England’s ritual of Wonderwall and Hey Jude fuels hope in World Cup

Harry Kane's strike against Croatia in Dallas sparked England's win in Group L, prompting a sea of supporters to belt out Oasis' "Wonderwall" before the team celebrated with The Beatles' "Hey Jude", a ritual that has now become a hallmark of England's 2026 World Cup campaign. After the win over Croatia in Dallas, thousands of England supporters sang Oasis' "Wonderwall" before the team, with Harry Kane standing a few paces ahead, hands on hips, soaking in the atmosphere. The chant then shifted to The Beatles' "Hey Jude", where cameras focused on Jude Bellingham, who smiled bashfully as fans chanted his name. A similar scene unfolded after the victory against Panama in New Jersey, and Bellingham again received the Player of the Match award for his performance. England's hopes of ending nearly six decades of World Cup disappointment rest on captain Harry Kane, the nation's all‑time leading goalscorer, and midfield prodigy Jude Bellingham, still in his early twenties. In the group stage, Kane has scored three goals while Bellingham has added two, underscoring their pivotal roles.

England's ritual of songs fuels belief in Kane and Bellingham

The group stage has also featured a prolific scoring parade, with Lionel Messi (six), Ousmane Dembélé (four), Erling Haaland (four), Kylian Mbappé (four) and Viní Jr. (four) combining for 22 goals in 1,538 minutes of play. England endured a goalless draw with Ghana and a goalless first half against Panama, prompting audible groans from the crowd. Yet the belief in Kane and Bellingham's ability to seize decisive moments kept the team’s morale high. Head coach Thomas Tuchel, nicknamed "Tournament Thomas", was appointed for his knack of navigating knockout football, having guided Chelsea to the 2021 Champions League title within five months. Tuchel’s right‑hand man, assistant Anthony Barry, described the competition as “a tournament of moments”, noting that the environments do not facilitate world‑class football. He warned that the team that wins the World Cup will be the one that can produce those moments despite suffering. With England currently trailing France, Spain and Argentina in bookmakers’ odds, the reliance on Kane and Bellingham’s moments positions the Three Lions as serious contenders in the knockout rounds. Across venues from Dallas to New York, fans wear shirts emblazoned with Kane’s number 9 or Bellingham’s number 10, a visible sign of the belief that the duo hold the keys to England’s success.