London to screen World Cup final if England reaches showpiece event

By Bilal Ahmed — 15 July 2026 — 4 min read

London Prepares for Potential Final Screening

London City Hall is making arrangements for a public screening of the World Cup final, should England advance past Argentina in the semi-final match. The O2 Arena is considered the most probable location for this event, having previously hosted a similar viewing for the Euro 2024 final between England and Spain.

Despite these plans, some football supporters in London have expressed disappointment that no official screening was organized for the semi-final match against Argentina. In 2018, when the England men’s team last reached the World Cup semi-finals, City Hall and the government facilitated a ballot that allowed 30,000 fans to watch the game on large screens in Hyde Park.

That previous event in Hyde Park was feasible due to the park already being operational for its summer music series, with no conflicting events scheduled for the night of the England versus Croatia match. However, this year, the park’s summer series has concluded, and it was determined that there was insufficient time to safely organize a large-scale gathering, especially since England’s semi-final qualification was only confirmed after an extra-time victory over Norway.

Regarding the absence of a semi-final screening, City Hall stated that the mayor has been impressed by England’s performance. While there are no plans for a screening of the match against Argentina, the mayor hopes the team will reach the final. Instead, Londoners are encouraged to support England by gathering in the capital’s pubs, clubs, bars, and hospitality venues, thereby also supporting the local hospitality industry.

Should England win the trophy, a victory celebration in London is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, 21 July. The final, set to take place in New York/New Jersey, will kick off at 20:00 BST on Sunday and could extend until approximately 23:00 if it goes to penalties. The organization of a potential parade would involve City Hall, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Westminster City Council, and the FA, and is anticipated to attract a significant crowd.

Wembley Unavailable for Final Screening

While England is one victory away from their first World Cup final appearance in 60 years, supporters hoping to watch the potential final at Wembley Stadium will be unable to do so. The stadium, often referred to as the ‘Home of Football’, will not be available to host a large fan screening.

This is due to a prior commitment: Wembley is scheduled to host Bruno Mars as part of his world tour. The American artist is set to perform at the national stadium on Sunday, 19 July, with the concert commencing at 4:30pm. This scheduling conflict means the venue will be unavailable for any World Cup final screening.

Mars has six shows booked at Wembley over a two-week period, and Sunday’s concert directly clashes with the World Cup final, which begins at 8pm UK time. Consequently, England fans who had hoped to experience the occasion at the country’s largest football stadium will need to seek alternative venues if Thomas Tuchel’s side overcomes Argentina.

Despite Wembley’s unavailability, there are expected to be numerous alternatives for England fans. While it would have been a unique experience to watch England in a World Cup final at Wembley Stadium, Mars’ long-standing booking makes this impossible. It remains to be seen whether other football stadiums across the country will open their doors if England reaches the final. However, pubs, fan parks, and dedicated watch parties throughout the UK are anticipated to provide ample opportunities for supporters to witness what could be a historic night.

Bognor Regis Plans for Community Viewing

In addition to London’s plans, Bognor Regis is also preparing for a potential World Cup final screening. The Bognor Regis Town Council has allocated £5,000 to set up a large outdoor screen in West Park, complete with security and toilet facilities.

Councillors considered whether the screen should be erected regardless of which teams reach the final. However, it was ultimately decided that there might not be sufficient public interest for an 8pm match on Sunday, 19 July, if England did not qualify for the final.

These local initiatives highlight the community’s anticipation and desire to collectively experience a potential historic moment for England in the World Cup.

Source: bbc.co.uk