FIFA says it is currently unaware of any supporters gaining entry to England’s opening World Cup fixture against Croatia without valid tickets. Reports citing eyewitness accounts from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, claimed that large numbers of fans had bypassed security and entered the stadium without being checked.
One witness told Mail Sport: “There were big gaps at the side of the ticket barriers and people just strolled through. There were volunteers who were basically old ladies and they weren’t stopping anyone.”
A FIFA spokesperson responded: “At this stage, we have no indication of fans entering the stadium without a valid match ticket for the game in question.”
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The official attendance recorded for the match was recorded as 70,389, just below the 70,649 official capacity confirmed ahead of the tournament by FIFA. Ticket pricing for the competition has been among the most hotly debated topics in the run-up to the event.
The most affordable tickets available through England’s supporter travel scheme were originally priced at £198 for the Croatia fixture, but following a fierce backlash from fans, FIFA committed to making 10 per cent of tickets per match within this allocation available for 60 US dollars (£45).
View 2 Images(Image: Alex Pantling – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Harry Kane’s double helped England to a thrilling 4-2 win over Croatia as Tuchel’s men made an bright start to their World Cup campaign. It was somewhat of a rollercoaster in the Group L opener at the Dallas Cowboys’ spectacular AT&T Stadium.
Kane’s early penalty was wiped out by a superb Martin Baturina strike, before the captain drew level with Gary Lineker’s World Cup goalscoring tally for England by nodding home a Declan Rice corner.
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Croatia equalised once more through Petar Musa just before the interval, when assistant Anthony Barry raged about England’s “complicated and confusing” performance as Tuchel sought to reinvigorate his players.
Whatever words were exchanged in the changing room proved effective as Jude Bellingham fired the Euro 2024 runners-up back in front within two minutes of the second half.
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Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic’s inspired showing thwarted England as they unleashed a relentless wave of attacks, but substitute Marcus Rashford would seal victory late on.
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