25,000 England fans descend on Dallas as Three Lions open World Cup campaign against Croatia

England’s World Cup campaign gets under way against Croatia at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, with up to 25,000 England supporters expected to fill the stands and create a Wembley-like atmosphere in Texas.

FIFA estimates that around 10,000 fans have made the transatlantic journey specifically for the match, while a further 15,000 or so British expatriates living in the United States are believed to have secured tickets. Downtown Dallas has already been transformed, with supporters gathering in the sunshine and singing “Football’s Coming Home” in the streets around the venue.

Gary Taylor, 64, a Spurs fan from Harold Wood, Essex, who travelled with his girlfriend Jo Lewis, 43, said the mood among England supporters was one of barely contained excitement. “We’ve been waiting for so long. We’re so excited we finally have our first game,” he said. Taylor and fellow fans also took time to visit the nearby grassy knoll, the site of President Kennedy’s assassination in 1963.

The match will be played in comfort despite the searing Dallas heat. FIFA has ordered the stadium roof to be closed and the air conditioning switched on, making the 80,000-seat venue — billed as the world’s largest air-conditioned room — a far more hospitable environment than the temperatures outside.

England’s preparations were disrupted by an injury blow on the eve of the game. Tino Livramento suffered an injury during a training session at the squad’s Kansas City base and was immediately ruled out of the tournament. He has been replaced in the squad by former Chelsea team-mate Trevor Chalobah.

Manager Thomas Tuchel and his squad flew to Dallas after their final training session in Kansas City and are staying at a downtown hotel previously used by the Netherlands squad for their group-stage match against Japan earlier in the week. Tuchel is occupying the same suite used by Dutch head coach Ronald Koeman — a notable detail given that Koeman publicly criticised England’s tactical approach shortly before the tournament began.

Among those making the journey by road is Sam Bannister, 41, from Leeds, who drove overnight from Kansas City — an eight-hour, 500-mile trip — alongside his best friend Chris Thomas, 40, also originally from Leeds, to ensure they reached the stadium in time. “It will be a road trip and we will share the driving. But we cannot wait,” Bannister said.