Thousands of England fans have flocked to Moscow as Gareth Southgate’s team aim to book a World Cup quarter-final place by beating Colombia on Monday night. But followers of the Three Lions in the Russian capital can expect to be comprehensively outnumbered by a yellow wall of colourful Colombian supporters at the Spartak Arena. Colombia are one of the best-supported teams at the World Cup, with an estimated 50,000 fans from the South American country currently in Russia.
By contrast, there will be around 6,000 England fans at the game, with approximately 1,500 securing their seats through the England Supporters’ Club and the others through the FIFA ballot or other means. But the number of England supporters making the trip to Russia has swollen as the tournament has progressed and enthusiasm has mounted for Southgate’s side. Fears of hooligan attacks and security issues have proved completely unfounded with fans from all nations made to feel welcome amid a party atmosphere in the host cities. England’s meeting with Colombia has been described as the team’s most important match for a decade as they try and set up a quarter-final meeting with either Sweden or Switzerland.