England fans flood US and UK venues as Three Lions win World Cup opener
On June 16‑17, England supporters gathered in massive numbers in both the United States and Britain as the Three Lions began their 2026 World Cup campaign at Dallas’s AT&T Stadium, defeating Croatia 4‑2.
In Dallas, the Londoner Pub on Mockingbird Lane served more than 5,000 beers, generating over £30,000 in sales before police and the fire marshal ordered an early closure after fans defied orders and “mayhem” descended, including a balcony crowd and a second night of rowdy behaviour.
Across the UK, pubs in Manchester’s Freight Island, Croydon Boxpark, Wembley and other venues filled with thousands of fans cheering each goal, with beer‑flinging, singing and the “We Are Football” festival. Simultaneously, an artist in Lowestoft sculpted a six‑metre stone England badge on the beach, and London’s The London Essentials performed an open‑top bus concert to lift spirits.
The fan fervour highlighted the popularity of England’s World Cup run, drawing police attention in Texas while boosting local business revenue and prompting plans for further fan gatherings in Boston and elsewhere.