No more need for dreaming – England are in a World Cup final for the first time since 1966 and the hopes of a nation rest in the boots of the Lionesses who have fought to be there.
Standing in the way of their path to ultimate glory are Spain’s La Furia Roja, who have also defied the odds to reach their first women’s final.
Australia and New Zealand jointly hosted this year’s tournament and the main spectacle will kick off at 11am on Sunday UK time (8pm local time at Stadium Australia in Sydney).
But if you haven’t managed to fly 10,000 miles to watch the game in person, there are plenty of places here to fly a flag… undoubtedly with the rapturous chants of “It’s coming home” reverberating all around you.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible player
0:50
‘We hope we’ll play our best game ever’
Read more:Everything to know about Spain before the final
London
More than 13 million people are expected to watch the final either on TV or big screens, with several screening events across London.
Victoria Park in east London will host a free “super screening” which can accommodate more than 12,000 fans.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the atmosphere for the screening would be “electric” and hopes for thousands of fans to “roar on the team in their biggest game yet”.
Wembley Stadium and Trafalgar Square will not be showing the game this year.
Meanwhile, Boxpark venues across the capital will also be rocking as their Wembley and Croydon locations are already sold out, though you can join the waitlist for Shoreditch.
Image:
Women’s World Cup 2023 fans at Boxpark Wembley
Image:
Boxpark Croydon when England beat Australia in the semi-final
The commercial Canary Wharf will be basking in World Cup fever with a large screen at Canada Square Park, while Vinegar Yard, a few stops down the Jubilee Line in London Bridge, will also be showing the game.
Clapham Grand, Big Penny Social in Walthamstow, Spitalfields Market near Liverpool Street and Clubhouse 5 in Leicester Square will have the final on big screens too.
Image:
Fans at Chelsea stadium supporting the Lionesses in their match against Nigeria
Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle
In Manchester, thousands are expected to flock to Piccadilly Gardens’ big screens, which will show the full build-up to the match and will have bars nearby to serve alcohol.
Birmingham and Newcastle will be joining the festivities on Sunday.
Birmingham Bierkeller is promising to be a football hotspot with a superscreen as its main attraction plus over 20 screens and two projectors.
Tyneside’s NX fan zone is boasting of a “phenomenal mega screening”, with crowd singalongs and a family atmosphere.
Spreaker
This content is proed by Spreaker, which may be using cookies and other technologies.
To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies.
You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Spreaker cookies or to allow those cookies just once.
You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options.
Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Spreaker cookies.
To view this content you can use the button below to allow Spreaker cookies for this session only.
Enable Cookies
Allow Cookies Once
Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts
Other hubs – Sheffield, Nottingham and Bristol
Other hubs with multiple large screens have been set up around the country including in Sheffield, Nottingham and Bristol – while Jersey’s al fresco’s fan zone will welcome massive LED screens in its capital St Helier.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible player
3:09
Wiegman: ‘We want to leave with World Cup’
Smaller venues across the nation
Churches are set to shift their Sunday services after the Church of England said it was “fine” for them to do so.
This means the likes of St Mary’s Church in Surrey will treat people to “bacon rolls and fizz” following its main morning eucharist, of bread and wine.
Read more:The ‘genius’ coach hoping to end almost 60 years of hurtEqual pay for Lionesses ‘long-term goal’Which Lioness is England’s most valuable player?
What about a pre-match pint?
Pubs everywhere can choose when they open on Sunday, but the time from which they can start selling alcohol varies depending on each pub’s indiual licence.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible player
0:22
England fans celebrate every goal
The British Beer and Pub Association said most pubs can start serving alcohol from 11am – kick off time – but it is calling for the law to be relaxed so football fans can enjoy a drink from 10am.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has also written to councils asking them to do “everything they can” so pubs can operate earlier on the day of the final.
Temporary changes to licensing laws in England and Wales have been made for special events in the past, such as the Euro 2020 final and the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.
… and an extra bank holiday?
The Labour Party is calling for a celebratory bank holiday should the Lionesses lift the trophy.
The government said an extra bank holiday is not currently in its plans, adding it will find the “right way to celebrate” if the Lionesses emerge victorious.
This content is proed by Twitter, which may be using cookies and other technologies.
To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies.
You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Twitter cookies or to allow those cookies just once.
You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options.
Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies.
To view this content you can use the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only.
Enable Cookies
Allow Cookies Once
Despite widespread public calls, there has never been an extra bank holiday after a sporting achievement.
A government spokesperson told Sky News: “Winning the World Cup would be a massive moment for the country and make no mistake we’ll find the right way to celebrate.
“As [England manager] Sarina Wiegman herself has said, the first thing to do is focus on the final and the whole country will be rooting for the Lionesses this weekend.”
