Croatian fans parade through Dallas ahead of England-Croatia World Cup match
The roar of Croatian soccer fans filled the streets of Downtown Dallas. Hundreds of the "footy" faithful sang, cheered and lifted up their team the day before the showdown in Arlington.
"Nothing compares to international soccer for me. Nothing," Domie Stanic said.
He drove from Phoenix to Dallas for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Stanic, a deep Chicago sports fan, said this is beyond compare.
"American sports, you hear defense. Defense," he said. "Here, you hear passion. You hear heart. You hear screaming. It's everything for us."
Wednesday afternoon, England and Croatia will play at Dallas Stadium. But, before that, Croatian supporters took to the streets for a parade of spirit.
On Tuesday evening, fans carried a checkerboard Croatian flag larger than a football field through the streets, as the parade made its way from Civic Garden to Ferris Plaza.
The parade is organized by the Croatian Fan Embassy CFE – Mi Hrvatsi.
Alicent Liz came to participate with her mother and grandmother. Liz lives in Frisco. Her grandmother lives in Croatia.
"It was really fun holding up the flag with a bunch of random people," Liz said.
Her family is holding out for a victory over England, as was another fan in Dallas from Sydney, Australia.
"We can feel this atmosphere. The feeling. The blood. The energy," he said. "It's who we are. What we are."
Stanic said that when soccer events like the World Cup happen in his country. Things come to a standstill.
"The country is shut down," Stanic said. "It turns into a national holiday."
