The England national football team defeated Croatia 2-1 in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at AT&T Stadium in Dallas on Wednesday evening, June 17, 2026.
Manager Thomas Tuchel earned his first tournament victory as Jude Bellingham scored a crucial goal after halftime, reflecting England's second-half dominance despite conceding two avoidable goals.
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Fan Gatherings in Dallas
Prior to kickoff, hundreds of English supporters gathered at the Londoner Pub in Dallas, where they consumed over 5,000 beers.
The venue reached maximum capacity, and fans briefly defied local police dispersal requests.
England captain Harry Kane expressed confidence in the squad's prospects under the new management.
"It's one of the best opportunities we will have as a team to win it," he said.
Kane acknowledged the high expectations surrounding the team's journey in the United States.
"I want the fans to have that excitement, whether they're here or back home," he added.
Logistical Challenges for Supporters
Event organizer John Gallivan noted that the geographical scale of the United States created logistical challenges for traveling supporters compared to European tournaments.
"America's massive, it's so big, so vast," he said.
Gallivan, a Bristol native, explained that he had to actively search for venues willing to accommodate the large influx of traveling British spectators.
"When we go to Europe, it's really easy – you know where you're going to be," he said.
He added that spontaneity was much harder to achieve across the host cities.
