Norway win sets milestone for Three Lions and Lionesses

The Three Lions’ victory over Norway at the FIFA World Cup 2026 meant that a significant milestone was met for England's senior teams.

Over the last four major tournaments for the men's and women's teams combined, dating back to the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, England have reached at least the semi-final stage.

Thomas Tuchel has guided the Three Lions to the World Cup last four in his first tournament in charge, following the 2-1 win on Saturday after extra-time, while his predecessor Gareth Southgate led the team to the EURO 2024 final.

The Lionesses reached the Women's World Cup final in 2023, but were undone by Spain in Sydney.

However, they went one step further in their EURO 2025 campaign, avenging their defeat by the Spaniards to claim victory against the same opposition on penalties to defend their European title.

Not only that, but the two teams combined have reached at least the semi-final across nine of the last 10 major tournament campaigns between them, dating back to 2017.

The other instance was when the Three Lions were narrowly beaten 2-1 by eventual finalists France in the FIFA World Cup 2022

Let’s take a look through each of those semi-final runs over the last decade.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Semi-final

For the second time since 2018, the Three Lions have qualified for the last four of the World Cup, following their comeback 2-1 victory in extra-time against Norway in Miami.

They will face either Argentina or Switzerland in the last four as they bid to reach the final in New Jersey, which would be their first World Cup final since they won the tournament in 1966.

UEFA Women's EURO 2025: Winners

Sarina Weigman’s Lionesses defended their status as European champions after overcoming Spain on penalties.

They drew the game 1-1, with Alessia Russo cancelling out Mariona Caldentey’s opener before England won 3-1 in the shoot-out, with Chloe Kelly scoring the decisive penalty, and winning a EURO final for the second time in succession.

UEFA EURO 2024: Final

For the second successive time, Southgate’s England side made it all the way to the EURO final, with Ollie Watkins scoring a dramatic winner against the Netherlands in their semi-final. It was the Three Lions' first final on foreign soil.

Against Spain in final, Cole Palmer was on the scoresheet for England to make it 1-1 with 73 minutes on the clock, before Mikel Oyarzabal scored Spain's winner late on.

FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: Final

The England women’s team played in their first-ever World Cup final three years ago, having finished third and fourth respectively in the two previous editions of the tournament.

This time, Spain were victorious and claimed their first World Cup title following Olga Carmona’s first-half strike - the only goal of the game in Sydney.

FIFA World Cup 2022: Quarter-final

This was the only England team on the list not to reach the semi-final, after they were knocked out by the reigning world champions despite an impressive display in Qatar.

Aurelien Tchouameni gave France the lead before Harry Kane equalised from the spot. Olivier Giroud found a second for France and England had the chance to equalise through another Kane spot-kick, but on that occasion he could not convert. After a spirited effort, the Three Lions bowed out.

UEFA Women's EURO 2022: Winners

England won their first senior European title following a dramatic victory over Germany at a packed Wembley Stadium.

Ella Toone had England in front with a sublime finish just after the hour mark before Lina Magull’s equaliser forced extra time.

But then Chloe Kelly produced one of Wembley’s most iconic moments, netting the winner in the 110th minute to make England history.

UEFA EURO 2020 (in 2021): Final

The Three Lions reached their first EURO final, played on home soil, in EURO 2020, delayed by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Southgate's side knocked out Germany, Ukraine and Denmark on route to the final, where they faced Italy at Wembley Stadium.

After Luke Shaw’s second-minute opener, Leonardo Bonucci scrambled the ball across the line to equalise for Italy with a little over 20 minutes to play.

The game needed extra time, before the Italians claimed victory on penalties.

FIFA Women's World Cup 2019: Semi-final

For the second successive World Cup campaign, the Lionesses reached the last four.

After a 2-1 defeat to Japan in the semi-finals four years earlier, they were beaten by the same scoreline again - this time by the USA, who went on to win the tournament for the fourth time.

FIFA World Cup 2018: Semi-final

In Southgate’s first tournament in charge, he took the Three Lions the furthest than they had gone at the World Cup since a fourth-place finish in 1990.

England beat Colombia on penalties and toppled Sweden in the knockout stage before facing Croatia in the last four.

Despite Kieran Trippier’s wonderful free-kick to put Southgate’s side ahead after five minutes, Croatia clawed their way back into the game before advancing to extra time, where Mario Mandzukic’s winner secured their place in the final.

UEFA Women's EURO 2017: Semi-final

After beating France in the quarter-finals, England reached the semi-finals for the second time in three European campaigns.

They fell short of reaching the final following a 3-0 defeat to the Netherlands, who went on to comfortably beat Denmark in the final.