Euro 2024: England’s football fortunes add sporting drama to UK election, but is Rishi Sunak taking a risk?
- British PM Sunak, who is a football fan, may be hoping for a boost to his struggling campaign if England do well at Euro 2024
- However, timing does bring back memories of some of England’s worst losses, though the sport-elections link is inconclusive
Does British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak risk scoring an own goal by calling an election during the 2024 European Championship football tournament in July?
Sunak, himself a football fan, might be hoping for a boost to his struggling campaign if England do well, although whether there really is a link between sport and elections is disputed by experts.
Given the national team’s habit of morale-busting defeats in major tournaments, the chance of another hit to the English psyche appears just as likely a backdrop to the election.
On a positive note, however, England, runners-up three years ago, are among the favourites under manager Gareth Southgate with a team full of in-form attacking players including Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka.
Sunak unexpectedly called a national election for July 4, when the European Championship in Germany will be entering its most exciting phase.