On Wednesday, 26 February, England Women will take on Spain Women at Wembley Stadium and with plenty of tickets already sold, large numbers of fans are expected to descend on the national stadium for the match.
Street drinking in the areas surrounding Wembley Stadium is not permitted as standard, so a Wembley fan zone is ideal for supporters looking to soak up the atmosphere before the match.
At present, there is one main option for a fan zone in the immediate area of Wembley Stadium for supporters before kick-off.
Read our guide below for all the information you need on the fan zone.
England Women vs Spain Women fan zones
Boxpark
Boxpark Wembley on Olympic Way is putting on a pre-match fan zone for England fans with match tickets. This is the ideal spot for fans to grab a few drinks and a bite to eat in the build-up to the match, both in terms of location and atmosphere.
The fan zone is open is open for anyone who has tickets for England Women vs Spain Women but you still need to pay to get in at £10pp. Those who have pre-reserved their slot at Boxpark will be able to gain admission between 11am and 4pm. General admission will commence from 3pm onwards, and the fan zone will operate a first-come, first-served policy.
Post-game entry will be free and admission will also be on a first-come, first-served basis. Boxpark only stays open until 11pm, though, so there won't be an awful lot of time for drinks here after the match.
Boxpark won't be showing the game live, so all fans must leave the fan zone before kick-off if they want to watch the match anywhere.
Alternative fan zones
Typically, Wembley will have one or two other ‘official' fan zones for big matches at the stadium. One is situated on the east side of the stadium, and the other is situated on the west side.
These fan zones are usually free (provided you have a match ticket) and are open until half an hour before kick-off. Alcohol is stopped being served half an hour earlier.
Inside these fan zones, alcohol, soft drinks, and food are also served, while a DJ is usually on hand to provide supporters with live entertainment.
What are the rules for the Wembley fan zones?
As the alcohol will undoubtedly flow, BoxPark has some strict rules that must be followed.
Banners cannot be displayed at the venue, although you can keep them in bags. Children are allowed as long as they are accompanied, so BoxPark asks that nothing be thrown in the air and fans refrain from standing on tables.
Laser devices, Knives/Weapons, Flares/Fireworks, Air Horns, Alcoholic beverages, Unsealed bottles, and illegal substances are all banned from the venue, and there is a zero-tolerance policy on racism, anti-social behaviour and inciting hatred or abuse.
Bags will be searched upon entry, and tables cannot be reserved in advance. Bar service will end one hour before kick-off, and once you leave, you cannot re-enter unless you re-join the entry queue.
Are the Wembley fan zones free?
Tickets for Boxpark ahead of England vs Spain cost £10 plus a small booking fee. Please note that this only grants you entry into the fanzine, so you will also need to consider the cost of food and drink once you are inside.
The cheapest pint at Boxpark Wembley is £5.80 for a Carling, while the most expensive is £7 for a Blue Moon. They also offer other popular lagers, including Madri, Staropramen and Prahva.
Future ‘away' fanzone planned
Plans for a new Wembley fan zone for visiting fans have been submitted, with the Football Association and Wembley National Stadium Limited hoping to get it approved in December 2024. The new fan zone will be placed near the current Wembley Arena site, though suggestions have been made that it would be moved if Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena events were to clash.
The new fan zone will only be available to fans with a ticket. Plans also revealed that the venue will close at least 30 minutes before matches at the stadium start. Alcohol sales will stop one hour before but will not reopen afterwards.
For now, the plans are surrounded by some controversy, with the Wembley Arena owners not happy with the location and how it might impact the safety of events at its own venue. The main issue is centred around if Wembley Stadium will utilise the fanzone for all events at the stadium (54 per year), or if it will be just for football, and related activities.