England's DR Congo victory breaks mobile traffic records as fans stream during commute

England’s 2026 World Cup victory over DR Congo on Wednesday evening broke mobile data records across the UK’s largest networks, as millions of fans streamed the 5pm kick-off during their evening commute, new figures from EE and O2 reveal.

EE registered an all-time peak in network traffic during the match, soaring 42 per cent above average Wednesday levels. O2 simultaneously recorded its biggest mobile traffic spike in history, surpassing its previous record — set during the Arsenal vs PSG UEFA Champions League final in May — by 20.4 per cent. Overall mobile traffic on O2’s network ran 27.7 per cent higher than a typical week.

Jeanie York, chief technology officer at Virgin Media O2, said: “Live sport is one of the biggest drivers of mobile traffic in the UK and England’s victory over DR Congo set a new record on O2’s network. With millions of fans following the match during the evening commute, reliable mobile connectivity has never been more important.”

The effects extended well beyond mobile data. High street footfall rose 7.4 per cent week on week on Wednesday, according to data from MRI Software, driven by a 15 per cent increase across high streets nationally. Activity built steadily throughout the afternoon, with high street visits jumping 28 per cent between 2pm and 5pm as workers left early to meet friends and gather in pubs, bars, and fan zones ahead of kick-off.

London felt the impact most sharply. Office-dense locations in the capital recorded a 31.7 per cent uplift during that afternoon window, while overall footfall across the city rose 46.7 per cent week on week. Visits after 5pm were also up 13.3 per cent, underlining how major sporting events are increasingly stretching the evening economy beyond the final whistle.

An MRI Software spokesman said: “Rather than heading straight home, many workers appear to have stayed in town to watch the game in nearby pubs, bars and fan zones, providing a welcome boost to both hospitality and the wider evening economy. The data continues to reinforce how major sporting events are becoming social occasions that extend far beyond the 90 minutes on the pitch.”