​The World Cup is a celebration designed to bring people together, and George & Dragon: An English Pub embodies that spirit nearly every night, regulars would tell you, with or without the tournament. For now, though, the energy rises even higher when crowds gather to watch stars like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, and Erling Haaland—even after the U.S., Canada, and Mexico have been eliminated. “This place opened in 1995, and we’ve shown every World Cup since,” George & Dragon’s general manager James Blea said. “We’re going to get a huge draw for England, and the final is always packed here.” A big draw is precisely what they saw on Saturday, July 11.
The 31-year-old pub was packed to the brim, so crowded that moving around or ordering a drink was a challenge, yet the beers kept flowing and the excitement swelled. As the game began, the venue, which could pass for a quintessential English pub at this point, buzzed with anticipation. Jonah Baker, born in England but now living in the United States and Arizona for work, was fired up for England’s quarterfinal clash against Norway. “What I love about this place is that it really feels like a slice of home,” Baker said. “I haven’t lived in England in 12 years, but I’ve been coming here for the games, and if you woke up here without remembering how you got here, you’d think you were in England.” His friend, Phoenix native Tyler Rand, described how the crowd’s energy had him ready for the rest of the World Cup. “I’m a U.S. first and foremost,” Rand explained, “but after they got knocked out, I wasn’t sure who I was going to root for. But you come here to watch the England games, and it’s hard not to root for them.”
While most patrons sang England’s unofficial World Cup anthem “Wonderwall” and shouted “Let’s go England,” a smaller contingent of Norway supporters brought their own excitement to the room. Among them, many rooted for the Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, yet one Norway fan stood out for her leadership in the crowd. Elli Berg, born in Norway, living in Maryland, and visiting her son in Arizona, led the famous Norway row chants out front. Berg felt instantly at home inside George & Dragon. “It does remind me of Europe,” she said. “I think it comes down to the people—the love of football is everywhere, and you hear the English accents… it’s a special experience, even if I’m on the wrong side this time.”
When England triumphed over Norway in extra time, 2-1, the bar erupted. Beer showers erupted from many glasses as the crowd celebrated, and the sense of shared joy was palpable throughout the room. The moment was more than just a win; it was a testament to the pub’s role as a gathering place where fans can feel connected to a larger footballing world, even miles from the action in Europe. George & Dragon has a long history of hosting such moments, and its supporters know that the next tournament, the next match, and the next shared cheer are just around the corner.