England fans named among World’s Top 3 supporters at 2026 World Cup

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England fans have been named among the world’s top three supporter cultures ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to a new international fan reputation study.

The World Cup Reputation Index, commissioned by British entrepreneur and lifelong football fan Sam Allcock, surveyed 5,200 U.S. adults across the 16 FIFA 2026 host cities to explore how visiting supporters shape perceptions of their countries on the world stage.

The research carried out by Cherry Data Signals, ranked England third overall among 45 non-host supporter cultures, behind only Brazil and Japan. England fans were especially recognised for their famous songs and chants, with the study naming England as having one of the world’s strongest singing cultures.

According to the findings, England supporters were rated third globally for best singing and chanting culture, behind Argentina and Brazil, and second globally for best humour, behind only Scotland. The report describes England fans as being best known for “loyal travelling support, famous songs, and a soccer culture that follows the team everywhere.”

The survey, conducted after the first round of matches, suggests visiting supporters are not only representing their team, but also influence how host communities perceive their country.

Overall, 73% of Americans surveyed said the behaviour of visiting fans affects how they view a country. A further 75% agreed that well-behaved visiting fans can improve a country’s reputation abroad, while 68% said a positive experience with a country’s fans would make them more interested in visiting that country.

The findings suggest that fan culture is now part of a country’s soft power. Supporters are not simply spectators; they are informal ambassadors whose behaviour, humour, songs and interactions with locals can leave a lasting impression.

While England fans have not always enjoyed the easiest reputation internationally, the new study points to a more positive perception among American host-city residents. Respondents associated England’s travelling support with loyalty, humour and one of the most recognisable terrace cultures in world football.

Brazil topped the overall ranking, with supporters admired for joy, colour, music and atmosphere. Japan placed second, recognised for cleanliness, respectfulness and the widely admired habit of tidying stadium sections after matches. England completed the top three thanks largely to its singing, chanting and travelling support culture.

Argentina ranked fourth overall and was named the most passionate fanbase, while the Netherlands placed fifth and was recognised for colour and style. Australia, Spain, South Korea, Germany and Scotland completed the overall top ten.

Sam Allcock said: “Every World Cup fanbase has its own personality and its own reputation. Some supporters are admired for the way they clean up after themselves. Some are loved for their songs, colour and noise. Others are known for friendliness, humour, loyalty, family pride, food culture, or the simple ability to turn a city square into a party.

“As an England fan, it is encouraging to see the positive side of our supporter culture recognised. England fans are famous for travelling in numbers and for bringing songs that can take over a stadium. This research shows that, when that passion is channelled in the right way, it can become a real asset for the country’s image abroad.”

The report also explored what Americans most want from visiting supporters during the tournament. Friendliness toward locals was ranked as the most important quality, chosen by 24% of respondents, followed by avoiding aggressive or intimidating behaviour at 19%, respect for public spaces at 15%, and good sportsmanship at 11%.

When asked what makes a good fan ambassador, Americans again prioritised positive behaviour. The top answers were being friendly to locals, being passionate but respectful, celebrating without causing problems, showing respect after wins and losses, and having a good sense of humour.

For England, the message is clear: the songs matter, but so does the conduct around them. The supporters who make the strongest impression in 2026 may be those who combine noise, loyalty and humour with respect for the cities hosting them.

Methodology: The findings are based on a quantitative survey of 5,200 U.S. adults by Cherry Data Signals across the 16 FIFA 2026 host cities. The sample was weighted to U.S. adult benchmarks for host-city MSAs. Host nations were excluded to avoid self-assessment bias. The margin of error is ±1.4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.