England’s World Cup campaign got off to a dream start as the Three Lions secured a thrilling 4-2 victory over Croatia in Dallas — and the celebrations continued long after the final whistle when several stars shared emotional moments with their partners in the stands.
Thomas Tuchel’s side overcame one of their toughest group-stage opponents in style, with captain Harry Kane scoring twice before Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford completed the scoring in an entertaining contest.
As jubilant fans sang Football’s Coming Home and belted out Oasis classic Wonderwall, the players made their way into the crowd to celebrate with their loved ones.
Harry Kane was pictured sharing a sweet kiss with wife Kate after leading England to victory, while goal scorer Jude Bellingham embraced and kissed influencer girlfriend Ashlyn Castro.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford also celebrated England’s winning start with wife Megan, with the couple enjoying a heartfelt embrace after the final whistle. Ollie Watkins was seen holding his young son while sharing a kiss with partner Ellie in one of the evening’s most touching family moments.
Several members of England’s WAG contingent had travelled from Miami, where the players’ families are based during the tournament. Among those enjoying the occasion were John Stones’ wife Olivia, Ollie Watkins’ partner Ellie and Bellingham’s girlfriend Ashlyn, who all documented the memorable evening on social media.
Megan Pickford embraced the Texas atmosphere with a denim cowboy hat featuring her husband’s squad number, while other glamorous partners showcased designer accessories as they watched from the stands.
However, the evening almost began with a headache for the WAGs after strict stadium regulations forced them to comply with handbag size restrictions before entering Dallas Stadium.
Ellie Watkins was spotted carrying a black Chanel vanity case worth more than £5,000, while Megan Pickford opted for a white Lady Dior bag valued at over £2,500.
Inside the 80,000-capacity stadium, a crowd of 70,398 fans created a carnival atmosphere.
Among them was John Irvin, 67, from Buckinghamshire, who is cycling across America and attending every England group game. Reflecting on the victory, he said: “We won, good game, but we do make it hard for ourselves.”
“But second half we were unstoppable. Now it’s back on the bike and on to the next one.”
Mr Irvin, who has spent £25,000 on his month-long adventure, added: “I’ve left the wife at home, closed my catering business and going to all the England group ones and, if we make the final, that one as well.”
Eighteen-year-old Lancaster University student Daniel Marland was equally optimistic. He said: “It was an incredibly positive result. I am confident we will win it all.”
His father John added: “The most important thing is the win, which puts us in a great position for the next group games.”
Manchester City supporter Mike Andrews, who travelled from Cornwall, said: “A win is massive to start the tournament. This was our biggest group game test and now we’ve already almost qualified. There’s no reason we can’t go all the way.”
Southend fan James Wombwell described it as “the perfect start”, adding that beating Croatia provided a huge confidence boost.
Ricky Wiseman, who attended with his two sons, summed up the mood among England supporters, saying: “We got what we deserved. It should have been more. It’s coming home!”
Back in Britain, an estimated 16 million viewers watched the game from homes and pubs, with around 24 million pints consumed as fans celebrated England’s emphatic opening victory.
The British Beer and Pub Association predicted a huge boost for the industry, with chief executive Emma McClarkin saying: “We anticipated an extra five million pints being pulled in pubs for England’s first game as we all cheer on the team, in a massive boost for the sector.”
Meanwhile, BrightHR chief executive Alan Price warned that employers were preparing for a spike in absences, saying: “Employers are bracing for ‘Hangover Thursday’ and we predict a sharp rise in absenteeism due to many fans’ sore heads.”
England now turn their attention to Group L clashes against Ghana and Panama after making the perfect start to their World Cup journey.
But for one night in Dallas, the football took a back seat as the players celebrated with the people closest to them — with kisses, hugs and unforgettable family moments bringing an emotional end to a memorable evening.
