England supporters in the United States have earned praise from police for their "excellent" conduct during the World Cup group stage. Chief Constable Mark Roberts of the UK Football Policing Unit confirmed there have been no reports of violence or disorder involving England fans at matches in America, with only two of five arrests occurring at World Cup venues.

However, the picture differs significantly back home. Police recorded 463 football-related incidents across England and Wales, substantially higher than the same tournament stage in Euro 2024 (304) and the 2022 World Cup (291). Of these, 162 occurred in licensed premises while 109 were classified as domestic incidents often involving family members.

The domestic increase comes despite preventive measures that saw 1,958 individuals subject to football banning orders surrender their passports before the tournament. Eighty-eight people have been arrested in total, up from 66 during Euro 2024 and 56 in the 2022 World Cup. Scotland fans also received commendation for their behavior in the US, though their statistics were not included in the UKFPU report.

Roberts emphasized that local law enforcement recognized the positive track record of British supporters, allowing them to be policed based on actual behavior rather than historical reputation. This approach appears to be working well overseas while authorities grapple with rising domestic incidents during the tournament.

Eighty-eight arrests represent a concerning uptick that suggests the challenge lies in managing fan behavior at home rather than abroad.