Joyful—and visibly relieved—England supporters filled packed pubs across London during the early hours of Sunday, celebrating a tense World Cup quarter-final win over Norway that sent the team into the semi-finals.
England edge past Norway in extra-time thriller
Olly Aleksejuk, 32, described it as the sort of match England fans know all too well after the side rallied from a goal down to secure a 2-1 victory following extra-time.
“Classic England,” said Aleksejuk, an IT worker, who watched the game on a large screen set up outside a bar in south London, adding that he wanted the result to come with less stress.
Norway stunned the competition in Miami when Andreas Schjelderup put them ahead, but Jude Bellingham levelled the scores just before half-time.
England then had to absorb pressure after Norway were denied a second strike during the second half. The goal was ruled out following a VAR check connected to a foul involving Erling Haaland.
Bellingham ultimately delivered in the decisive moment, firing home a rebound to set up an upcoming last-four tie against either Argentina or Switzerland on Wednesday.
Supporters in London celebrate Bellingham’s impact
Lucy Bickley, 30, watched from the same south London area and singled out Bellingham as the reason the night felt manageable even as the match tightened.
“You just know he’s going to pull through,” she told AFP at the bar, while Bickley, who works in marketing, added that it felt as though the outcome was never truly in doubt.
Elsewhere around the capital, roughly 1,600 supporters wearing St George’s flag bucket hats gathered at Boxpark in Wembley, in north-west London.
There, fans threw themselves into celebrations, singing the Beatles’ “Hey Jude” and “Three Lions,” including its well-known chorus, “It’s coming home.”
Fabian Maddix, 31, said his confidence wavered after Norway’s early breakthrough, but that he still believed England would respond.
“I had hopes but after the first goal went in from them, I started doubting things, but I always believe,” Maddix said, speaking to the Press Association.
Late-night scenes and official congratulations
The government extended licensing hours for hospitality venues across England and Wales until 2:00 am, helping fuel the post-match atmosphere as celebrations rolled into the early morning.
As the referee’s whistle confirmed England’s passage to the last four shortly before 1:00 am, supporters spilled out in Camden, north London, singing while drivers honked their car horns and cyclists rang their bells.
Prime public figures also joined in. Prince William was among the first to send congratulations on social media, writing: “Well done England! Top performance in a tough environment.”
William added: “This is a special team. Commiserations to a proud Norway team. Onto the semi-final. Never in doubt!”
Ahead of the game, St George’s flags were displayed at 10 Downing Street, the official residence of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Starmer then joined the prince in praising the squad and drew a connection to past history, referencing Bjorge Lillelien’s well-known commentary when Norway beat England 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier in 1981.
On X, Starmer tagged Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Store, posting: “Norway 1 – 2 Jude Bellingham. @JonasGahrStore, your boys took one hell of a beating.”
What happens next: semi-final expectations
Back outside the south London bar, Henry Freestone, 32, predicted England could go all the way, saying he expected the team to reach their first World Cup final since lifting the trophy in 1966.
“I think we’re getting to the final, and who knows what happens? Hopefully we go all the way,” Freestone told AFP.
