Bellingham lookalikes and Etsy witch spells: England fans brace for Argentina semi-final

England fans are pulling out every stop ahead of the country’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday, with hundreds of thousands expected to pack pubs and bars as Thomas Tuchel’s side bid to reach a first men’s World Cup final in 60 years.

The British Beer and Pub Association has estimated a 75 per cent surge in beer sales, with pubs forecast to pour an extra six million pints on the night.

Ahead of kick-off, dozens gathered for a Jude Bellingham lookalike contest at BOXPARK in Shoreditch. The winner took home £1,966 in Deliveroo credit — a figure chosen as a nod to England’s last World Cup triumph in 1966. Elsewhere, fans have been sharing on social media that they are backing Tuchel’s team by purchasing “spells” from self-proclaimed witches on Etsy, hoping supernatural assistance will do what 60 years of football has not.

Tuchel acknowledged the weight of the occasion, saying his side were ready to face an Argentina team “fuelled by history”.

Major public screenings are taking place across the country. Leeds City Council is hosting fans in Millennium Square on a high-definition LED screen with concert-style sound, while London’s Alexandra Palace is promising “football anthems, singalongs and pre-match classics” before the game. Manchester’s Castlefield Bowl and Silverworks Island are also opening their outdoor spaces, with festival-style build-ups planned at both venues. Several cinema chains, including Vue and Picturehouse, are also screening the match.

British Airways said it would keep cabin crew updated on the score so they could relay information to passengers unable to watch.

Should England win, London City Hall is set to organise a screening for the final, with the O2 Arena earmarked as the likely venue. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who told MPs at his final Prime Minister’s Questions that he had “an important appointment with the television”, is expected to declare a Bank Holiday if England go on to win the tournament.

The winner of tonight’s semi-final will face Spain on Sunday at the New York New Jersey Stadium.