The 2026 World Cup nearly replicated a feat that has occurred only once in history.
After England secured their spot with a perfect qualifying campaign and Scotland ended a 28-year World Cup drought, Wales and Northern Ireland entered the playoffs. However, a clean sweep of all four home nations at the finals will not materialize this year. Wales and Northern Ireland were placed in the same European qualifying pathway, meaning that even if both win their semifinals, they would face each other for the tournament berth in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Northern Ireland were drawn away to Italy in their semifinal, while Wales host Bosnia-Herzegovina for a place in the Group A final.
So, when was the last time all four home nations qualified for the same men’s World Cup?
The 1958 World Cup in Sweden remains the only occasion where England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland all featured. Qualification was much simpler then, with nine automatic spots available for 27 European nations.
England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland all topped their groups, while Wales advanced in an unusual manner after finishing second in qualifying but being randomly selected for a playoff against Israel, which they won 4-0 on aggregate.
At the tournament, England and Scotland struggled. England, grouped with the Soviet Union, Austria, and eventual winners Brazil, failed to reach the knockout stage, and Scotland also exited early after losses to France and Paraguay and a draw with Yugoslavia. However, Wales and Northern Ireland progressed to the quarterfinals, where Northern Ireland lost to France and Wales were eliminated by a Brazil squad featuring a 17-year-old Pelé. Brazil beat hosts Sweden 5-2 in the final, with Pelé scoring twice, while France’s Just Fontaine set a record of 13 goals in the competition.
Incidentally, all four home nations have never appeared together in the same Women’s World Cup.
**How many World Cups have they played in?**
England have appeared in 19 World Cups, winning the trophy in 1966 on home soil.
Scotland have qualified for 10 World Cup finals but only participated in nine. After finishing second in the 1950 British Home Championships, they earned a spot but declined to attend, despite player protests. Scotland have never advanced beyond the group stage, winning only four of 23 matches.
Wales reached the quarterfinals in 1958 but did not return to the tournament until 2022 in Qatar, where they finished bottom of their group.
Northern Ireland have qualified three times: 1958, 1982, and 1986. In 1982, they famously beat hosts Spain 1-0 to reach the knockout stages, but failed to advance four years later and have not qualified since.