Thousands of England fans were singing 'Football's Coming Home' as the big World Cup kick off finally arrives for Harry Kane and Co.19:41, 17 Jun 2026England fans takeover Dallas fanzone ahead of Croatia gameThousands of England fans were watching their heroes in World Cup fan zones due to the cost of match tickets.‌The Texas Live Fanzone has a giant 100ft screen, plus live DJs, interactive crowd games, interactive fan games, and the Lone Star Dance Squad bringing "nonstop match-day energy". Mark and Michelle Lynch, from Fort Lauderdale, won $500 four tickets on a FIFA draw to book the trip of a lifetime.‌Their son Finley plays for Inter Miami under eights, as well as the son of Lionel Messi, Ciro, who plays 'just like his dad'. So Finley joined them with his grandfather Christopher Morby, 72, from Surrey.‌Mark, 44, originally from Bournemouth, said: "I registered on the FIFA site, entered the lottery and won the tickets. So we are here in the fanzone to enjoy the atmosphere and going to the game."Finley, eight, said: "It is amazing that dad won the tickets. Ciro is a very good player, just like his dad."‌Michelle, 41, added: "Lionel Messi's English is not so good but his wife Antonella speaks excellent English. They are a lovely family and Lionel comes along to training every week to see his son. He is a very good dad."The arena inside the fan zone was festooned with flags from Stoke City, Brits in St Louis, West Ham United and Oldham Athletic. The joint was really jumping every time a record played with fans revelling in the big match atmosphere.Joe Salazar, 38, from Blackburn had travelled from Vancouver after buying 500 dollar tickets on the FIFA website.‌"It has been a great trip, the people here have been so hospitable," he said. "But we are raring to go for the game."Kyle d'Souza, 34, of the Dallas Reds, a Man Utd supporters group, said the party with family and friends had an atmosphere to rival the magnificent 70,000-seater Dallas stadium. He met his hero Peter Schmeichel who was in town commentating for a US network before the Three Lions took on Croatia and said: "For an American football fan, this is a dream come true.‌"There is no bigger game than England and we have got them here for the World Cup. I not only watch United but I also love to follow England."The Dutch have already partied there following their 2-2 draw with Japan. Danny Stewart, 55, a cousin of former Spurs, Liverpool and Man City star Paul Stewart, travelled from his home in Nashville, Tennessee, to be at the game."It is a different world out here," he said. "There is so much competition to football. I used to watch the Vancouver Whitecaps when we lived in Canada and they had Alan Ball and Peter Lorimer.‌"We thought the game would take off then; now it is getting better with Messi and Beckham in Miami. But the TV commentator said it was the end of the first quarter of one of the games that I was watching. I hope that FIFA does not change the game too much."The first wave of WAGs are believed to be in Dallas. Captain Harry Kane, 32, was pictured with his wife, Kate, at their training base in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.Article continues belowShe wrote simply "Recharged" in a post after the England captain and his team completed a tough session. Other families have also made the trip, including Mark Bellingham, the dad of midfielder Jude.Newcastle Utd defender Dan Burn, 34, holidayed in Florida with his wife, Roz, and children Indi and Ari and confirmed they were going to the game. Megan Pickford, 30, is understood to be traveling to the US after a Caribbean break.The players' families were encouraged to holiday with the stars in the same time zone before the squad met for training. Arsenal stars were given extra time off due to the Champions League final at the weekend. Bukayo Saka's girlfriend Tolami Benson, 26, and Chelsea captain Reece James's partner Mia McClenaghan are due to attend the games.