Looking ahead to London from some in Sun Devil Athletics

By Jonah Broos, Cronkite PR Lab

On September 19, 2026, Sun Devil Football will play the Kansas Jayhawks in London.

This long-anticipated matchup, featuring two of the Big 12’s finest athletic programs, will be played at Wembley Stadium, marking the first time a regular-season college football game has been played at the venue.

Sun Devil fans are already jumping at the opportunity to experience life across the pond and to support the Sun Devils overseas. What can these excited supporters expect from their time in England and specifically, in the city of London?

Sun Devil Soccer Head Coach Graham Winkworth hails from Berkshire, a county just fifty miles west of London. Having lived in the States for 24 years, Winkworth is a self-described “southern boy with an English accent.”

He shared that one of the biggest adjustments he made when coming over was the social aspect of a more spread-out city.

“My biggest challenge was the social scene, and the fact that you need a car to go anywhere in America,” Winkworth explained. “In England, you walk downtown on a Friday, you spend some time with your friends in the pub, and you just hang out. Socially, it's very different in America than in England.”

Sun Devil golfer Patience Rhodes, of Bath, England, says she believes one of the biggest differences for most fans would be the food.

“Definitely the food,” Rhodes said. “They’d be a bit shocked by seeing things like beans with breakfast. They’d be like, ‘what’s going on here?’"

Sun Devil swimmer Reece Grady, of Macclesfield, England, also noted a difference in food. Grady urges all fans to step out of their comfort zone and attend at least one English dinner.

“The food is a lot different here than over there. Here it’s more like hamburgers and such. Most Americans have never had a real, traditional English dinner,” Grady said. “Try the roast, the shepherd's Pie, the Yorkshire pudding, try all of it. That’s a big part of English culture.”

Rhodes, like Grady and Winkworth, emphasized that fans should try need to try an English dinner and traditional English foods.

“You definitely have to have a roast dinner on a Sunday in a pub. You need to have a roast dinner where you've got your Yorkshire pudding, gravy, like roast potatoes, roast chicken,” Rhodes said. “It's so good that you just can't find that anywhere. Definitely go to a pub for a Guinness, they’re better than they are here.”

Grady also noted that Sun Devil fans should be ready for some differences as they make their way around London.

“We drive on the left, we walk on the left,” Grady explained. “Most people take the Tube (the city’s subway system) or walk most places in London.”

Coach Winkworth also noted the differences in transit, but reasoned that Sun Devil fans will be fine as long as they choose their accommodation location carefully."

"When you’re picking your hotels and your Airbnb, I would recommend staying within walking distance of a Tube station in the underground,” said Winkworth. “That’s the easiest way, because you can just wave your card like an Apple Pay at the machine, and then you just jump on.”

Rhodes noted that, despite some confusion the Tube may cause, its price and convenience make it a primary option for most London commuters.

“You can get on the underground for like two pounds, which is like a dollar or something, and go from one end of the land to the other,” Rhodes said. “It's so cheap, so easy. It is a bit confusing because the first time I went on it was really confusing, but you get the hang of it.”

Winkworth explained that the Tube is a major part of Game Day culture at Wembley.

“One of the cool things is when you leave the Tube station at Wembley Stadium, you’re elevated, and there’s a straight road called Wembley Way that walks you from the Tube station to the stadium,” Winkworth elaborated. “About a mile long, but the atmosphere along that walk is incredible when there’s a big sporting event.”

A uniquely “London” experience, says Winkworth, is the “changing of the guards.” He reasons that Buckingham Palace is great, but for a more personal experience of the tradition, look to Wellington Barracks.

“Just to the left of Buckingham Palace, there’s a little area called Wellington Barracks. All the guards that are about to change are practicing and warming up over there,” Winkworth said. “If you want to get a sort of a more private, unique experience of watching the guards at work, that is really kind of cool.”

“I also love the Tower of London,” said Winkworth. “It’s my favourite touristy piece to do when I’m in London. So check out the Tower of London, the changing of the guards, and then get some proper fish and chips.”

Grady’s advice for fans visiting England? Get out of London and see the rest of the country.

“London is great, but that’s just one place. It’s a massive city, but it’s not like the rest of England,” said Grady. “If fans want to see the real England, they need to get out of the city, see the countryside, the farm lands, that’s true English culture.”

Grady’s excited for Sun Devil fans to visit his home country.

“I thought it was great when I heard they’d be playing there,” Grady said. “This way, American fans get to see how Brits do things, and vice versa. It’ll be fun.”

Rhodes echoed the sentiment, noting that English fans will be interested in a college football environment.

“It’s going to be really good for England. All my friends at home see that I go to football games, and they just think it’s out of a movie. It’s almost like, ‘oh, that's such an American movie vibe,’” Rhodes explained. “I think it'd be really cool, and I think lots of English people would be interested to go watch it.”

Coach Winkworth is excited for the blend of cultures and hopes that American fans have a positive effect on their English counterparts.

“It can get a little bit too tense at times within the fans, but I think what I like about the American sporting event is that you go and get the hot dog, you do a bit of tailgating … It’s more kid-friendly,” Winkworth explained. “I think taking that over to England and making sporting events more kid-friendly is crucial, and I’m excited.”

The Sun Devils are next in a long line of teams that have helped introduce American Football fans to English culture, as well as English culture to American football. This cultural crossover is mutually beneficial, as both parties are exposed to a different way of life. A global university with a global community like Arizona State’s is perfect to lead that charge. As next season approaches, consider booking that ticket across the pond to support your Sun Devil Football team.

For more information on the Union Jack Classic, visit https://thesundevils.com/union-jack-classic.