England fans heading for the knockout game against the Democratic Republic of Congo have been warned to stay cool – with temperatures forecast to hit a blistering ‘feel like’ of 41 degrees Celsius.
Emergency services have been put on a ‘red alert’ as Atlanta, in the US state of Georgia is hit by an oppressive heat dome with added high humidity as England play the African Leopards as they are nicknamed, for the first time.
England are ranked No 4 in the world and DR Congo 41st and although inside the 67,382 seat stadium it will be a pleasant 23 degrees Celsius with air conditioning keeping players and spectators cool for the 12pm local (5pm BST kick-off) revellers in the fan zone surrounding the ground it will be unbearable.
The National Weather Service predicts ‘feels like’ temperatures will approach 41 degrees Celsius in many parts of the state and with most of Atlanta World Cup festivities taking place in the concrete-heavy corridor around Centennial Olympic Park and Stadium, it could feel even hotter to those attending matches or the FIFA Fan Fest.
So Three Lions followers arriving for the match were opting to stay inside the air conditioned bars and restaurants in downtown Atlanta to keep cool and down $4.50 (£3.39) pints – the cheapest in any of the US venues hosting the World Cup
At the Hudson Grille England fans Adam Rathmill, 52, from Langley near Staines, Berkshire and Phil Barker, 45, from Peterborough, were downing Bloody Marys and pints of Guinness for breakfast with dozens of other supporters.
Diamond polisher Adam told the Daily Mail: ‘This game has a bit of bite too it, it’s got the potential to be a bit tricky for England as sometimes we seem to slip up against the African nations.
‘But I’m hopeful we can do the business and move into the next round, we paid £140 each for our tickets, I’d love to go to the next round or even the final but short of selling a kidney I just can’t justify it, my wife would go mad.
‘We got here late Monday night and will leave the day after game, it’s very short and sweet but I’m not sure I could do any more because it’s so hot, the humidity is unbearable, that’s why we are inside with the air conditioning.’
Company director Phil, said: ‘I think it will be tight, but we should win it, although you should never underestimate them, they wouldn’t be here if they weren’t any good.
‘But Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are on form at the moment, so I think it will be 3-0 but after that I think England will go out against Mexico in Mexico City, that will be really tough and I can’t see them doing it.
‘To be fair though, if they did win that one then I think they could go all the way but it will be hard because of the quality of the team left in it, Argentina and France look really good.
‘I did have a little giggle at Germany going out, especially on penalties but I don’t think I could stick this heat for too long, I’m glad the stadium is air conditioned but we will follow advice and keep ourselves hydrated.’
Elsewhere electrician Ian Potter, 49, Nottingham, said: ‘I’m here just for this game, and it was easy to get the ticket, there are plenty online, it was £1,000, which is a lot of money but I’ve seen them going now for £500 and that’s annoying but what can you do.
‘I will only do this match, even if they get though to the final I won’t go, the cost is ridiculous, I looked this morning and they had tickets on sale for £11,000, how on earth can I justify that, it’s madness, I will watch it on the TV at home.
‘I’m only here until Friday as I can’t get any more time off work but we should win this one, I’ll be gutted if we don’t.’
Fitness equipment salesman Adam Small, 48, Nottingham, said: ‘Everyone’s given the team a bit of a hard time but they’ve done what they needed to do, they have won the group and now they are in the knockout stages.
‘It was always going to be tough against Ghana but what we need to do is play the we did in the second half against Croatia, relax a bit and then it will come.
‘I paid over the odds for my ticket from a resale site, I should have waited because they are coming down in price now and they are almost half the £1,000 we paid for them.
‘If we beat DR Congo then I would be very tempted to go to Mexico, I’m supposed to be going to the Dominican Republic on holiday next week so I might cancel that and go to Mexico City instead, I’m in two minds.
‘But I don’t think the game will be sold out, there won’t be many Congo fans and so I think the tickets prices will come down even more nearer kick off.’
Inside the stadium fans will also be able to breathe a sigh of relief when they get their wallets out as prices are far cheaper than at other World Cup venues.
Draft beer is also only $8.00 (£6.04) – compared to $20 (£15.10) elsewhere – and cheese burger and fries for the same price and a slice of pizza is just $3 (£2.26), at other stadiums prices were up to three times more.
Among others arriving in Atlanta were David Whitehouse, 48, originally from Birmingham but now living in Chicago and his son Charlie, seven.
Financial trader Mr Whitehouse, a Nottingham Forest fan, said: ‘I grew up with football and really got into it with the 1986 World Cup and I’m throwing it at Charlie and he’s really getting into it as well.
‘We’ve got the wall chart and the sticker book that I had as a kid and we went to the Croatia game in Dallas, which was brilliant, best game England have played so far.
‘We were just going to stop at that but then I I had a look and saw tickets were available at $1,500 (£1,132.30) so I got a couple.
‘But I should have held back as they are now $500 (£377.43) each, still it is what it is, and we know just need to win.
‘I’m confident and if we win, I will give Mexico a miss but I’m keeping half an eye on Miami if we get through.’
Meanwhile at Atlanta airport dozens of England fans were among the five sold out flights from London and Manchester arriving in the hours before kick off.
Matt Bennett, 34, said: ‘I think we will go through, I’ve no doubt about it but there is always the unknown element. I think as the tournament goes on we will grow into it – if we win I may be tempted to go to Mexico.
‘I’m actually in New York with work the weekend of the final so if I can find a ticket I will do my utmost to get there, these things only happen once in a lifetime and it’s been 60 years since the last and only time we’ve won.’
Retired Gary Broadbent, 61, from Halifax, was on the Virgin flight with his wife Belinda, 55, and was visiting family in Atlanta who surprised him with tickets for the game.
Dressed in an England top Mr Broadbent said: ‘I’ve never been to an England game abroad before and I’m really looking forward to it, we watched the game against Panama and now we are here, it’s a dream come true.
‘This will be the only game we go to, it’s going to be a great experience for us, and I thing we should win it easy.’
One of the last to arrive were 3D artist Richard Bassett, 35, and sales supervisor Alex Ilic, 33, should win, I’m pretty confident and I think it will be 3-1, we just need to get an early goal and then we should be away.
Arsenal fan Richard, from London ‘We’ve read all about the heat warning, but the stadium is air conditioned so we should be OK, I think as soon as we get up, we will go the stadium.
‘I got the tickets when they went of the FIFA resale and they were £350 each, if we get to the final I think I will probably go to the New York just to savour the atmosphere.
‘We are here for three nights and just have a rucksack each so we better win otherwise it will be a depressing 72-hour trip – I went to Budapest for the Champions league so I would like to see a win.’
Alex, from Maidenhead, said: ‘I’m really looking forward to it, we will have a few drinks and savour the atmosphere, hopefully get a win and enjoy a great night.
‘I’ve read that Atlanta is one of the cheapest venues for the World Cup so that should save us some money, some of the prices you here for food and drink are ridiculous.’
If England – who reached the last 32 by topping Group L with two ins and a draw – beat DR Congo then they will face a crunch tie against Mexico in Mexico City on Sunday night (1am Monday morning, BST).
Elsewhere in Atlanta, the Daily Mail found a group of England fans limbering up for the game by indulging in a spot of axe throwing.
The Skol Brewing Company in central Atlanta was packed with Three Lions supporters drinking in the atmosphere of the city and indulging in the eyebrow raising bar sport.
Management describe the venue as a Nordic-themed sports bar, and which has six lanes dedicated to axe throwing.
When the Daily Mail visited a group of England fans were enjoying a $26 (£19.63) a person one hour session which is ‘about finesse, not strength of the thrower’, according to the Skol Brewing Company’s website.
Project manager Dan Kraus, 49, from Middlesborough was there with student son Harvey, 20, and a group of friends.
Mr Kraus said: ‘We were walking by and we saw a sign saying axe throwing so we thought we would give it a go – it’s completely mad, you don’t see it at the local back home.
‘Can you imagine? Health and Safety would have a fit. Axe throwing in a pub? It just doesn’t bear thinking about and none of us have ever done anything like this.’
Mr Kraus, who has been in the US for almost a month after coming out for England’s two friendlies in Florida at the beginning of June, said he and his son had spent £10,000 on the trip.
He added:’ It’s all about making memories and we’ve had a great time, we’ve been to Florida and Boston and Dallas, we missed New York, but we are here for this one and am pretty confident of a win.’
Student Harvey said: ‘We’ve had a fabulous time; everyone has been so friendly and welcoming and now here we are axe throwing in Atlanta the day before an England knockout World Cup match.
‘When you think about it, it’s crazy that you can have a drink and throw an axe around, we’ve had to sign a waiver but other than that there’s no real safety measures, although I suppose they hope you use your common sense.
‘We’ve been joking it’s like darts without the finesse or a version of extreme bowling with axes instead of bowling balls.’
Mr Kraus added:’ The plan was to go home after this but if England win I would be very sorely tempted to go to Mexico for the next round, the Azteca stadium, how great would that be.’
