Ant and Dec have made a major promise to their 5.4 million Instagram followers: they will produce a new version of their 2002 World Cup anthem 'We're on the Ball' if England win the 2026 World Cup. The pledge came as England prepared to face Argentina in the semi-final on Wednesday, with the nation gripped by football fever.
England's Road to the Semi-Final
England's campaign has been a rollercoaster of emotions. After a nervy group stage, they beat DR Congo 2-1 in the round of 16 after falling behind. In the quarter-final against Mexico at the Azteca, they played with 10 men for much of the match but secured a hard-fought victory. Then, in Saturday's quarter-final against Norway, England trailed 1-0 until Jude Bellingham scored twice to turn the game around and book a semi-final spot.
The semi-final against Argentina marks a repeat of the 2018 semi-final, when England lost to Croatia in extra time. This time, manager Thomas Tuchel's side is just one game away from the final.
Ant and Dec's World Cup Promise
Ant and Dec, who are avid football fans, took to Instagram to share a clip from the original 'We're on the Ball' music video. In the caption, they wrote: 'Come on @england! Bring it home… and we’ll remake this video?' The post sparked an enthusiastic response from fans, with one commenting: 'This banger needs remaking' and another saying: 'I think you should remake the video if we make it to the final! (Which we will of course…).'
The original song, released in 2002, was England's official World Cup anthem and reached the top 3 in the UK charts. It remains a fan favourite, often played at fan zones during major tournaments. The song's iconic lyrics, including the line 'it's Neville to Campbell, Campbell to Rio…' are still recited by supporters.
Fan Reaction and Poll
Ant and Dec's promise has generated significant buzz among England fans. The ChronicleLive has launched a poll asking readers to vote for their favourite England anthem, with 'We're on the Ball' as one of the options. The poll is part of a broader effort to engage fans ahead of the semi-final.
Newcastle's fan zone has also increased its capacity to 3,000 for the match, with a massive screen in place to accommodate supporters.
