Fans from England gathered in Dallas to witness an unforgettable moment as Thomas Tuchel’s squad triumphed over Croatia in their initial match of the 2026 World Cup. For many supporters, this event marked a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Oli Lee, a music producer from Kent who now resides in Los Angeles, shared his excitement.
“I’ve never been to a World Cup game before so I thought it was something I couldn’t miss out on,”
Approximately 4,000 England fans secured tickets for the match at the state-of-the-art Arlington Stadium, home to the Dallas Cowboys. However, estimates suggest that around 15,000 supporters flocked to Texas for the festivities. A viral video showcased fans singing “I paid $800 (£604) for my ticket but it was all worth it. We had a bit of a session in Dallas – I ended up jumping in a pool with my phone in my pocket but it’s still working somehow!” during a break at the Fort Worth Rodeo, while many embraced local culture by donning cowboy hats to shield themselves from the intense Texas sun.
One downtown pub, the Londoner, reported running out of beer after fans spent close to $30,000 in just three hours. Some UK media outlets claimed that police intervened and removed rowdy fans, a narrative that local law enforcement disputed, stating that no one was forcibly ejected.
There were no significant incidents reported surrounding the game. FIFA has dismissed claims that some ticketless fans managed to bypass security despite strict measures being implemented. Some supporters reportedly paid over $1,000 for tickets, and a representative from the England fans group Free Lions indicated that some attendees arrived in the United States hoping to find last-minute deals.
“I think a lot of fans were waiting for prices to come down but they just haven’t,” he said. “There’s still a lot of demand there and I think a few fans have travelled without tickets.”
Lee Williams, hailing from south London, meticulously planned his trip for months, attending the co-hosts’ opening match in Los Angeles before enjoying a brief beach getaway in Mexico. He arrived in Dallas on Tuesday and aspires to return for the semi-finals if England advances.
“It’s been absolutely brilliant,” he commented. “The cost is astronomical – I’ve been scared to look at my bank balance in the mornings. We bought a round of six beers last night and it cost north of $100. But the vibe has been great and the Americans have really bought into the whole thing. The atmosphere was unbelievable in Los Angeles. I’m going home to work to pay off what I’ve spent out here.”
Williams, who works in finance and coaches the Millwall Lionesses Under-18s, expressed his admiration for Tuchel’s motivational halftime speech, which he felt inspired England to take control after conceding a second equalizer just before the break. “I loved Gareth Southgate but he was slightly more conservative than I thought we should have been given the talent we have at our disposal. I like the way that we really took the game to Croatia in the second half and decided to take risks.” he stated.
However, he believes a stronger defensive unit is necessary moving forward, suggesting the inclusion of Marc Guéhi to stabilize the backline that appeared vulnerable during the first half. “A new centre-back pairing is going to take a long time to bed in – if you are going to go far in any competition then your goalkeeper and centre-backs have to be stable and settled. Hopefully it clicks,” he added.
Representatives from England fan groups, including Free Lions, visited all three group stage venues in March to prepare for the tournament. Many have been advised to reserve the train – which costs about $80 – for the next match against Ghana at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, located 30 miles from downtown Boston. Williams plans to watch the game nervously from home in Los Angeles.
“It’s so stressful – I never feel comfortable,” he reflected. “When Harry Kane missed that first penalty I thought it was a terrible omen. But, as the game progressed, we got stronger. Hopefully we can go all the way this time.”
