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 Wednesday's game against DR Congo 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 lifting the trophy in 1966, these are England’s best World Cup knockout ties.

England 4-2 West Germany (AET), final, 1966

The most important day in English football history. It was almost 60 years ago that England won the World Cup on home soil, defeating West Germany 4-2 after extra-time in a dramatic final at Wembley Stadium.

Sir Geoff Hurst was the hero for the Three Lions in a back-and-forth game, with the visitors going ahead early on and then forcing extra-time with a 90th minute equaliser to make it 2-2.

Having already scored England’s first goal of the game, the West Ham striker struck twice more to complete a historic hat-trick, prompting commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme’s iconic line: “They think it’s all over… it is now!” as Sir Alf Ramsey’s men clinched the trophy.

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 3-2 Cameroon (AET), quarter-finals, 1990

England looked like they were heading out of Italia ‘90 after squandering a 1-0 lead in the space of three second-half minutes, falling 2-1 behind to Cameroon having led through David Platt.

But having given away a penalty for the Indomitable Lions’ equaliser, Sir Bobby Robson’s men were awarded a spot-kick of their own with less than 10 minutes to go and Gary Lineker made no mistake to take the game into extra-time.

Having won and converted the penalty to make it 2-2, the in-form Lineker was then brought down for a second time inside the box halfway through extra-time and he dusted himself off to smash home from 12 yards and send the Three Lions into the semi-finals.

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.

England 3-0 Senegal, round of 16, 2022

One of England’s most convincing knockout wins ever, Sir Gareth Southgate’s side looked in full control as they swept aside Senegal to reach the quarter-finals four years ago.

After a fine early save from Jordan Pickford, the Three Lions dominated and deservedly went ahead through Jordan Henderson in the 38th minute. Harry Kane got his first goal of the tournament on the stroke of half-time following clever work from Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham.

And the tie was wrapped up after the break as Foden grabbed his second assist, setting up Bukayo Saka for a neat finish past Edouard Mendy in the Senegal goal in the 57th minute.