Rows and rows of empty seats could be seen during the men’s singles final at Wimbledon if stubborn officials refuse to budge on timing of the match.

The All England Club’s marquee match begins at 2pm local time on Sunday (11pm Australian time), just two hours before kick-off in the FIFA World Cup final.

England’s surprising progression through the World Cup has utterly captivated the nation and there are major fears that if the Three Lions reach the decider, another mass walkout is on the cards.

England plays Croatia on Thursday morning (Australian time) for a spot in the final against either France or Belgium.

Wimbledon officials were left red-faced on Saturday when thousands of fans walked out of Angelique Kerber’s match against Naomi Osaka.

The match clashed with England’s 2-0 quarter-final win over Sweden, with The Telegraph reporting centre court was “two-thirds empty, with rows of vacant seats and an empty Royal Box” for Kerber’s 63-minute victory.

Those who remained seemed more interested in watching the football on their phones and staffers at the iconic tennis event ran out of the wristbands that allow fans to re-enter the grounds.

Plenty of room to stretch out. Photo: Getty

Wimbledon also refused to show the match on any television screens on the premises despite having access to a big screen – which was used to show tennis – on what is known as ‘Henman Hill’.

And the same policy is in place for Sunday, even if England makes the final, leaving fans with tickets to the tennis with a difficult choice.

England has won the World Cup just once in 1966 and has reached the semi-finals on three occasions, the last time in 1990.

“We have said for a couple of years that the final will be played at 2pm, as it is every year,” All England Tennis Club boss Richard Lewis said.

“We are a sold-out event and there’s massive interest. There are absolutely no plans to change anything.

“We are very excited about England’s success in the World Cup. We think it’s fantastic for the spirit of the nation.”

Lewis’ comments follow Mick Desmond’s insistence last week that Wimbledon would not budge.

Desmond, the tournament’s commercial director, said: “Our [final] always starts at two o’clock and we’ll start at two o’clock.

“I think it’s slightly surprising that FIFA have the kick off at four o’clock. It’s not something they’ve done in the past but that’s their decision.”

The pecking order of Wimbledon was shown when rights holder BBC announced it would show the first hour of the men’s singles final on its primary channel, from 2pm to 3pm (local time), before moving it to a secondary channel for a World Cup preview show, and the match itself.

Just under 20 million viewers tuned into the BBC to watch Saturday’s England-Sweden clash.

England has been consumed by World Cup fever. Photo: Getty

That figure does not take into account the millions of fans who watched in public squares, pubs and bars, either.

Can fans attend Wimbledon but follow the World Cup on their phones?

Wimbledon’s rules usually dictate fans must have mobile phones and tablets switched off when in and around the courts.

But they have been slightly relaxed for the remainder of the tournament, with fans allowed to watch action from Russia provided they do not affect the enjoyment of others.

“We have free public wi-fi in many areas, so if people want to watch quietly on their phone or tablet, they are able to do so,” Lewis said.

But can fans watch England quietly if they make a first World Cup final since 1966?

The evidence from Saturday would suggest not, with those fans who remained at Wimbledon cheering goals and occasionally breaking into chants.

While the men’s singles final at Wimbledon is held every year, for many fans, England in a World Cup final really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

And if it eventuates, Wimbledon officials could be left with egg on their faces.