England’s best World Cup knockout ties

England are into the second stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 - and they’ll be hoping to add to a list of memorable knockout performances on football’s biggest stage.

While this game will be the Three Lions’ first in the new round of 32, fans are sure to remember the most impressive - and dramatic - fixtures from years gone by.

From that penalty shootout win over Colombia, to beating Belgium in extra-time and seeing off Argentina on the way to lifting the trophy in 1966, these are England’s best World Cup knockout ties.

England 1-0 Argentina, quarter-finals, 1966

Perhaps England’s most fiercely contested game on their run to glory in 1966, the last eight meeting with Argentina threatened to get out of hand when opposition captain Antonio Rattin was sent off in the first half.

Angry protests from players and staff were eventually calmed, and the Three Lions would go on to make their man advantage count despite a spirited effort from the South American visitors to Wembley Stadium.

Sir Geoff Hurst grabbed his first goal of the tournament and just his second for his country, heading home a cross from Martin Peters to seal a crucial victory and propel England one step closer to immortality.

England 3-0 Paraguay, round of 16, 1986

After a mixed group stage which saw them win, lose and draw, England looked to have lift-off at Mexico ‘86 after a comfortable victory over Paraguay in the round of 16.

Having survived a few early scares, Gary Lineker was in the right place at the right time to give Sir Bobby Robson’s men the lead in the first half.

Peter Beardsley added a second after the break before Lineker made it 3-0 to give the Three Lions a morale-boosting win. However, beating Diego Maradona and Argentina would prove a step too far in the quarter-finals.

England 1-0 Belgium (AET), round of 16, 1990

One of England’s most dramatic World Cup knockout wins of all time, the triumph over Belgium at Italia ‘90 also gave us one of the Three Lions’ best ever goals at a major tournament.

The round of 16 tie appeared destined for a penalty shootout going into the last minute of extra-time until Robson’s side were awarded a free-kick 45 yards from goal.

Paul Gascoigne took it, looping the ball into the box and directly onto the foot of the swivelling David Platt, whose brilliant volley flew into the top corner. A special way to win it.

England 3-0 Denmark, round of 16, 2002

After finishing second in Group F in 2002, England were handed a seemingly tricky test against Denmark in the round of 16 in Japan and South Korea.

However, Sven-Göran Eriksson’s side would go on to make it look anything but as they blitzed the Scandinavians in the first half to set up a quarter-final clash with eventual winners Brazil.

Rio Ferdinand, Michael Owen and Emile Heskey were all on target before the break in Niigata, with 10,000 travelling supporters watching one of the Three Lions’ best knockout displays at a major tournament.

England 1-1 Colombia (4-3 penalties), round of 16, 2018

Arguably England’s most memorable moment at recent World Cups, the spine-tingling penalty shootout victory over Colombia in 2018 also helped exorcise some demons.

The Three Lions had lost six of their seven shootouts at major tournaments before this and had never come out on top at a World Cup, having cruelly lost three times previously, including in the 1990 semi-final to West Germany.

But thanks to Jordan Pickford’s heroics and nerveless spot-kicks from Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Kieran Trippier and Eric Dier, Sir Gareth Southgate’s side sent the country wild and continued on their journey to the semi-finals.