David Beckham on the Thing He’d ‘Change’ from His Three World Cups (Exclusive)

Sports fans worldwide remember David Beckham‘s history-making World Cup appearances vividly, but the soccer legend himself has a different perspective on the games when looking back.  

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Beckham reflected on his glory days representing the England national team on the pitch and revealed the one thing he’d change from those tournaments in 1998, 2002 and 2006 if he could today.

“When you go through any big life stage or event, sometimes it’s hard to take it all in in the moment,” Beckham, 50, tells PEOPLE in an exclusive interview tied to his partnership with Verizon for the 2026 World Cup.

Now, Beckham — who played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, AC Milan, LA Galaxy and Paris Saint-Germain — is feeling the rush of his remarkable 21-year career finally sink in since hanging up his jersey in May 2013.

“I miss my football playing days dearly, and I don’t think I appreciated back then how much I would miss it all when it was gone,” he says.

In hindsight, that’s what Beckham would do differently if he could go back in time.

“If I were to change anything it would be to tell my younger self to really take in the moment,” Beckham says of his tournament appearances, where he made history as the only English player to score in three separate World Cups — a title he still holds.

Today, the dad of four — who shares Brooklyn, 26, Romeo, 23, Cruz, 20, and Harper, 14, with his wife Victoria Beckham — is involved in the upcoming World Cup in different ways, like uniting sports fans worldwide with the Verizon Ultimate Access to FIFA World Cup 26 launch.

“I don’t think there’s anything that can prepare fans for that pitch side feeling!” he shares. “It’s truly like nothing else… That’s why I wanted to partner with Verizon for this campaign because it’s giving fans an experience you can’t get anywhere else.”

The campaign offers Verizon customers thousands of free tickets to the games in 16 host cities across the United States. (The 2026 World Cup has three host countries: Canada, Mexico and the United States.)

“With North America hosting the tournament next year, it’s an important moment for soccer on the global stage,” says Beckham.

Beckham considers the World Cup a “very special tournament,” particularly because it “unites sports fans” across the world — and as a player, it stands out for reasons incomparable to any other soccer tournament.

“When you’re competing at the highest level of your sport, it is the ultimate honor,” he shares with PEOPLE. “Not only as an athlete, because you are competing against the very best — but you’re also representing your country and doing it alongside your teammates.”

“I was so fortunate to get to play in three World Cups and there’s special memories and moments from each of them that I will cherish forever,” he continues. “I’m excited to get to next year and to watch the tournament begin, although part of me does still wish I was out there on the pitch!”

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in June.