England fans pack Dallas pub to celebrate World Cup victory over Croatia

The Londoner reached capacity as supporters cheered England's 4-2 win.

The final whistle may have ended the match, but the celebration was just getting started for England supporters in North Texas.

Fans packed The Londoner in Addison following England's 4-2 World Cup victory over Croatia, turning the pub into a sea of cheers, chants and celebration. The crowd remained energized long after the match ended, reflecting the tournament atmosphere that has spread well beyond the stadium.

For Stephanie Castle, who traveled from London, the experience was unforgettable.

"Every time I watch them I feel so proud. I'm so proud to be English and now I’m here in a place like this where everybody else is cheering for the team as well and they deserve it,"said Castle.

Throughout the match, fans erupted whenever England scored, with supporters crowding around screens and celebrating each goal together.

Gary Sylvas, bar manager at The Londoner, said the level of enthusiasm from England supporters has been remarkable.

"These are fans that like sleep in the parking lot to get in the door its just a diff level of fanatical," Sylvas.

The celebration at The Londoner was only one stop on a day filled with fan activity. Earlier, supporters gathered outside England's team hotel in Dallas to catch a glimpse of players as they departed for the match.

By kickoff, The Londoner had reached capacity, and a line formed outside as additional fans tried to get inside.

Several supporters said the atmosphere was as memorable as the match itself.

Another fan said sharing the experience with loved ones made the day even more meaningful.

"I’m happy to be celebrating the game with my family bc they actually are my family,"said Castle.

Sylvas said the massive turnout has become the norm during the tournament.

Asked about the most popular drink among fans, Sylvas said: "What’s the beverage of choice? I mean we’re going through a lot of Guinness."

To accommodate the crowds, he said the pub hired additional staff for the next five weeks.

With alcohol sales doubling during the tournament, the World Cup has also become a major boost for business. But for many fans gathered in Addison, the focus remained squarely on supporting England and celebrating a victory with fellow supporters.

The influx forced the Dallas pub to close on Wednesday on the order of the fire marshal, according to a Facebook post from the establishment.

"Thank you to those of us who saw the mayhem that descended upon us and understand we did our very best to manage the situation. The sales are overinflated in reports and do not account for the destruction of our property and landscaping: We are incredibly grateful for the business and have done our absolute best to manage it," the business said in a Facebook post.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.