For many fans, the tournament begins well before kick-off. Supporters are facing overnight departures, long drives and cross-country bus journeys to reach Dallas for the 3pm start.
The scale of the effort reflects the importance of the occasion:
With the tournament capacity reduced from its usual level, the travelling support should still create a powerful England presence.
For Gordon, this is his first World Cup, and he has identified hearing the anthem before kick-off as the moment he wants most. That focus says plenty about the atmosphere surrounding England’s arrival: the emotional build-up matters as much as the football.
Rice’s view is more familiar but no less significant. After the long wait for a major tournament, the opening game carries its own appeal. England will want composure, but the players will also feel the energy generated by supporters who have crossed continents to be there.
The heat adds another layer. Temperatures are forecast to reach 32-33C, while the stadium roof is expected to remain closed to make conditions more manageable for players and fans.
Supporters’ representatives have urged travelling fans to carry water, a practical reminder that this World Cup will test preparation away from the pitch as well as on it.
The next storyline is immediate: whether England can turn an extraordinary show of support into a confident start against Croatia. For Gordon, Rice and the thousands in the stands, the anthem will be the first answer.