London to host mass screenings if England beats Argentina to make World Cup final - with up to 20,000 fans set to descend on the O2 Arena

By JAKE HOLDEN, UK NEWS REPORTER Published: 07:44, 15 July 2026 | Updated: 07:46, 15 July 2026 London will host huge football watch parties if England beats Argentina to make it to the World Cup final. As many as 20,000 fans are set to swarm the O2 Arena for the final if the Three Lions are victorious tonight. It has been billed as the most likely venue following its hosting of the Euro 2024 final between England and Spain. But some fans have expressed their annoyance that there are not already mass screenings in the capital for tonight's game, which is already a historic tie with our bitter rivals of 60 years on world football's biggest stage. One angry fan ranted on Reddit: 'Why is it that all these other continental European countries know how to put together a couple of large screens and get thousands (or even tens of thousands) of people together in big squares and public spaces. 'Sometimes they even open up stadiums or proper parks for it. Why can we not do this?' The criticism is not unfounded as last time England got to the World Cup semi finals in 2018, City Hall and the government opened up a 30,000 capacity screen in Hyde Park and ran a ballot for fans to watch the heartbreaking defeat to Croatia. However, the park had already been open for large events that year and had no functions planned at the time so there was little organisation needed to set up the watch party. The O2 Arena is set to have 20,000 fans descend into the stands to watch the World Cup final if England beat Argentina tonight. Here, fans celebrate the Three Lions win over Norway at Croydon Boxpark 30,000 fans filled Hyde Park for England's World Cup semi final match against Croatia. Fans are disappointed that similar screenings have not been laid on for tonight This year the park's summer series is already over and it is understood there was not enough time to safely organise such a huge shindig, with England's guaranteed spot in the semi final only being confirmed in the early hours of Sunday morning against Norway. City Hall said: 'Like all Londoners, the mayor has been blown away by England's incredible run to the semi-finals of the Fifa World Cup. 'There are no plans for a screening of the match against Argentina but the mayor hopes the team go all the way to lift the trophy in New York next Sunday.' Instead, the Mayor's office encouraged 'Londoners to join together on Wednesday night in the capital's pubs, clubs, bars and hospitality venues to cheer on England to victory while supporting the hospitality industry'. Should England go on to raise the World Cup trophy, organisers would stage celebrations on Tuesday July 21 in London, it is understood. The final kicks off in New York at 8pm UK time and would end at latest at around 11pm if it were to go all the way to penalties. Should we win, City Hall, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Westminster City Council and the FA would all collaborate to bring together what would likely be the largest celebration for a sporting event the UK has ever seen. Plans are in place, but so are the dangerous teams of Argentina and Spain in England's way.