In 1986 a handful of young English football fans flew to Mexico for the World Cup, only to abandon plans to return home after England’s quarter‑final exit. Over the next four decades they settled across the United States, raised families and now plan to gather again in Dallas for England’s 2026 opener against Croatia.

“The Disco Firm” settles in Texas after the Hand of God

According to the documentary “Lost Down Mexico Way,” the group—self‑styled “The Disco Firm”—comprised Wolves fans Gary Allen, Stuart Bates, David Arnold and Garry Hardwicke, plus a Birmingham City supporter from Solihull.. After the infamous Maradona handball knocked England out , the men headed to South Padre Island, where they found restaurant work and a surprisingly warm reception from locals who “had never seen anything like us.”

Gary Allen, now 63 and living in Atlanta, recalled that the trio arrived with roughly £500 each, having lost their jobs during Margaret Thatcher’s tenure.. He said, “We thought it would be the ultimate cool thing to go to a World Cup on the other side of the world… it was one big adventure and we had never done anything like it before.”

Four decades, 14 children and a Dallas reunion

The men eventually spread across the United States, marrying and fathering a total of 14 children . Their story resurfaced when they learned they would all be in the same city for England’s 2026 opening match on June 17 in Dallas. The reunion will feature not only the original fans but also a “massive group of lads” travelling from the UK, creating a cross‑generational celebration of football and friendship.

Stuart Bates, known as “Batesy,” emphasized the rarity of the moment: “We have got together at reunions over the years but this time there’s a massive group of lads coming over from the UK too and we’re all meeting for an England game.”

Documentary “Lost Down Mexico Way” gives a voice to a hidden diaspora

The online film follows the fans from their 5,000‑mile journey to Monterrey and Acapulco, through their improvisational escapades—such as convincing local women they were Peter Shilton and Gary Lineker—to their eventual settlement in the US. As the report notes, the documentary captures both the “hard‑drinking and partying adventure” and the enduring bond that survived four decades apart.

One anecdote highlighted in the film shows Hardwicke telling his partner he was only stepping out for a pint of milk, then disappearing for twelve years. This personal twist underscores how the World Cup’s emotional high can trigger life‑changing decisions.

Who still holds the unanswered pieces of the story?

While the documentary reveals much, it leaves several specifics unverified: the exact dates when each fan secured US residency,the precise nature of the jobs that anchored them, and whether any of the original group ever attempted to return to the UK.. Moreover, the film does not disclose how many of the 14 children have embraced football culture themselves.

According to the source, the fans’ reunion will be the first time many have gathered together since the early 1990s, suggesting a gap in public records about their intermediate lives.