According to UKFPU, the delegation sent to the US includes Director Gareth Parkin and two football officers. This is considered a significant change compared to previous major tournaments in world and European football.
The head of the UKFPU, Police Chief Mark Roberts, said the number of officers deployed at international tournaments typically depends on requests and support from the host country.
However, for the 2026 World Cup, US states will no longer fund traveling missions as they did before.
“This isn’t a criticism, but simply the current reality. We’ll only have three officers on duty, a significant difference from the force typically deployed at major tournaments. However, this time we have to pay for it ourselves, so the number of personnel is limited,” Roberts said.
Previously, the UKFPU sent around 40 officers to Euro 2024 in Germany thanks to support from the government and the organizing committee. A similar mechanism was also applied at the World Cup in Qatar.
Despite having a significantly smaller squad, the UKFPU insists they do not anticipate any serious problems involving English fans in the US.
According to Roberts, the officers' primary role this time is to support cultural exchange and coordinate with local law enforcement in the host cities.
“We have to make an effort to emphasize that English fans behave very well. They may have had a little to drink, but that doesn’t mean there’s a risk of causing disorder. They’re just enjoying the football atmosphere,” Roberts shared.
He also said that UKFPU had organized online presentations for all 16 World Cup host cities to guide them on how to approach and work with English football fans. England's group stage matches will take place in Dallas, Boston, and East Rutherford (New Jersey).
Besides supporting local security forces, UKFPU also wants to convey to fans that some behaviors considered normal in the UK may not be appropriate in the US or other co-hosting countries.
"We don't anticipate any problems. All exchanges with the local side have been positive and open. There is nothing to worry about at the moment," Roberts emphasized.
According to statistics from the English Football Association (FA), approximately 3,500 tickets for each group stage match were sold to fans registered in the official travel membership program.
Additionally, there were approximately 10,000–11,000 people who purchased tickets through FIFA's ticketing portal and identified themselves as England fans.
In addition, around 1,000 family and friends of the England team will also be accompanying them to the 2026 World Cup. Sources from the Football Supporters' Association (FSA) indicate that demand for tickets could increase significantly if England qualify for the Round of 16 and play in Mexico City.
Meanwhile, Scottish police are reportedly among the very few other European forces to send officers to the US thanks to financial support from the Scottish government. Their operations are expected to be concentrated in the Boston area, where the Scotland team will play their first two matches at Foxborough Stadium.
Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the British Foreign Office also advised citizens to regularly check online travel guides and purchase insurance before traveling to the US to watch the tournament.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/canh-sat-anh-chi-cu-3-si-quan-toi-world-cup-vi-thieu-kinh-phi-230491.html
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