England’s 2026 World Cup campaign has developed a new post-match tradition — standing arm in arm with fans after a win and singing the Oasis classic Wonderwall.

Supporters already have long-time favourites like Three Lions and Sweet Caroline as their go-to terrace anthems, but this tournament, they’ve embraced the Britpop anthem to mark their team’s victories instead.

So what sparked this trend, and where did it come from?

It all began after England’s 4-2 triumph over Croatia. Teams participating in the tournament were asked to select songs for specific moments during matches — from pre-game warm-ups to goal celebrations and post-match singalongs.

Wonderwall was chosen as one of England’s post-match tracks, and when it played over the stadium speakers in Dallas, Texas, both players and fans joined in passionately. That moment quickly evolved into a cherished ritual that has continued throughout the tournament.

The reason it has resonated so deeply with both supporters and the squad is hard to pin down. Yet, there’s something poignant about the song’s sentiment that mirrors England’s World Cup journey — a “winding” path towards the final as they chase their first major international title since 1966. The extended, hopeful “maybe” in the chorus reflects the nation’s belief that this could finally be their moment of glory.

And really, who could resist belting out those famous lines towards Big Dan Burn after his heroic display at the Azteca Stadium?

The craze has grown to such an extent that Liam Gallagher himself has jokingly (or perhaps seriously) suggested he would perform the song live on the pitch if England reach the final.

Following England’s victory over Mexico on Monday morning, Wonderwall’s streaming numbers in the UK surged by an incredible 306%. Over a full 24-hour period, the track accumulated 200,441 plays — an overall daily increase of 18%.

Other England-related tunes have also seen renewed popularity during this World Cup run. Classic football songs like Three Lions, Vindaloo, World in Motion, and We’re on the Ball have all experienced major spikes in streaming figures following England’s wins.

For the Gallagher brothers, the renewed attention has mixed implications. On one hand, it means more royalty earnings for Oasis. On the other, Noel Gallagher has openly said in interviews that he doesn’t support England, despite the financial benefits.

“I’m not an England fan,” Noel told TalkSPORT. “When I was growing up, the team was full of Liverpool and United players, and I just couldn’t get behind that.”

He added, “I love seeing John [Stones] play. John’s my mate, and he’s nearing the end of his time at City. It’s brilliant to see him performing well. [Marc] Guehi looks as solid as ever too.”

Unfortunately, not every England-themed song has shared in the revival. Neil and Christine Hamilton’s 2006 effort England are Jolly Dee remains almost entirely forgotten — and perhaps for good reason.