The All England Club appeared largely immune to the excitement surrounding England's dramatic World Cup win over DR Congo on Wednesday, with tennis matches taking precedence over the football broadcast. Few spectators at Wimbledon showed outward reactions to key moments in the match, which coincided with ongoing high-stakes tennis competitions.
Centre Court tickets on Wednesday ranged from £100 to £135, with many ticket holders opting to watch tennis. On Court One, as the football kicked off around 5 p.m., attention remained focused on Coco Gauff's match, which was approaching a potential upset. Simultaneously, on Centre Court, Barbora Krejcikova was playing Mirra Andreeva, a match that drew the majority of attendees' focus.
All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton had previously confirmed that the football match would not be shown on any screens around the grounds. While some individuals followed the football on their mobile phones or iPads, using the club's Wi-Fi, the overall atmosphere remained centered on the tennis.
Some attendees made a point of prioritizing tennis, with plans to leave tennis matches to catch football, or vice versa. For instance, some spectators watched the conclusion of a tennis match before intending to return for later tennis games. Others, holding Centre Court tickets, chose to watch the football on their phones while seated in the Royal Box or other areas.
Notable figures, including golfers Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, and Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, remained in their seats in the Royal Box throughout the first half of the football match. Fleetwood, an Everton fan, left at halftime and did not return, joined later by Rose, Donald, and golfer Rory McIlroy.
There was no repeat of a previous incident where a tennis match was paused for the Centre Court crowd to cheer an England penalty in a major tournament. Instead, Harry Kane's equalizer was met with a subdued cheer that spread through pockets of the grounds, particularly from areas with quicker internet connections.
As the match progressed, more phones emerged, with small groups gathering around screens. Staff in corporate hospitality and the media center also followed the game on their devices. When Kane scored the winning goal, it was met with another delayed, larger cheer. The media center's new frosted glass windows also prevented onlookers from gathering to watch screens inside.
Upon the final whistle, England's progression to the next round was acknowledged with polite applause from both the crowd on Henman Hill and those on Centre Court. While two young boys attempted to start an "En-ger-land!" chant, it quickly dissipated as the focus returned to tennis. World Cup fever appeared to vanish as swiftly as it had arrived at the tournament grounds.