Discover the best World Cup teams that England have had over the years. Find out which had the highest quality players the sides that went the furthest!
England are one of the biggest and most prestigious nations to have ever competed in the World Cup. Heading into the 2026 tournament, this is no different as the Three Lions will head in as one of the World Cup betting favourites to lift the coveted prize. As they do look ahead to the upcoming World Cup, it’s worth looking back on some of the strongest teams that England have had competing in previous editions throughout history.
Below, we’ll delve into the best England World Cup teams throughout history. Running through the top five teams the Three Lions have had at the tournament, you’ll learn where each one finished, the quality of players, and any notable results that they achieved throughout their campaigns!
The five best England teams at the World Cup
So, without further ado, here are our best England World Cup teams ranked, including the year and tournament they featured in…
5. 2018, Russia
The first mention on our list is England’s 2018 side that headed to the World Cup in Russia. Following years of underachievement, England had low expectations heading into the campaign. Despite this, the team managed to lead many fans to believe it was coming home again.
This iteration of the Three Lions managed to make it all the way to the semi-finals for the first time in 28 years. Finishing the tournament in fourth place and performing much better than many believed they could, this team was a welcome refreshment from the standards set in some of the prior World Cups.
The players they had at their disposal were elite, with the attackers in particular having a real cutting edge to their game. These world-class forwards included the likes of Golden Boot winner Harry Kane and the clinical Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling. Defensively, England also had many strengths, with strong performances coming from Jordan Pickford, John Stones, Harry Maguire, and Kieran Trippier.
With these players, Gareth Southgate’s men were able to achieve some standout results, such as a 6-1 battering of Panama. This result saw Kane grab a hat-trick, Stones score two goals, and Lingard net a stunner, truly showcasing England’s attacking prowess.
Their penalty shoot-out victory against Colombia was a symbolic moment, breaking their shoot-out curse and representing a psychological breakthrough that had held a grip on them for decades.
4. 1986, Mexico
Next up is England’s team from the mid-80s, who managed to go deep into the tournament, and featured a plethora of talented footballers. Ranking just above the 2018 team, this 1986 side had a combination of great results and players who became the first English footballers to receive certain coveted accolades.
Reaching the quarter-finals, the Three Lions exited the competition under controversial circumstances against the eventual champions Argentina. The game ended 2-1 to the Albiceleste, but is remembered for one of the most scandalous moments in footballing history, the ‘Hand of God’. Maradona’s handball goal may have helped to seal Argentina’s victory, but England’s tournament was impressive nonetheless.
Featuring throughout the team were many influential players, including England’s first World Cup Golden Boot winner Gary Lineker and seasoned internationals including Peter Beardsley, Glenn Hoddle, and Bryan Robson.
These players helped to deliver some fantastic results, including a 3-0 win over Poland in the group stage. This particular result featured a Lineker hat-trick, helping him towards his eventual title of being the top scorer at the tournament with six goals. Other memorable games included the Three Lions’ 3-0 win over Paraguay in the round of 16, again showing their dominant capabilities, especially going forward.
3. 2002, Japan/South Korea
Third on our list is the England team that headed to Asia for the 2002 tournament, beating out the 1986 side due to some of the impressive results and moments that they achieved along the way. The expectations set on the Three Lions heading into the tournament were high, with an incredibly strong squad available. However, there were a couple of doubts due to the team’s cohesion and fitness worries.
Reaching as far as the quarter-finals, England again only faced defeat to the eventual winners, this time to Brazil. Despite taking the lead through a Michael Owen goal, Brazil’s attacking options proved to be just too much for them as Rivaldo and Ronaldinho sealed the victory for the Selecao.
Arguably one of their most talented teams, England were blessed with a plethora of world-class players throughout. Whether it was Owen up front, David Beckham on the wing, Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes in midfield, or Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole in defence, they had elite players everywhere. However, despite them playing at their peak at a club level, the balance of the team was an issue which prevented true success.
The best result of the tournament was a 1-0 win against Argentina, representing a long-awaited revenge mission finally completed after their previous World Cup encounters in 1986 and 1998. Apart from this, other great results such as a 3-0 win over Denmark in the last 16 showcased their ability to produce all-round elite performances.
2. 1990, Italy
Coming in as runner-up on our list of the best England sides is the one that travelled to Italia 90. This team ranks above the 2002 England team due to their deep run into the tournament, and because of how they performed in relation to how people thought they would.
Following on from some poor form after the 1986 tournament, expectations were low for the Three Lions. England managed to reach the semi-finals against West Germany, which was the furthest they’d been in 24 years. Unfortunately for them, they ended up losing on penalties.
Considered to be both well-balanced and tactically disciplined, Bobby Robson’s team was led by Gary Lineker, Paul Gascoigne, Terry Butcher, and Peter Shilton. The emergence of Gascoigne as a world-class talent helped to elevate the team to another level, exceeding any expectations that were set.
Some crucial results featured throughout their campaign, including a 1-0 win over Belgium in extra-time, where David Platt’s goal in the 119th minute sent England through to the quarters. It was in the following round where they then achieved another impressive result, beating Cameroon 3-2 after heading to extra-time yet again.
1. 1966, England
Finally, in first place is a team that needs no introduction. England’s only team to ever win the World Cup places top of our rankings, managing to achieve this on home soil.
Entering as strong contenders, the Three Lions delivered on the promise they had beforehand, bringing home the biggest piece of silverware on an international stage. Being England’s only ever triumph in a major tournament, it set the benchmark for all the teams that followed in their footsteps at the World Cup.
Managed by Sir Alf Ramsey, this legendary team had some real stars. With figures such as Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, and Gordon Banks included in the squad, they were a force to be reckoned with. Many of these players are even widely regarded as some of the best for this era of football!
Memorable results for this team include a 2-1 triumph over Portugal in the semi-final, coming as a result of two Bobby Charlton goals. This win saw the Three Lions overcome one of the best and most exciting attacking outfits at the tournament, only conceding due to a penalty towards the end of the game.
Of course, England’s most significant result of the tournament came in the form of their 4-2 extra-time win in the final against West Germany. Hurst was the real star here, as his hat-trick became the first (and until 2022 the only one!) in a World Cup final.
The game included a lot of drama, with England falling behind before scoring twice to take the lead. Then, the last minute of the game saw West Germany level the game at 2-2. The Three Lions dominated extra-time, however, with two Hurst goals being enough to help them get over the line and solidifying them as the greatest English side to date!
What do you make of our ranking of the five best England World Cup teams? With the 2026 tournament just around the corner, why not explore even more insights over on the Betway World Cup blog.
