Lauren James to watch Reece James at World Cup in the United States

Lauren James will head to the United States to watch Reece James at England’s World Cup, turning a long break into a family trip. The Chelsea forward said the wait will stretch to six-and-a-half weeks, but she plans to use part of that time away before joining her brother’s tournament run.

Lauren James and Chelsea

James said the start of her season was disrupted by injury, but her form picked up sharply after she returned. She made her first appearance of the campaign in November as a second-half substitute in Chelsea’s 6-0 victory over St Polten.

Her finish was stronger still. James ended the campaign with seven goals and four assists, won Chelsea supporters’ Player of the Season, and took the club’s Goal of the Season award for her strike away at Arsenal in the Women’s Champions League quarter-final.

Speaking about the year, she said, “It was tough at the start of the season because I was out injured” and added, “As a collective, we probably didn't achieve the things we would've expected and hoped to achieve.” Those comments track with a year that started slowly, then turned into a sustained run after she settled back into the side.

Reece James in the United States

The family link is now set to carry into England’s World Cup campaign. Lauren and Reece James signed new Chelsea contracts on the same day in March, and she said she plans to go and watch him while England play in the United States.

“It will be a long six-and-a-half weeks waiting around! I'm going to go away, and then I'm going out to watch my brother at the World Cup.” That is the clearest sign of where her summer is headed: away from club football for a spell, then into the stands for England’s matches.

James also said, “I appreciate the acknowledgement from the fans of the work I've put in since I've come back from my injury,” after being named Player of the Season. She added, “I want to win trophies, to help the team win,” and said she hopes for “another good full year of playing consistently” in 2025/26 and 26/27.

For Chelsea, the immediate takeaway is simple: their Player of the Season ends the year with momentum, while England’s tournament gives her brother a national-stage spotlight and gives Lauren a front-row view of it.