England fans flood Miami ahead of Norway quarter-final with 30,000 expected at stadium

Thousands of England supporters have converged on Miami ahead of Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway, with an estimated 30,000 Three Lions fans expected inside Miami Stadium as Thomas Tuchel’s side bid to reach a first semi-final since 2018.

South Beach and the surrounding area have taken on a distinctly English flavour, with supporters arriving from across the country — many of them attending their first game of the tournament. One group of six from Birmingham booked their flights as far back as Christmas, gambling that England would progress deep into the competition. Some have tickets; others are carrying large sums of cash in the hope of buying them on the day.

Among the thousands making the trip is six-year-old Harry Silcock, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, who is attending the match with his father Chris. Pulled out of primary school for the occasion, Harry offered a quietly confident verdict on England’s chances: “I think England will win the World Cup.”

Chris, 46, a commercial director, described the decision to bring his son as straightforward despite the cost. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” he said. “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. Tickets weren’t cheap — I paid £6,000 for two — let’s hope it’s worth it.”

The extreme heat in south Florida has prompted local authorities to issue a warning urging fans to drink water rather than alcohol, advice that at least one group of supporters made clear they intended to ignore. “I know they are saying be careful of the beers — but we will take no notice,” said Jamie Smith from Birmingham. “And there’s no doubt it’s coming home.”

Local businesses are welcoming the influx. Yulissa Escobar, landlady of the Ball and Chain pub, said Scottish fans earlier in the tournament had “drank us dry” and expressed hope that England supporters would do the same.

David Beckham, who owns Inter Miami and has a home in the city, is expected to attend to support Tuchel’s side. A win on Saturday would send England into the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2018, when Croatia eliminated them at that stage. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has hinted that an England victory in the tournament could result in an extra bank holiday for the country.