After a series of near-misses, the Three Lions are aiming to win the competition for only the second time ever.
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England's World Cup drought has now stretched to 60 years, having won its only title on home soil in 1966.
In that tournament, England famously defeated West Germany 4–2 in the final in extra time, with Geoff Hurst scoring a hat trick.
Since then, England has come close to winning a second World Cup but has come up short every time.
That drought has been exacerbated by several near-misses in the European Championship, which England has yet to win.
England has made back-to-back finals in the competition, but lost to Italy in 2021 and Spain in 2024.
England and Norway meet in a World Cup quarterfinal with a place in the semifinals on the line.See moments from the high‑stakes clash as the pressure builds in the tournament’s last eight. Above, Norway's forward #09 Erling Braut Haaland (L) listens to a teammate during the warmups of of the 2026 World Cup football tournament quarter-final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium in Miami on July 11, 2026.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)
England's forward #09 Harry Kane walks towards the pitch before the start of the 2026 World Cup football tournament quarter-final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium in Miami on July 11, 2026.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)England's midfielder #10 Jude Bellingham warms up ahead of the 2026 World Cup football tournament quarter-final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens on July 11, 2026. (MAURO PIMENTEL, AFP via Getty Images)Players of Norway huddle during the warm up before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium on July 11, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Elsa, Getty Images)England's defender #03 Nico O'Reilly walks towards the pitch before the start of the 2026 World Cup football tournament quarter-final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium in Miami on July 11, 2026. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)England fans cheer before the start of the 2026 World Cup football tournament quarter-final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium in Miami on July 11, 2026. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)England fans cheer for their team before the start of the 2026 World Cup football tournament quarter-final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium in Miami on July 11, 2026. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)Norway fans pose for photos before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium on July 11, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Elsa, Getty Images)A Norway fan cheers for her team before the start of the 2026 World Cup football tournament quarter-final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium in Miami on July 11, 2026. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)adidas Trionda FIFA World Cup 2026 balls are seen before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium on July 11, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Elsa, Getty Images)Norway fan poses for a photograph before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium on July 11, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Buda Mendes, Getty Images)1 / 11
England vs. Norway World Cup drama unfolds in Miami quarterfinal
England vs. Norway World Cup drama unfolds in Miami quarterfinal
England's midfielder #10 Jude Bellingham warms up ahead of the 2026 World Cup football tournament quarter-final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens on July 11, 2026. (MAURO PIMENTEL, AFP via Getty Images)
England vs. Norway World Cup drama unfolds in Miami quarterfinal
Players of Norway huddle during the warm up before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium on July 11, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Elsa, Getty Images)
England vs. Norway World Cup drama unfolds in Miami quarterfinal
England's defender #03 Nico O'Reilly walks towards the pitch before the start of the 2026 World Cup football tournament quarter-final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium in Miami on July 11, 2026. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)
England vs. Norway World Cup drama unfolds in Miami quarterfinal
England fans cheer before the start of the 2026 World Cup football tournament quarter-final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium in Miami on July 11, 2026. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)
England vs. Norway World Cup drama unfolds in Miami quarterfinal
England fans cheer for their team before the start of the 2026 World Cup football tournament quarter-final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium in Miami on July 11, 2026. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)
England vs. Norway World Cup drama unfolds in Miami quarterfinal
Norway fans pose for photos before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium on July 11, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Elsa, Getty Images)
England vs. Norway World Cup drama unfolds in Miami quarterfinal
A Norway fan cheers for her team before the start of the 2026 World Cup football tournament quarter-final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium in Miami on July 11, 2026. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)
England vs. Norway World Cup drama unfolds in Miami quarterfinal
adidas Trionda FIFA World Cup 2026 balls are seen before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium on July 11, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Elsa, Getty Images)
England vs. Norway World Cup drama unfolds in Miami quarterfinal
Norway fan poses for a photograph before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium on July 11, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Buda Mendes, Getty Images)
England has not made the World Cup final since 1966, but reached the semifinals in 1990 and 2018, losing both times.
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There have been an addition five eliminations at the quarterfinal phase since 1966, including at the most recent World Cup in 2022.
England has reached the quarterfinals again in 2026, facing Norway in Miami.