Four English supporters who fled Mexico after the 1986 World Cup and built new lives in the United States are set to gather again for the tournament’s kickoff in Dallas on June 17, 2026. Gary Allen, Stuart Bates, David Arnold and Garry Hardwicke will watch England take on Croatia, the same match that opened the 2026 competition, and their reunion is the focus of the online documentary “Lost Down Mexico Way.” According to the source, the men first arrived in Mexico with only a few hundred pounds each, unaware of the country’s geography or language.

Dallas kickoff on June 17 reunites the 1986 Mexico wanderers

On June 17, 2026, the four friends will sit together in the stadium in Dallas to see England’s opening game against Croatia, mirroring the moment they first cheered the Three Lions four decades ago. The documentary highlights how the men, now in their 60s, have kept in touch through occasional reunions, but this will be the first time they all share a match in the same venue. their story has been revived by the film, which follows their journey from the streets of Monterrey and Acapulco to the suburbs of Atlanta, Dallas and beyond.

From £500 savings to 14 children : building a new life in America

Gary Allen, now 63 and living in Atlanta, recalls saving roughly £500 before losing his job and boarding a flight that took the group from Gatwick to Houston and San Antonio, then on buses into Mexico. After England’s quarter‑final exit to Argentina, the friends settled in South Padre Island, finding restaurant work that paid better than any opportunity back home. Over the ensuing decades they married, raised fourteen children and never returned to the UK, according to the report.

“We pretended to be Peter Shilton”: the wild side of the 1986 adventure

During their Mexican escapade the men indulged in hard drinking and even convinced local women they were England stars Peter Shilton and Gary Lineker. Bates, who posed as Shilton, later discovered the ruse had backfired when the woman returned with her husband, leading to an awkward confrontation over a tip. the source notes these anecdotes illustrate the youthful bravado that defined their trip.

Who is behind the documentary “Lost Down Mexico Way”?

The online documentary, titled “Lost Down Mexico Way,” was produced by an independent filmmaker who first heard the friends’ tale at a reunion in the UK. The film weaves archival footage, personal interviews and contemporary scenes of the men watching the 2026 match. As the source explains, the project aims to capture the long‑term impact of a single World Cup on ordinary lives, offering a human‑scale counterpoint to the tournament’s massive commercial footprint.

What remains unclear about the friends’ early years in the US?

The source does not detail the exact timeline of each friend’s immigration status, nor does it confirm whether any of them ever applied for UK citizenship again. Additionally, the documentary leaves unanswered how the men’s employment in the restaurant trade evolved into their current professions, and whether any of their children have followed a football‑related path.