England’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina on Wednesday has triggered a dual story: a lifeline for beleaguered pub landlords at home and a security alert in Atlanta, where police fear a 50-50 split of rival fans could turn ugly.
At the British Oak in Kingswinford, near Dudley, manager Lisa Mayall is expecting takings to treble when the 8pm BST kick-off fills both indoor and outdoor screens. “I think our sales will treble on Wednesday night especially as we’ve got Argentina – there’s so much rivalry and it could be payback for the Hand of God,” she said, referring to Maradona’s infamous 1986 goal. Saturday’s 2-1 extra-time win over Norway had already been a roaring success, with customers serenading Jude Bellingham with Hey Jude after the local lad scored both goals. “The whole room was singing Wonderwall, followed by Hey Jude, followed by It’s Coming Home,” Mayall recalled. National sales are up 10% overall, and UK Hospitality chief executive Allen Simpson noted that 5.5m extra pints were sold during the group stages alone. “Having 8pm games gives pubs a chance to make the absolute most of it,” he said.
“Pubs boom as England face Argentina; police in Atlanta brace for fan clashes amid historical tensions.”
But across the Atlantic, Atlanta Police Department is on red alert. The semi-final at the 75,000-seat Mercedes-Benz Stadium will have limited segregation. Tickets sold by FIFA allow rival fans to sit together, and police are braced for a 50-50 split. The historical context stretches from Maradona’s Hand of God to the Falklands war, which Argentina’s players sang about after beating Switzerland on Sunday. The teams have not met for more than two decades. So far, England fans have been praised for their behaviour – only four arrests were made in Miami after the Norway win – but Atlanta police have enhanced their citywide security, deploying additional personnel in entertainment districts. “These proactive measures are designed to protect the public,” the department said in a statement.
For Mayall, Wednesday is about business and belief. The outdoor screen that she had to avoid using for late kick-offs will finally be in use, doubling capacity to 400. But the question hanging over the evening is whether the football will be the only fireworks.
