Travelling fans have been urged to conduct themselves respectfully or risk situations spiralling dangerously out of control in the region where carrying firearms is legal and close to half the population reportedly possesses weapons.

English football has been tarnished by supporter violence at previous major tournaments, including the 1998 World Cup in France and the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.

However, the consequences of causing trouble in the Lone Star State could prove far more serious than at previous competitions.

Paul Limpitlaw, a Birmingham-born Aston Villa supporter who relocated to Dallas and became an American citizen, has amassed an arsenal worth £75,000 since experiencing an attempted carjacking at gunpoint fifteen years ago and issued a direct caution to any would-be troublemakers.

He told The Sun: “It’s going to be a fantastic football party, but anyone thinking of coming to cause trouble should think again.”

“I’m among the many thousands of people who carry licensed firearms here and locals are perfectly entitled to defend themselves if threatened by troublemakers. I don’t expect England fans to kick off large-scale trouble here, but they should know that situations could escalate very quickly if they do.”

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Bryan Rastok, a spokesman for a gun store near Dallas, explained why the prevalence of firearms acts as a deterrent to antisocial behaviour.

“Troublemakers are much less likely to do things here because the repercussions are likely to be much more severe,” he said.

“If you threaten people here, there’s a chance you’re gonna get shot.”

The scale of gun ownership in Texas underscores these warnings, with the state recording the highest number of registered weapons in the United States during 2024, according to Statista, with more than 1.1 million firearms on the books.

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Across Texas, over a million residents hold licences to carry weapons, while an estimated 11 million pistols and rifles are owned throughout the state.

Dallas Police Assistant Chief Mark Villarreal confirmed law enforcement has been extensively preparing for the tournament and stands ready to handle any disorder.

“I’ve been part of the team planning security at World Cup games and can tell you that we are ready for anything,” he said.

The city will host nine matches at the AT&T Stadium in nearby Arlington, an 80,000-seat venue, alongside a Fanfest in the city centre.

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Villarreal said rapid response units would remain on standby throughout the competition to deal swiftly with any incidents.

He added: “While we are aware of the threat of hooligans, we are well prepared. England fans will have nothing to fear and will have a great time, provided they behave themselves and show respect.”

Fifa has confirmed that supporters will be permitted to consume alcohol in their seats during matches at next summer’s tournament, a departure from the restrictions that have applied at English football grounds for four decades.

The governing body will not implement the no-drinking rule, which has been standard in Britain since the mid-1980s, for the competition jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

British expats living in Dallas are eagerly anticipating the arrival of the tournament despite concerns over ticket pricing, with some fans reporting seats at the AT&T Stadium listed for between $1,000 and $2,700.