England supporters at the World Cup have remained largely unnoticed, with only 10,000 expected to travel and no arrests reported in the three weeks since their arrival. While other nations have drawn media attention with viral stunts in Times Square, English fans have kept a low profile, with many opting to attend the US Darts Masters at Madison Square Garden instead of official fan events.
Minimal Media Presence in Times Square
On Friday, ahead of England's decisive Group L match against Panama, news crews gathered at Times Square hoping to capture fan activity, but encountered only two men holding a St George's flag with "Seaham Harbour" written on it. Joe, one of the flag bearers from Florida via Sunderland, who works for NASA in crowd control, explained: "We don't usually do dances or anything like that. We just like to do arm curls, as we call it, and have a good time." He mimed raising a glass to his mouth.
No Arrests Among England Supporters
The lack of attention is largely positive, as there has been no trouble. No England supporter has been arrested in the US during the three weeks of the tournament. The only minor friction occurred in Boston earlier this week, where some bar owners politely indicated they would rather serve Scottish fans.
Different Fan Culture
English fans behave differently from other nations. While many European countries have central fan groups organizing marches and chants, England does not. On Friday, the only official event for fans was a ticketed watch-along organized by Sports Direct at Carragher's bar in downtown New York, where Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher once held a stake. The company has also sponsored events in Dallas and Boston, and paid for BBC podcaster Steve Bracknell to drive a bus across the US. Sports Direct claims it is the only company providing such activities, despite widespread corporate sponsorship at the World Cup.
Darts Draws England Fans
Despite the Sports Direct event being sold out with free tickets and Beckham mohican haircuts, most England fans seeking gatherings headed to the US Darts Masters at Madison Square Garden. The event was packed with England fans on the first day, belting out "Chase the Sun," and numbers were expected to increase on Friday.
Financial Strain on Fans
Jack, from Oldham, has been in the US for three weeks, watching every England game and traveling to Los Angeles and Kansas City. He admitted his budget was "kind of on track, but I think this weekend it's going to go out the window. I'm going to the darts tonight, so that's going to be a fortune." He noted that drinks at matchday stadiums cost $20 each, adding: "You have a few in the ground and before you know it, that's like 50 quid just disappeared. But you just don't care. The buzz is there, the adrenaline is there and you just ... Deal with it when you get back." Jack has booked flights covering the rest of the tournament, including the final, if England progress as Group L winners. "Obviously the Ghana draw was a scare," he said, "but the price of flights has just been going up and up."
Support and Cost-Saving Tips
The Football Supporters Association has been providing embassy services for fans, sharing tips on how to eat and drink cheaply in New York City. Many fans have opted to stay in Hoboken or Jersey City instead of Manhattan to save money. England's New York moment may not have happened yet, but if the team performs well against Panama, there will be time for that.
