Thousands of fans are milling about in the historic city
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As many as 70,000 England football supporters are in Cologne for the team's final group match at the 2006 World Cup Finals against Sweden.
Chancellor Gordon Brown is among the crowd in the stadium for the game, which will decide who already-qualified England play in the last 16.
Most fans are viewing proceedings on giant screens set up across the city.
Meanwhile, in Birmingham a huge TV screen showing England's games has been blown down in high winds.
The 60-metre-square-high definition digital screen at the Fan Park at Millennium Point was tipped over on Tuesday afternoon.
A smaller screen was brought in by organisers for the Sweden versus England game.
The BBC News website's Claire Heald, in Cologne, said every street was filled with red and white shirts, supporters and their flags.
It was boisterous, hot and packed in the old town, she said.
Fans banned
There were 14 arrests overnight in Cologne in what UK police in Germany say is the worst behaviour by England fans so far.
Six were arrested when one climbed up a statue.
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World Cup fans bring colour to Cologne for England v Sweden
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One fan was arrested for drunkenness, seven for fighting in two separate incidents and one on Tuesday morning for attempting to break into the stadium.
As a result of the trouble, six England fans have been banned from the city.
A Home Office spokesman told the BBC: "The night before the game is the worst in terms of people getting drunk and being stupid.
"We've got our uniformed officers out on the streets and we are hoping people will just enjoy the game."
Fans enjoying a beer at the Heumarkt Fan Fest said those arrests represented a handful among tens of thousands of fans and that the atmosphere in Cologne had been good-natured.
Even German football fans are backing England
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"We didn't know what to expect but since we got here the Germans have been amazing," said Paul Lawson, of Norwich.
Meanwhile, in a Parliamentary written answer, Gordon Brown told Labour MP Mark Tami he would be at the match as a guest of the German government, which provided his ticket.
Conservative leader David Cameron was also at the match.
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Screen collapse
In pictures
Stagflation
R.I.P.
Political football