England supporters disregarded police instructions and continued drinking at a Dallas pub, purchasing over 5,000 beers prior to the Three Lions’ World Cup match against Croatia. The Londoner Pub in Dallas had advertised a later closing time, but fans were eventually asked to leave by bar staff and two police officers just before 10 pm. Despite the pub being cleared, many fans lingered on the balcony for a couple of hours.
The closure was attributed to the venue reaching maximum capacity, with only two security guards present. Before shutting down, the pub managed to sell 2,352 bottles of beer, totaling more than 5,000 beers and generating over £30,000 in revenue.
Following the balcony gathering, Dallas Police Department vehicles lined the street as officers monitored chanting English fans for about 20 minutes before relocating to a nearby area. Fans then engaged in impromptu football matches on the road and balcony, occasionally causing minor disturbances to nearby vehicles.
After the event, several England fans stayed behind to assist bar staff in cleaning up the aftermath. The gathering began with supporters displaying St George’s flags, wearing costumes, and singing chants under the hot Dallas sun.
Event organizer John Gallivan from Bristol noted the challenges of coordinating fans in the vast expanse of Texas compared to previous tournaments in Europe. He emphasized the difficulty of navigating such a large country but succeeded in bringing fans together for the event.
The absence of an early police presence allowed fans to enjoy the evening peacefully, with chants and camaraderie enhancing the atmosphere. Gallivan expressed disappointment that some loyal supporters couldn’t attend due to the high costs associated with the tournament, blaming FIFA for pricing out dedicated fans.
As Croatia faced off against Thomas Tuchel’s team at the AT&T Stadium, hopes were high among the nation as they awaited the outcome of the match.
