England fans go incognito in New York as dart fever takes over

The scene was set for England’s travelling army to take over Times Square on Friday, the eve of their crucial Group L fixture against Panama. But instead of the mass singalongs or elaborate rowing sessions seen from other nations, the Big Apple saw just two lads from Seaham Harbour holding up a St George’s flag.

The Big Apple's English silence

While Norwegian fans made headlines with their elliptical rowing machine and Germans attracted attention with questionable headgear, the English presence was notably muted. The only visible supporters at the iconic junction of Broadway and 42nd Street were Joe, a Florida-based Sunderland native who works in crowd control for Nasa, and his mate. Their sole celebration? A cheeky "arm curl"—raising a glass to the mouth. "We don’t usually do dances or anything like that," Joe explained. "We just like to do arm curls and have a good time."

Why darts?

The reason for the low-key atmosphere? Many England fans have apparently checked out of the World Cup hype and instead flocked to the US Darts Masters, a Professional Darts Corporation event being held in New York. With the Three Lions yet to secure their knockout berth, it seems a significant chunk of the support base has opted for arrows over goals. Whether this reflects a broader shift in fan culture or merely a unique New York side attraction remains to be seen.

What it means for the Three Lions

For Gareth Southgate’s side, the lack of fanfare might be a blessing. England have often struggled under the weight of expectation, and the relative anonymity in New York could allow the players to focus purely on the Panama match. A win would likely seal qualification, while a slip-up would leave them needing results elsewhere. Regardless, the sight of empty Times Square on the eve of such a vital game is an unusual twist in this World Cup narrative.

Looking ahead, the England fans who did attend the darts will no doubt rejoin the football chorus come kick-off. But the episode underscores how even the most passionate supporters can get distracted by alternative entertainment—especially when the team’s performance is far from guaranteed.