Dave Thompson, an England superfan who attended the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley with his late father Keith, is now in the United States for the 2026 tournament, hoping history repeats itself. The 64-year-old businessman from Canterbury, Kent, was just a child when England beat West Germany 4-2, but he remembers the noise of that historic day.
From 1966 to 2026: A Lifelong Fan's Journey
Thompson's father, a semi-professional footballer, won two tickets to the 1966 final in a raffle at Chelmsford City in Essex. Now, Thompson has tickets for all England's group games and the final in the US. He said: "I was so young that I have no recollection other than the noise. I have tickets for all the group games and the final. I have to go back after the round of 32, but I have a ticket for the final."
His trip, including travel and tickets, cost about £20,000. Thompson, an Everton season ticket holder and president of Marine FC on Merseyside, has attended World Cups since 2010 in South Africa, Brazil, Russia, and Qatar. He said: "I've been going to the tournaments since 2010, so I didn't want to stop."
Commitment to England and the Cost of Fandom
Thompson only attends England games, explaining: "It's not worth going to watch another team when you've got to pay five or six hundred dollars to watch a team that you're not really following." Although he will return home for work mid-tournament, he plans to come back to the US if England reach the final. Before England's match against Ghana in Boston, he enjoyed a fishing trip.
England can secure a place in the knockout phase with a victory over Ghana. Meanwhile, Ghana's goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi is racing to prove his fitness after a groin injury sustained in the 1-0 win over Panama. The 29-year-old St. Gallen player was replaced at halftime but has returned to light training. Goalkeeper coach Daniel Gaspar is optimistic, saying the signs are good after initial fears his tournament was over.
