Thompson attended the 1966 final with his father, Keith, after Keith won the tickets in a raffle. The memory is less about the football than the atmosphere.
“Eu era muito novo e não me recordo de nada além do barulho,” Thompson said, recalling the noise inside Wembley.
That experience has become part of a long-running routine. He has followed England at tournaments in South Africa, Brazil, Russia and Qatar, and bought tickets for every group-stage fixture in the United States, as well as the final.
He must return to the United Kingdom for work after the opening phase, but has promised to come back if England reach the decisive match.
England can secure a place in the knockout stage against Ghana, giving Thompson an immediate chance to see whether his ritual still has momentum. He has reportedly spent around £20,000 on travel and tickets, but insists he only wants to watch England rather than pay hundreds of dollars for matches involving teams he does not follow.
“I also didn’t want to ‘desafiar o destino’,” he said, explaining why missing this tournament was never seriously considered.
Ghana, meanwhile, may face a goalkeeping decision. Lawrence Ati-Zigi is reportedly recovering from a groin injury sustained in the win over Panama. He was replaced at half-time by Benjamin Asare, then returned to light training after undergoing examinations.
The goalkeeper coach, Daniel Gaspar, reportedly sees encouraging signs, but Ati-Zigi’s availability remains a key pre-match storyline.
For Thompson, the next step is simple: England must deliver in Boston. If they do, the superstition will travel again - and the promise of another final appearance will feel considerably less fanciful.