England fans and players have embraced Oasis’s 1990s hit “Wonderwall” as a spontaneous celebration after each World Cup victory, creating a shared moment of joy and unity. After a 4-2 win over Croatia in the group stage, the entire stadium joined in the singalong, with players like Harry Kane expressing it as “one of my favorite moments ever in an England shirt,” according to USA Today. The tradition continued after a comeback win over DR Congo and a last-16 victory against Mexico, with midfielder Morgan Rogers noting, “Don’t think you’re English if you don’t know the lyrics.”

A New National Anthem for England

“God Save the King” no longer holds exclusive sway over England’s stadium atmosphere; When the team wins, Oasis’s “Wonderwall” now plays, with fans singing along in unison and players joining in, according to El Correo. The tradition began after England’s opening match in Dallas and has since become a ritual; “It’s not just a song anymore, it’s a feeling,” one fan told El Correo. The Spanish outlet notes that the English Football Association proposed several songs to the FIFA, but “Wonderwall” became the unexpected favorite, the hit has replaced Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” as the de facto anthem for the 2026 World Cup.

Behind the Lyrics: A Song of Hope and Hype

“Wonderwall” by Oasis has taken on new meaning in the context of the World Cup, but the band itself has a complicated relationship with the song. According to WELT. Noel Gallagher once claimed the song was written for his then-girlfriend, Meg Mathews, but later admitted it was a “white lie” to the BBC. The lyrics — “Because maybe. You’re gonna be the one that saves me, though But after all, you’re my wonderwall”, have now become a rallying cry for English fans. Liam and Noel Gallagher have publicly embraced the phenomenon, with Noel telling The Sun, “Wonderwall belongs to the people, and it was a magical moment between the people and the players.” Liam, more effusively, took to X to support the team and the song, writing, “Vamos England. Vamos Wonderwall.”

A Bittersweet Celebration: Jordan Henderson’s Injury

Amid the jubilant “Wonderwall” celebrations, an injury marred the mood for England. Midfielder Jordan Henderson, who had appeared in four World Cup tournaments — a first in English history, fell while attempting to climb over a barrier to join the crowd, according to NBC News. He suffered a wrist injury and was taken off the pitch on a stretcher. Tuchel said, “He’s at the moment in the hospital, so it’s a quite serious injury. And it just doesn’t fit to the evening that Jordan is now not with us.” Harry Kane immediately noticed the injury and signaled for medical staff to assist. Henderson, despite not playing in the Mexico match, was shown a yellow card in the 98th minute after inserting himself into a touchline altercation between Jude Bellingham and Johan Vásquez.

England’s World Cup journey now continues with a quarterfinal match against Norway on July 11. Whether or not “Wonderwall” will play again, and whether Henderson will be part of the celebrations, remains to be seen.