The Metropolitan Police has begun planning for a victory parade through London if England wins the World Cup. Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes confirmed the force is already preparing for the possibility, 60 years after England last lifted the trophy.
Deputy Commissioner Confirms Preparations
Speaking on LBC Radio, DC Jukes said: "We are definitely thinking about what the very best outcomes can mean. We hope we're going to be alongside the rest of England in celebrating that in a few weeks' time." When pressed on whether a team is working on a victory parade, he added: "Yeah, while everyone else is watching the results and wondering what will happen, there are people who are locked in rooms imagining what that will be like."
He referenced the recent Arsenal victory parade, saying: "We saw a really big, lively, and at a couple of points problematic parade after Arsenal's victory. So we hope we are getting ready for it. We are always going to plan for things."
Potential Route and Next Matches
If England wins the World Cup, the victory parade would likely go through central London, down The Mall, past Buckingham Palace, through Trafalgar Square, and down Whitehall to Parliament. The team would also probably be invited to No10 by incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham, an Everton fan, on July 20, the day after the final.
England faces Norway in the quarter-finals on Saturday. If they win, they could play Argentina in the semi-finals in Atlanta, with a potential final against France or Spain in New Jersey.
Police Urge Responsible Behaviour
DC Jukes urged England fans to behave responsibly and noted that police calls have jumped by a third during the heatwave. He highlighted that alcohol-related crime is a major concern, especially during major sporting events. He also reminded the public to report domestic abuse but avoid unnecessary calls to police.
