England's opening match World Cup record - from eight-goal thriller to USA nightmare. England kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign with a clash against Croatia - who knocked them out at the semi-final stage eight years ago - and the Three Lions have not always had their own way in their opening game.
Once again a nation holds its breath. Sixty years of hurt - but another shot at glory for England's latest squad of hopefuls bidding to replicate the boys of 1966 and land the Jules Rimet trophy for only the second time. All eyes are on Dallas for England's opening game on Wednesday against semi-final foes of 2018, Croatia.
England are preparing for their 17th World Cup finals, having not entered until 1950 and failing to qualify on three occasions – 1974, 1978, 1994. And they have had mixed fortunes in their opening matches down the years, as Mirror Football takes a look at the highs and lows.
1950 Brazil
England 2 Chile 0, June 25, Maracana, Rio de Janeiro. Stan Mortensen, the only player to score a hat-trick in a Wembley FA Cup final, not only holds the distinction of scoring England’s first goal in a World Cup qualifying campaign but their maiden effort in a World Cup finals too – and what a place for it, the Maracana in Rio. Mortensen broke the deadlock after 39 minutes with a superb header before Wilf Mannion added the second six minutes into the second half. Where England finished: Group stage.
1954 Switzerland
England 4 Belgium 4, June 17, St Jakob Stadium, Basel. What a way for England to start the tournament, in a group which they ended up winning while Belgium did not progress, this match bringing their only point. England were behind after only five minutes to the first of two goals from Leopold Anoul before going in at the break 3-1 ahead thanks to two from Ivor Broadis and one from Nat Lofthouse. Anoul and then Henri Coppens equalised. Group games which finished level in 1954 went to extra-time, where Lofthouse quickly put England head again, but an own goal from Jimmy Dickinson three minutes later made it 4-4. Where England finished: Quarter-finals.
1958 Sweden
Soviet Union 2 England 2, June 8, Ullevi Stadium, Gothenburg. England failed to progress from the group stages despite not losing. Walter Winterbottom’s side drew all three, with a 0-0 against Brazil and a 2-2 with Austria after this opener, where they trailed 2-0 after goals from Nikita Simonyan and Aleksandr Ivanov. Derek Kevan brought England back into it in the 66th minute, before Tom Finney secured a point with a penalty five minutes from time. Where England finished: Group stage.
1962 Chile
Hungary 2 England 1, May 31, Estadio El Teniente, Rancagua. England’s first defeat in a World Cup opener was inflicted by a player who would become the European Footballer of The Year five years later – Florian Albert. He scored the winner 19 minutes from time after a Ron Flowers penalty had brought England level on the hour after Lajos Tichy’s 17th-minute opener. Where England finished: Quarter-finals.
1966 England
England 0 Uruguay 0, July 11, Wembley Stadium. The start of what became England’s greatest World Cup had a frustrating first 90 minutes for Alf Ramsey’s would-be heroes. It was the first time England had not scored at Wembley since 1945. The Queen had declared the tournament open but Uruguay were never going to be pushovers as they defended at all costs to earn a draw. A point for England who went on to win the rest of their matches. Where England finished: Winners.
1970 Mexico
England 1 Romania 0, June 2, Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara. The defending champions were alongside Romania, Brazil and Czechoslovakia in a group where all six matches were played at the Estadio Jalisco. Fittingly, after 1966, Geoff Hurst opened England’s scoring account with a fine strike in the 65th minute. Francis Lee headed the ball on from the left edge of the six-yard box for Hurst, who controlled it brilliantly before driving low past goalkeeper Stere Adamache. Where England finished: Quarter-finals.
1982 Spain
England 3 France 1, June 16, San Mames Stadium, Bilbao. England made a dream start, with their quickest goal at a World Cup finals, which remains the fourth fastest in the history of the tournament. Steve Coppell’s throw-in from the right was flicked on by Terry Butcher and there was Bryan Robson to hook the ball home...after just 27 seconds. Gerard Soler drew France level after 24 minutes but halfway through the second half Robson rose with a brilliant header for 2-1 and Paul Mariner volleyed home a late third. Where England finished: Second group stage.
1986 Mexico
Portugal 1 England 0, June 3, Estadio Tecnologico, Monterrey. Twenty-four years on from the World Cup in Chile, England lost their opening match for the second time at World Cup finals – and they were beaten with just 15 minutes to go. Portugal midfielder Diamantino broke clear on the right, went past Kenny Sansom and sent in a cross to the far post where an unmarked Carlos Manuel had the easiest of tasks of beating Peter Shilton from three yards. Where England finished: Quarter-finals.
1990 Italy
England 1 Republic of Ireland 1, June 11, Stadio Sant’Elia, Cagliari. Previous Golden Boot winner Gary Lineker continued where he left off in ‘86 by giving England the perfect start after just nine minutes, chesting Chris Waddle’s cross past Packie Bonner before sliding the ball home. But his old Everton team-mate Kevin Sheedy cancelled out Lineker’s opener 17 minutes from time to earn Jack Charlton’s Ireland a valuable point on their World Cup debut. Where England finished: Fourth place.
1998 France
England 2 Tunisia 0, June 15, Stade Vélodrome, Marseille. The build-up to England’s first World Cup game in almost eight years was met with three days of rioting and violence among fans in Marseille. Thankfully things on the pitch were slightly more comfortable as Alan Shearer headed home Graeme Le Saux’s free-kick just before half-time and Paul Scholes curled into the top corner from outside the box late on. Where England finished: Round of 16.
2002 Japan and South Korea
England 1 Sweden 1, June 2, Saitama Stadium, Saitama. Under Swedish manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, England made a bright start against his homeland in Japan when Sol Campbell headed in a corner from the boot – and healed metatarsal – of David Beckham. But Sweden earned a share of the spoils when winger Niclas Alexandersson, then at Everton, fired an equaliser past David Seaman after Danny Mills’ error. Where England finished: Quarter-finals.
2006 Germany
England 1 Paraguay 0, June 10, Waldstadion, Frankfurt. England’s ‘Golden Generation’ laboured to a drab win against Paraguay thanks to an own goal after just four minutes when a David Beckham free-kick was turned in by opposing skipper Carlos Gamarra, while an unfit Wayne Rooney – still recovering from a fractured metatarsal – was left on the bench. Where England finished: Quarter-finals.
2010 South Africa
England 1 USA 1, June 12, Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg. Rob Green suffered a nightmare on his only appearance at a World Cup as Fabio Capello’s England were held to a draw. After captain Steven Gerrard put the Three Lions ahead after four minutes, keeper Green let Clint Dempsey’s speculative 25-yard shot squirm past him and into the net. Where England finished: Round of 16.
2014 Brazil
England 1 Italy 2, June 14, Arena da Amazonia, Manaus. Mario Balotelli had the last laugh in an Andrea Pirlo masterclass for Italy as England were beaten in hot and humid conditions near the Amazon jungle. Daniel Sturridge turned home Wayne Rooney’s cross to level after Claudio Marchisio’s opener before Balotelli’s header inflicted only a third opening defeat for England in an ultimately woeful trip for Roy Hodgson’s side. Where England finished: Group stage.
2018 Russia
Tunisia 1 England 2, June 18, Volgograd Arena, Volgograd. Harry Kane spared England’s blushes with a stoppage-time winner against Tunisia in Russia to earn Gareth Southgate an opening win. Tunisia had threatened to snatch a point after Ferjani Sassi’s 35th-minute penalty cancelled out Kane’s early opener, until the England skipper headed home Harry Maguire’s flick at the far post. Where England finished: Fourth place.
2022 Qatar
England 6 Iran 2, November 21, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan. A thumping start for England – their biggest win in an opening match – as a first senior international goal from Jude Bellingham got the party started before Bukayo Saka’s brace and one apiece from Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish saw them run riot against Iran in the first game between the two nations. England led 4-0 before Mehdi Taremi’s first goal in the 65th minute. His second was a penalty deep into stoppage time. Where England finished: Quarter-finals.
England’s record in their opening match at World Cup: P 16, W 7, D 6, L 3, F 28, A 18.
