LONDON — England captain Harry Kane stated he would seriously explore a future in both Major League Soccer and the National Football League during a press conference on September 23, 2026. The 33-year-old Bayern Munich forward addressed questions about his long-term career plans while confirming he is fairly close to signing a new contract with the German club. "That is something I will try and look at a bit more seriously," Harry Kane said.

Kane acknowledged the difficulty of switching sports despite perceived similarities in technique. "I take penalties and it is a very similar pressure, technique," he said. He noted that if he were to pursue American football, his existing skill set would provide a foundation unlike other athletic transitions. "If I did that, in terms of training, I would be closer to that more than any other sport," he said.

The striker emphasized that any move to MLS or the NFL would require serious preparation and time. "If I was to do it, it is something I would take seriously. I would take maybe six months to a year of trying to practice before," he said.

He added that the logistics of professional soccer seasons might allow for such a dual pursuit in the future. "Maybe if I am in the MLS in the future or somewhere like that it might be a thing where you could connect the two maybe with the seasons," he said.

Kane clarified that these possibilities remain contingent on his immediate career trajectory. "It all depends on what happens in my career over the next five or six years, the motivation and what I want to do," he said. For now, his focus remains on his current tenure in Germany. "But, again, it is in the back of my mind because right now I am feeling that I want to play as long as I can here," he said.

Regarding his current club situation, Kane reported progress in negotiations. "We're in good talks. We're fairly close. There's still some things that we need to iron out. I'm happy there. I think it won't be too long before there's some sort of announcement," he said.

His current contract with Bayern Munich expires in June 2027, though reports indicate extension talks could keep him at the club until at least 2029. Bayern Munich is working on a contract extension for the next three or four years.

Kane expressed satisfaction with his environment in Munich. "I feel really comfortable in the team, with the coach, the environment. I want to just be at this level and push this level for as long as possible," he said.

He noted the importance of maintaining performance standards as athletes age. "Especially, as you're getting a bit older, if you don't have a great season somewhere, or you don't play as well, the drop-off is maybe more than what it would have been when you're younger. So it's just about extracting as much as I can, with the boss there, with the players I have in the team, I think they're getting the best out of me. I'm helping them as well," he said.

The forward has scored three goals and provided one assist in three starts for Bayern Munich this season. In the previous season, he scored 73 goals. Kane has won two Bundesliga titles with the club since joining from Tottenham in 2023.

Prior to his arrival, Bayern Munich had won 11 consecutive Bundesliga titles, establishing itself as a dominant force in German football. Kane is also in contention to win the Ballon d’Or, with the ceremony scheduled to take place in London next month.

On the international stage, Kane has scored 85 goals in 121 appearances for the England national team. Twenty-five of those goals came from penalty conversions. England will host Spain in a Nations League match on Saturday.

Kane is an admirer of Tom Brady and is a noted golf enthusiast, though he distinguished the realism of a potential NFL move from other sports interests. "The NFL is a lot more realistic than the golf one, let’s put it that way," he said. He cautioned against underestimating the challenge of elite competition. "But, with all elite sports, when you watch it on TV, people make it look easy; you think it is possible, but that is not always the case," he said.

There has never been a player in Major League Soccer history who also played in the National Football League. Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson played in both the NFL and Major League Baseball, but no athlete has bridged the gap between professional soccer and American football leagues. Brandon Aubrey became the Dallas Cowboys kicker after being a professional soccer player in his early 20s.

Aubrey was a first-round MLS draft pick by Toronto FC in 2017 but never made an official appearance for the first team. Jake Bates played college football before becoming a kicker for the Detroit Lions.

Major League Soccer comprises 30 teams, with 27 in the United States and 3 in Canada. The league's Designated Player Rule, introduced in 2007, allows teams to sign high-profile international players without counting their full salary against the salary cap, enabling signings like David Beckham and Lionel Messi. Manchester United and FC Barcelona remain interested in signing Kane, according to reports.

Why It Matters

Kane's comments highlight the growing intersection between global soccer stars and American sports leagues. While cross-sport athletes like Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson have achieved fame in baseball and football, no player has ever competed in both MLS and the NFL. Kane's consideration of such a move reflects the increasing viability of multi-sport careers for elite athletes, particularly those with specialized skills like penalty kicking that translate to American football positions.

The timing of these remarks coincides with ongoing contract negotiations with Bayern Munich. With his current deal expiring in June 2027 and talks reportedly extending to 2029, Kane's future remains a focal point for European and potentially American clubs. His potential interest in MLS aligns with the league's history of utilizing the Designated Player Rule to attract global talent, suggesting that such a transition could follow established pathways for high-profile international signings.

Timeline

Brandon Aubrey was a first-round MLS draft pick by Toronto FC in 2017 but never made an official appearance for the first team. Harry Kane joined Bayern Munich from Tottenham in 2023. On September 23, 2026, Harry Kane stated he would seriously explore a future in both Major League Soccer and the National Football League.

During the same press conference, Kane said, "Maybe if I am in the MLS in the future or somewhere like that it might be a thing where you could connect the two maybe with the seasons." He also stated, "If I was to do it, it is something I would take seriously. I would take maybe six months to a year of trying to practice before." He added, "If I did that, in terms of training, I would be closer to that more than any other sport." He further commented, "But, with all elite sports, when you watch it on TV, people make it look easy; you think it is possible, but that is not always the case." Additionally, on September 23, 2026, Harry Kane stated he is fairly close to signing a new contract with Bayern Munich.

What's New

Data indicates Harry Kane has scored 85 goals in 121 appearances for the England national team. Contract extension talks between Harry Kane and Bayern Munich are reportedly until at least 2029.

Harry Kane's current contract with Bayern Munich expires in June 2027. He said, "But, with all elite sports, when you watch it on TV, people make it look easy; you think it is possible, but that is not always the case." Major League Soccer's Designated Player Rule, introduced in 2007, allows teams to sign high-profile international players without counting their full salary against the salary cap, enabling signings like David Beckham and Lionel Messi.

How Sources Differ

Sources present differing figures regarding Harry Kane's goal statistics. Harry Kane has scored 85 goals in 121 appearances for the England national team. The primary source and Harry Kane scored 73 goals in the previous season.

There is a detail gap regarding England national team details. The primary source and additional sources 1, 2, 4, and 5 state that Harry Kane is the captain of the England national football team.

Sources also differ on Harry Kane performance stats. Harry Kane has scored three goals and provided one assist in three starts for Bayern Munich this season.