England v Iran: Swindon pubs packed for World Cup opener

The Three Lions - bidding to end 56 years of hurt - triumphed 6-2 in their opening fixture to sound a warning to their rivals for football's biggest prize.

But this year's eagerly anticipated tournament has been marred by the circumstances surrounding the decision to award Qatar host status.

The Steam Railway Co pub in Old Town, Swindon (Image: Newsquest)

Much has also been said about the timing of the event. Usually a World Cup is a summer staple but because of high temperatures in the host nation, it has been moved to winter to allow for cooler playing conditions.

England's first game in the tournament was again Iran on Monday, and the players had just been told they would not be allowed to wear rainbow armbands, with homosexuality being a crime in Qatar, but would this and all of the other controversies dampen the enthusiasm of Swindon's football fanbase? 

Well, the answer is no, as evidenced by the Steam Railway Co in Old Town being completely packed for the lunchtime fixture, with standing room only.

Most of the punters there for the game said they were aware of the controversies and agreed that the decision to host the tournament in Qatar was a bad one. But they felt that the tournament was happening regardless and now it was time to get behind England and Wales and focus on the football. 

One punter who had booked the time off work so that they could watch the game said: "We love coming to the pub for the World Cup and do it everytime it's on, which is why we've booked the time off.

His colleague added: "No, we don't really mind it being in Qatar, and it certainly hasn't made us less enthusiastic about it." 

Another, who was in a group of three, said: "I do think there should be a World Cup in the Middle East, but obviously the circumstances surrounding this aren't great. We're just focused on the football now."

The packed boozer was treated to a masterclass from England, who helped get everyone in the World Cup spirit with a stunning victory over Iran. 

When Lions youngster Jude Bellingham opened the scoring, the crowd was jubilantly jumping up and down and celebrating, and things carried on in the same vein as more and more goals settled in the back of the Iranian net. 

The Steam Railway Co pub's empty and soggy beer garden in Swindon for England's first 2022 World Cup Game (Image: Newsquest)

Landlord Steve Griffiths, who admitted that the cost of living crisis had caused his business to struggle, the tournament has provided a welcome boost. 

"We have struggled, yeah, but events like this help you to float along until the next one," he said. 

"Things are always better when England is winning. Things went mad in the Euro final when England took the lead, but the atmosphere died when Italy equalised."

But he did bemoan the fact the tournament was taking place in winter.

"Everyone's got their own opinions about having a World Cup in winter but you've just got to make the best of things," he said. "That's why we've got the marquee in the garden for bad weather, but it's rained so much nobody can use it. What can you do?"