The wives and girlfriends of the England national football team, often referred to as WAGs, have experienced a notable increase in their social media followings during the recent World Cup, even in the wake of the team's defeat to Argentina.
Players' partners, including Kate Kane, Ashlyn Castro, Megan Pickford, Tolami Benson, and Ellie Watkins, have collectively gained tens of thousands of new followers throughout the tournament. Kate Kane, wife of captain Harry Kane, saw her Instagram following rise by 70,000, a 23% increase, since the competition began. She was frequently pictured in the stands and often shared these moments on her social media. Kane enlisted stylist Lauren Paxton for her tournament wardrobe, which included custom Hugo Boss corset tops.
Ashlyn Castro, girlfriend of Jude Bellingham, experienced the most significant surge, gaining 209,000 followers. This substantial increase coincided with Bellingham's strong performance, including scoring twice in England's victory over Norway.
Jordan Pickford's wife, Megan, who actively documented the World Cup experience, gained 44,000 followers, a 30% rise. She shared a video after the loss to Argentina, symbolically hanging up custom football jerseys made for their children.
Bukayo Saka's fiancée, Tolami Benson, and Ollie Watkins' wife, Ellie, have both secured deals with British Vogue. The publication featured Benson in digital and print content related to England's World Cup campaign. Watkins was also highlighted by British Vogue on Instagram for her match-day photos following England's quarter-final win.
