The roar of a football crowd was conspicuously absent at Wimbledon on Wednesday afternoon as England faced DR Congo in the World Cup. Despite the significance of the match, with England securing a place in the next round thanks to Harry Kane's equalizer and eventual winner, the atmosphere on Henman Hill and Centre Court remained largely subdued.
Tickets for Centre Court on Wednesday ranged from £100 to £135, but many attendees seemed more focused on the tennis matches unfolding. Coco Gauff was nearing a shock exit on Court One, and Barbora Krejcikova was in the early stages of defeating Mirra Andreeva on Centre Court as the football match kicked off around 5 p.m. Unlike previous years where major football events might have drawn attention, Wimbledon appeared largely immune to World Cup fever.
All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton had confirmed earlier that the football would not be shown on any screens around the grounds. "Clearly, if people have got their phones, then we're not going to prevent people from watching the football," Bolton stated, highlighting the reliance on personal devices for those who wished to follow the game.
Some attendees, like Carlisle United fan Steve and his Manchester United pal Chris, strategically timed their Centre Court viewing to catch a portion of the tennis before checking the football on their phones. "We were always going to come here to watch the football," Steve said, noting that their tennis match finished at a convenient time. "We will go back for Novak Djokovic later."
Even members of the English golf contingent in the Royal Box, including Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, and Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, remained in their seats for the entirety of the first half. Fleetwood eventually left at halftime and did not return, joined later by Rose, Donald, and Rory McIlroy.
A Reserved Reaction
When Harry Kane scored the equalizer, the reaction was a muted ripple of a cheer, described by one onlooker as "reserved." This subdued response spread from the bar area near the front of Henman Hill, where internet connections might have been quicker, and moved up the hill like a slow wave. Throughout the match, pockets of attendees huddled around phone screens, checking for updates. Staff in corporate hospitality, the media center, and at the front desk also followed the game on their mobile devices.
A more significant, yet still polite, cheer greeted Kane's winning goal. After full-time, England's progression to the last 16 was met with a ripple of polite applause from the Centre Court crowd and those on the Hill. Two young boys attempted to start an "En-ger-land!" chant, but it did not catch on. The general sentiment was that the brief World Cup fever had dissipated as quickly as it arrived, with the focus returning to the tennis.