​Pubs, fan zones, and streets across London erupted on Saturday night as England edged Norway 2-1 after extra time to reach the World Cup semi-finals. Crowds packed venues from Boxpark Wembley to the Clapham Grand, with bottles and beer flying through the air and fans spilling onto the roads in Fulham as the final whistle blew. The mood tightened across the city as Erling Haaland and his teammates pressed for a second goal, but Jude Bellingham had already equalised in stoppage-time of the first half, receiving Anthony Gordon’s pass and firing a low shot into the bottom corner. The match went into extra time, where Bellingham struck again in the 93rd minute, pouncing on a rebound after Morgan Rogers’ shot was parried by goalkeeper Orjan Nyland.
Footage circulated on social media showing celebrations across central London, with Regent Street and Piccadilly crawling to a standstill as fans cheered and danced in the road, and some even climbing scaffolding to share in the moment. Fireworks lit up the sky while cars inched along, many waving England flags in jubilation. Scenes of jubilation spread to the streets of Fulham, where celebrations continued late into the night. One fan told the BBC, “It was very tense, but I was very confident that we would qualify. People need to put respect on Jude Bellingham, this is a world-class player.” The moment of the comeback arrived with Bellingham’s second goal, a decisive strike that confirmed England’s progress to the semi-finals.
In the aftermath, fans embraced and cheered in various parts of the city. There were jubilant scenes around Boxpark Wembley as full-time whistle confirmed England’s advancement, while others gathered in pubs and fan zones to toast the historic win. The result marked England’s first World Cup semi-final appearance since the 2018 campaign in Russia. Now Gareth Southgate’s side look ahead to a semi-final showdown with defending champions Argentina, scheduled for Wednesday. The anticipation builds as supporters across London and beyond prepare for another chapter in England’s World Cup journey.
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