friendly over here,” he said.
“But yeah, I need to check out, I think, Joe’s barbecue as well, at some point.”
Matt Foster of KHSB-TV shared a video of Watkins’ humorous story.
This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 8:19 AM with the headline "England player exploring KC learned it’s a bad idea to wear the wrong NFL jersey."
