Mumford in Boulder: England will win World Cup
Singer teases Folsom crowd about soccer, football, and his year as a Colorado coach at age 19
As he so often does: Marcus Mumford laid his heart fully on the line Saturday during his concert in Boulder:
“Well, we’re going to win the World Cup this year,” he told the more than 40,000 gathered on June 6 for a feel-good Mumford & Sons concert on a perfect pre-summer night at Folsom Field.
Mumford was actually born in Yorba Linda, Calif., though one can only assume that by “we,” he meant England. Mumford was raised in Wimbledon from the age of 6 months, but he does have dual citizenship – and quite a Colorado soccer connection.
Mumford took a gap year between high school and college and worked as a soccer coach in Westminster — as in, Colorado, not England. This was right before forming Mumford & Sons in 2007. He was 19 years old and says he worked a variety of odd jobs while here.
“I was a soccer coach in Denver,” he said in bantering with the crowd (whom he cheekily called “spoiled b*tches” in playful jest). “I had to coach soccer for a whole year in my life. It was a disaster.”
Mumford has often said he considers Colorado to be his old stomping grounds and second home. He often references Colorado as hallowed music ground. The band has a long history of playing around the state, and Mumford has struck a deep musical friendship with Colorado troubadour Nathaniel Rateliffe.
Mumford has never publicly named the Colorado soccer club he coached for in 2006, or at what level, but he has repeatedly joked about how painful it was for him having to call football “soccer” for a whole year in Colorado.
The crowd playfully booed when he predicted an England championship, which drew a playful rejoinder. “You boo me? Like you’re our rivals?” he said with a laugh. “You are our hosts!”
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the largest tournament in soccer history, running from June 11 to July 19. It is being held in 16 cities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. The field is made up of a record 48 countries, and Mumford’s prediction is not an idle boast.
England is among the top three favorites, following (according to the gamblers) only Spain and France. The U.S. ranks around 12-14 among oddsmakers.
“We haven’t won since 1966,” Mumford said of the Brits, “but this year, we’re going in with full confidence.” He talked up the team’s German manager, Thomas Tuchel.
“I’m in for winning the World Cup. It’s going to happen. Best of luck, have a great time, and … all of our songs are about soccer.”
He said that leading into the band’s final song before the encore: “Ghosts That We Knew.” The 2012 tune has long been interpreted to be a metaphor for lingering past traumas, broken promises and regrets from former relationships. So, sure, 60 years of soccer sadness fits the bill.
England’s first World Cup match will be against Croatia on June 17 in Dallas.
This concert was part of the band’s global Prizefighter Tour. The concert stage was set up in the north end zone of Folsom Field. A highlight of the joyful, full-throated sing-along evening was Mumford being joined by opening act Sierra Ferrell on a little postage stamp of a second stage back on the other end of the field. Together, they sang Townes Van Zandt’s enduring duet “If I Needed You,” a love song made famous by Don Williams and Emmylou Harris.
On Monday, it was announced that Ferrell will return to Colorado for headlining sets on Aug. 11 at the Dillon Amphitheater, and Aug. 12 at Red Rocks. The Brudi Brothers will open. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at sierraferrell.com.
John Moore is the Denver Gazette’s Senior Arts Journalist. Email him at [email protected].