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Fans at fever pitch for World Cup travels

Neranjana ElapathaSouth of England
BBC Charlie is posing and holding his thatcham royals flagBBC
Charlie Robertson is planning to take his Reading flag to the World Cup

Football fans across the south of England are gearing up for the World Cup with some embarking on journeys bound for the US, Mexico and Canada.

Reading FC fan Charlie Robertson from Oxford will be taking his "Thatcham Royals" flag to England's games - hoping to repeat a previous appearance on worldwide television.

Forty-eight teams are competing across a record-breaking 104 matches during the tournament, which gets underway later in Mexico City's Azteca Stadium.

Robertson said he would be "flying the Reading flag high in the States".

Charlie Robertson Football game still that shows Thatcham Royals FlagCharlie Robertson
Charlie Robertson's flag went viral after it was featured on TV in the Euros 2024 game.

The 2026 World Cup kicks off later when Mexico taking on South Africa. England's first game of the tournament, against Croatia, is in Dallas on 17 June.

During his time supporting the national team, Robertson has taken his flag to 19 different countries.

During the Euro 2024 tournament he went viral when the flag was caught on TV during England's game against Serbia.

"It went on Facebook. I came out of the ground and I must have had 100 to 200 notifications to every social media that they have spotted [the flag] and everyone was tagging me. It was crazy".

He said he has pledged to fellow Royals fans that his flag will be on show once again.

"Keep an eye out - it will be there. I will make sure of that. We will be flying the Reading flag high in the States," he said.

Ben Price Ben right hand side wearing a white football shirt and is posing with his friend who is wearing a bucket hat behind a football staduim backdrop. Ben Price
Ben Price (right) has travelled all over Europe to watch England games

Ben Price from Reading is also preparing for a flight of more than seven hours as he travels to the World Cup with his friends.

"Ever since the home Euros final we have gone to pretty much every England game, travelling all around Europe, went to Qatar, went to Germany ... it is just addictive.

"Following England has been great, I have some great moments. Ollie Watkins scoring against the Netherlands [in 2024] was my favourite moment," he said.

Arran Atkinson Arran left hand side taking a selfie with a cup of alchohol behind a football staduim backdrop. Arran Atkinson
Arran Atkinson (left) has prepared for months to travel to the US

Another fan, Arran Atkinson from Camberley in Surrey will be going with his mates who are based in Kent, Portsmouth and Surrey.

The group are due to fly out on Sunday and will be in the US for two weeks to see three of England's group stage games.

He said the preparation for the trip was "like a military operation".

"[We planned] where we could fly in and out of on the internal travel with several meetings over the course of the last few months.

"We love following England. Nothing will quite replace the atmosphere, the camaraderie, fun and laughter, singing and hopefully the wins."

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