Thousands of England fans have descended on Miami ahead of the World Cup quarter-final against Norway, with one of the youngest supporters being six-year-old Harry Silcock from Wigan. The boy, who should be at primary school, told reporters shyly: “I think England will win the World Cup.”
England Fan Invasion Underway in Miami
An estimated 30,000 England supporters are expected inside Miami Stadium for the match on Saturday night. The south Florida city has seen a surge of fans flying in for their first game of the tournament. Among them are Ollie Lewis, 23, Alfie Hepper, 24, and Archie Ferris, 23, all from Bristol.
The heat is intense, with authorities issuing an “extreme heat warning” and advising fans to drink water instead of beer. However, many fans are ignoring the advisory. Jamie Smith, from Birmingham, said: “We got in last night. I know they are saying be careful of the beers – but we will take no notice we will carry on drinking. And there’s not doubt it’s coming home.”
Fans Booked Flights Months Ago
Smith and his friends booked their flights back at Christmas, gambling that England would progress. Some have match tickets; others are hoping to buy them on the spot, carrying thousands of dollars to secure last-minute deals.
Yulissa Escobar, landlady of the Ball and Chain pub, said: “The Scottish fans were fantastic and drank us dry – we are hoping England fans will do exactly the same.”
David Beckham Expected to Attend
David Beckham, who owns Inter Miami and has a home in the city, is expected to attend the match to support Thomas Tuchel’s men. The former England captain has been spotted in Miami recently.
On South Beach, Chris Silcock, 46, a commercial director from Wigan, was with his son Harry. He said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Once we had beaten Mexico at the weekend I had a chat with my wife, who is a teacher, and we decided to come over. Harry will remember this for the rest of his life so we decided it was worth taking him out of school for a few days.” Chris paid £6,000 for two tickets.
England Aiming for Semi-Finals
Victory against Norway would send England into the semi-finals for the first time since 2018, when they lost to Croatia. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has hinted that an England World Cup win could lead to an extra bank holiday, but said: “I don't want to jinx it, but ask me again if we get to the final.”
