England supporters have adopted Oasis's 'Wonderwall' as the team's unofficial World Cup anthem, more than three decades after its release. The song has been belted out by fans from Texas to Massachusetts, and the players have joined in too.
With the Three Lions set to face tournament co-hosts Mexico on Sunday evening in Mexico City, the anthem will soon be heard there as well. For fans back home, the match kicks off at 1am on Monday, but the singing is expected to carry on regardless.
The surge in popularity is a spontaneous cultural moment rather than an official campaign, reflecting the deep emotional connection fans feel with the tune. It has not been formally endorsed by the Football Association.
Mexico last hosted the World Cup in 1986, but that tournament nearly did not happen. A devastating earthquake struck Mexico City, leaving at least 5,000 dead — a toll some estimates put as high as 40,000 — and raising serious questions about the country's ability to host.
The 1986 disaster serves as a somber backdrop to this year's festive atmosphere, though no such threats hang over the current tournament.