England has been a team to carry much of the noise in the World Cup, with a sheer amount of expectation lying on their shoulders each time they take to the pitch on the global stage. The Three Lions won the World Cup on home soil, but since then, they have not brought any success despite making some fantastic runs into the tournament and creating moments to savor. They have had golden generations and legendary players over the years, yet glory has been elusive. From the class of 1966, containing Bobby Charlton and Geoff Hurst, to Gary Lineker, Michael Owen, to the golden generation of David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, to modern-day superstars like record scorer Harry Kane and world-class talent Bukayo Saka, the side has produced greats on the stage but failed to add further to their trophy cabinet. Despite the ongoing struggle at the global stage, England has remained a powerhouse in international football, bringing in a lot of passion into the tournament and the belief that football will come home one day.
Here are the Frequently Asked Questions about England’s performance at the World Cup:
How many times has England won the World Cup?
England has won the World Cup once when they hosted in 1966.
How many times has England reached the World Cup final?
The 1966 edition was also the only time England had reached the World Cup final. They beat Germany 4-2 after extra time to claim the silverware at Wembley Stadium.
How many times has England qualified for the World Cup?
After booking their spot in the 2026 World Cup, England have qualified for the 17th time in the tournament.
When did England make their World Cup debut?
England made their debut in the 1950 World Cup, hosted in Brazil.
How many matches did England play at the World Cup?
England has played 74 matches at the World Cup stage.
How many matches did England win at the World Cup?
England has won 32 matches at the World Cup.
How many matches did England lose at the World Cup?
England has lost 22 matches at the World Cup stage.
What is England’s biggest win in World Cup history?
England's biggest win in World Cup history is the 6-1 demolition of Panama in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
What is England’s biggest defeat in a World Cup?
England’s biggest defeat in FIFA World Cup history is the 4-1 loss to Germany in the Round of 16 stage at the 2010 World Cup.
How many goals did England score at the World Cup?
England has scored 104 goals in their World Cup history.
What is the highest number of goals England scored at a single World Cup?
The highest number of goals England scored at a single World Cup is 13 in 2022.
How many goals did England concede at the World Cup?
Brazil has conceded 68 goals at the World Cup.
Who is England’s all-time top scorer in World Cups?
Gary Lineker is the all-time top goalscorer in the World Cup for England with 10 goals.
Who has scored the most goals for England in a single World Cup?
Gary Lineker in 1986 and Harry Kane in 2018 have scored the most goals for England in a single World Cup, with six.
Who is the youngest goalscorer for England in the World Cup?
The youngest goalscorer for England in a FIFA World Cup is Michael Owen, who scored at 18 years and 190 days in the 1998 World Cup.
Who scored England’s first-ever World Cup goal?
Stan Mortensen scored England’s first-ever World Cup goal in the 2-0 win against Chile in their debut gaṁe in the competition in 1950.
What is England’s longest streak of scoring in World Cup matches?
England’s longest streak of scoring in World Cup matches is 11 consecutive games from 1990 to 2002.
What is England’s longest streak of winning in World Cup matches?
England’s longest streak of consecutive World Cup wins is six matches, from 1966 to 1970.
Who has made the most appearances for England in World Cup history?
Peter Shilton has made the most appearances for England in World Cup history over three editions, with 17.
Which goalkeeper for France has the most World Cup clean sheets?
Peter Shilton has the most clean sheets for England in the World Cup with 10. He shares the joint all-time World Cup record for clean sheets with France's Fabien Barthez.
Which player has captained England for the most World Cups?
The player who has captained England in the most World Cups is Billy Wright. He captained England in three World Cups in the 1950, 1954 and 1958 editions.
