The website hosting the online ballot system for a mass viewing party of England-Croatia in Hyde Park crashed seconds after going live.
The Mayor of London announced 30,000 free tickets would be made available for the public screening and the volume of traffic was more than the website of organisers, British Summer Time, could handle.
With mania sweeping the country as Gareth Southgate's team travel further into the World Cup than anyone expected, their first semi-final appearance since 1990 is expected to be the largest collective viewing of a match since Euro '96.
"Wednesday evening is a huge opportunity for our boys to do what many of us thought was impossible before the World Cup began and reach the final," said Mayor Sadiq Khan.
"We want this to be a family-friendly occasion and a chance for England fans young and old to show the positive spirit of football to the country and the world.
"This team has a chance to write themselves into football folklore and London and the entire country will be cheering them on as loud as we can on Wednesday night."
Clapham junction after the England Game #itsComingHome pic.twitter.com/OBqVtEaf0l
— S (@sxqzz_) July 7, 2018
