As England's World Cup campaign roared into life with a thrilling victory over Croatia, the travelling faithful made their presence felt in Texas – and they're not just talking about the Three Lions' electric atmosphere at Arlington Stadium. With prices for tickets soaring above £600, it's no wonder fans have been dubbed "Breaking the Bank" as they splashed out to catch a glimpse of Thomas Tuchel's side in action.
Some 4,000 England fans had secured their spots on the sun-kissed seats at Arlington Stadium – but it's estimated that up to 15,000 supporters descended upon Texas for the big match. Oli Lee, a music producer from Kent turned LA resident, was one of them, proudly sporting his £604 ticket like a badge of honour: "It was worth every penny!" he exclaimed, still buzzing from the experience.
The England fans' cultural fusion with the locals was in full swing – who could forget that unforgettable rendition of "Sweet Caroline" at the Fort Worth Rodeo? It's not just the music that brought them together; cowboy hats were donned left and right to shield against the Texan sun, while The Londoner pub in downtown Dallas reportedly raked it in, selling nearly £24,000 worth of beer in just three hours – before running dry!
Despite a few reports of ticketless fans making their way into the stadium, local authorities have disputed claims of police involvement. Free Lions spokespersons acknowledged that some supporters took a gamble on last-minute deals, as prices continued to climb above £1,000 per ticket.
Lee Williams from south London, who'd been planning his trip for months, reflected on the "astronomical" costs: "$100 for six beers? It's steep, but you've got to soak it up with the atmosphere!" he beamed. Even though some fans were left feeling light-headed – quite literally – by the inflated prices, Williams praised the "fantastic vibe" and hospitality of American hosts.
And what of the match itself? Williams, a coach for Millwall Lionesses Under-18s, was impressed by England's second-half turnaround against Croatia: "Tuchel's half-time pep talk gave them the spark they needed – but we do need to sort out our backline!" he urged. The call for Marc Guéhi's inclusion was clear and present in Williams' mind.
Now, it's onto Ghana at the Gillette Stadium near Boston. Fan groups are urging supporters to book their train travel (£63) ahead of time – and Lee Williams will be keeping his fingers crossed from the comfort of his LA living room, admitting that watching matches can get "stressful"!