During the 2026 World Cup, Miami’s Marlins stadium experienced a unique surge in attendance fueled by the influx of international soccer fans, especially England supporters. On July 11, roughly 600 England fans attended the Marlins-Guardians game while awaiting their country's quarterfinal match against Norway. This trend of soccer fans invading baseball venues for off-day entertainment has been seen in several host cities, with MLB attendance rising in these areas throughout the tournament.

Many of the England fans were new to baseball and found the game’s pace slow compared to soccer, often struggling to follow the rules. Despite this, they enthusiastically engaged in the game atmosphere, especially when the Guardians hit a home run, reacting with cheers and then boos upon realizing it was the opposing team. The Marlins capitalized on this, offering game tickets at $20 with a complimentary 12-ounce beer, plus happy hour $5 beers, fueling a lively tailgate-like party vibe rather than traditional seated spectating.

The England supporters brought their football fan culture to the ballpark as they mingled near the outfield bar, singing chants and songs throughout the game, including renditions about their coach Thomas Tuchel and midfielder Jude Bellingham. This behavior contrasted with the typical American baseball fan experience, highlighting differences in how sports fans interact with live events. Meanwhile, Norwegian fans were present but outnumbered, engaging in their own festivities around Miami Beach.

The energy from these visiting fans extended beyond the crowd atmosphere, as the Marlins Foundation’s 50/50 raffle saw an unusually high level of participation attributed to the generous England fans, resulting in a larger-than-usual prize payout. This crossover between a global soccer event and MLB games illustrates the interconnected fan experiences and the unexpected boost soccer tourism is providing to American sports venues during the World Cup.