Wimbledon fans resorted to watching the England World Cup match against DR Congo on mobile phones and earpieces, as the All England Club refused to show the football on any of its hundreds of screens. The clash between the tennis tournament and the football fixture created a unique atmosphere at SW19, with many spectators dividing their attention between the two events.
No Screens for Football at Wimbledon
All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton confirmed on Monday that the club would not be showing the football on any televisions around the grounds, including the giant screens on Henman Hill and in the South Village. This decision has become a tradition during football tournaments, as Wimbledon prioritises tennis over other sports. Bolton stated, "Clearly, if people have got their phones, then we're not going to prevent people from watching the football."
The policy led to a surge in Wi-Fi sign-ups just before kick-off, as phone reception became overloaded. Security staff were caught whispering about team line-ups, and a steward was reprimanded for watching the pre-game on his phone while on duty. The media room became a popular spot, with journalists switching TVs to the football, though frosted windows now block the view from the concourse.
Empty Seats on Show Courts
The football clash led to an unusual number of empty seats on the show courts. Wimbledon sells returned tickets whenever spectators leave for the day, and a glut became available around 4pm. Centre Court, No 1 Court, and No 2 Court all had vacancies as fans opted to follow the football instead. Some attendees discreetly used earpieces or second screens to keep track of the match while watching tennis.
Tim Henman admitted he would have the football on in the commentary booth. Players have also grown accustomed to the distraction. Novak Djokovic, whose third-round match against Alexei Popyrin clashed with England's Euro 2024 penalty shootout against Switzerland, paused play as fans cheered for Trent Alexander-Arnold's winning kick. Djokovic mimed an imaginary spot-kick in response.
Football Fever at Wimbledon
The football's pull was evident across the grounds. On Henman Hill, a conspicuous number of young men faced away from the tennis courts, watching their phones while their partners followed the women's matches. Exclamations like "Oh fuck. You are shitting me" rang out when England went 1-0 down in the seventh minute, drawing stern looks from nearby spectators.
Djokovic commented on the phenomenon: "You can sense there's a buzz going on. People are simultaneously looking at your match and also following their national team. It's normal. It's the football fever right now in these four to six weeks. We are also part of it. I like football. I follow everything that is going on. Obviously, it's nicer when you're by the TV than when you're playing, not everyone is focused on your match. But that's OK. That's what it is."
Wimbledon's Place in English Sporting Obsessions
Wimbledon is a £500 million championship, one of the largest annual sports events, yet the World Cup reminded everyone of its place in the pecking order of English sporting obsessions. The clash highlighted the enduring popularity of football, even in the hallowed grounds of the All England Club.
