List of football matches between British national teams explained
The men's national football teams of the four Home Nations of the United Kingdom have played each other more times than any other footballing nations in the world. The world's first international football match was played between Scotland and England in Glasgow in 1872 (a 0–0 draw). From then on, all four teams started playing regular friendlies against each other. In 1883 a formal competition between the UK's teams, the British Home Championship, was introduced, guaranteeing that each team would play the other three at least once a season. The Championship was discontinued in 1984, partly due to problems of crowd trouble, and partly due to the desire of England (and to a lesser extent Scotland) to contest international fixtures against larger and more powerful nations.
While the British Home Championship was being played, the UK teams were also drawn together on a number of occasions during qualification competitions for the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship. Early tournaments simply used the British Championship as a qualifying group, but during qualification for the 1974 World Cup, England and Wales were drawn in the same group. Subsequent to this, three more qualification tournaments saw UK teams drawn together while the British Championship was being played. Since the end of the British Home Championship, the teams have played each other mainly when drawn together in international competitions such as the European Championship or the World Cup, with occasional friendly fixtures.[1] [2] [3] [4]
At men's major national tournaments, Home Nations teams have met four times at the UEFA European Championships. England and Wales played the first ever Home Nations tie at a World Cup when they played each other at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, with England winning the match 3–0.[5]
Teams –
- (as between 1882 and 1950)
FIFA World Cup
Date | Competition | | Score | | Venue | Notes |
---|
1 October 1949 | 1950 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 2–8 | | Windsor Park, Belfast | |
15 October 1949 | 1950 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 1–4 | | Ninian Park, Cardiff | |
9 November 1949 | 1950 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 2–0 | | Hampden Park, Glasgow | |
16 November 1949 | 1950 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 9–2 | | Maine Road, Manchester | |
8 March 1950 | 1950 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 0–0 | | Racecourse Ground, Wrexham | |
15 April 1950 | 1950 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 0–1 | | Hampden Park, Glasgow | |
3 October 1953 | 1954 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 1–3 | | Windsor Park, Belfast | |
10 October 1953 | 1954 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 1–4 | | Ninian Park, Cardiff | |
4 November 1953 | 1954 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 3–3 | | Hampden Park, Glasgow | |
11 November 1953 | 1954 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 3–1 | | Goodison Park, Liverpool | |
31 March 1954 | 1954 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 1–2 | | Racecourse Ground, Wrexham | |
3 April 1954 | 1954 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 2–4 | | Hampden Park, Glasgow | |
15 November 1972 | 1974 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 0–1 | | Ninian Park, Cardiff | |
24 January 1973 | 1974 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 1–1 | | Wembley Stadium (I), London | |
17 November 1976 | 1978 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 1–0 | | Hampden Park, Glasgow | |
12 October 1977 | 1978 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 0–2 | | Anfield, Liverpool | |
25 March 1981 | 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 1–1 | | Hampden Park, Glasgow | |
14 October 1981 | 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 0–0 | | Windsor Park, Belfast | |
27 February 1985 | 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 0–1 | | Windsor Park, Belfast | |
27 March 1985 | 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 0–1 | | Hampden Park, Glasgow | |
10 September 1985 | 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 1–1 | | Ninian Park, Cardiff | |
13 November 1985 | 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 0–0 | | Wembley Stadium (I), London | |
8 September 2004 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 2–2 | | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | |
9 October 2004 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 2–0 | | Old Trafford, Manchester | |
26 March 2005 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 4–0 | | Old Trafford, Manchester | |
3 September 2005 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 0–1 | | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | |
7 September 2005 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 1–0 | | Windsor Park, Belfast | |
8 October 2005 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 2–3 | | Windsor Park, Belfast | |
12 October 2012 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 2–1 | | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff | |
22 March 2013 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 1–2 | | Hampden Park, Glasgow | |
11 November 2016 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 3–0 | | Wembley Stadium, London | |
10 June 2017 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying | | 2–2 | | Hampden Park, Glasgow | |
29 November 2022 | 2022 FIFA World Cup – group stage | | 0–3 | | Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan | | |
UEFA European Championship
Date | Competition | | Score | | Venue | Notes |
---|
7 February 1979 | UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying | | 4–0 | | Wembley Stadium (I), London | |
17 October 1979 | UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying | | 1–5 | | Windsor Park, Belfast | |
15 October 1986 | UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying | | 3–0 | | Wembley Stadium (I), London | |
1 April 1987 | UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying | | 0–2 | | Windsor Park, Belfast | |
15 June 1996 | UEFA Euro 1996 finals – group stage | | 0–2 | | Wembley Stadium (I), London | |
13 November 1999 | UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying play-offs | | 0–2 | | Hampden Park, Glasgow | |
17 November 1999 | UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying play-offs | | 0–1 | | Wembley Stadium (I), London | |
26 March 2011 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying | | 0–2 | | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | |
6 September 2011 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying | | 1–0 | | Wembley Stadium, London | |
16 June 2016 | UEFA Euro 2016 finals – group stage | | 2–1 | | Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens | |
25 June 2016 | UEFA Euro 2016 finals – round of 16 | | 1–0 | | Parc des Princes, Paris | |
18 June 2021 | UEFA Euro 2020 finals – group stage | | 0–0 | | Wembley Stadium, London | | |
British Home Championship
See main article: British Home Championship.
The British Home Championship (also known as the Home International Championship, the Home Internationals and the British Championship) was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (the last of whom competed as Ireland for most of the competition's history). Starting during the 1883–84 season, it was the oldest international football tournament and it was contested until the 1983–84 season, when it was abolished after 100 years.
The 1949–50 and 1953–54 championships doubled up as qualifying stages for the 1950 FIFA World Cup and 1954 FIFA World Cup respectively.
Friendlies
Date | | Score | | Venue | Notes |
---|
30 November 1872 | | 0–0 | | Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow | |
8 March 1873 | | 4–2 | | Kennington Oval, London | |
7 March 1874 | | 2–1 | | Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow | |
6 March 1875 | | 2–2 | | Kennington Oval, London | |
4 March 1876 | | 3–0 | | Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow | |
25 March 1876 | | 4–0 | | Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow | |
3 March 1877 | | 1–3 | | Kennington Oval, London | |
5 March 1877 | | 0–2 | | Acton Park, Wrexham | |
2 March 1878 | | 7–2 | | Hampden Park (I), Glasgow | |
23 March 1878 | | 9–0 | | Hampden Park (I), Glasgow | |
18 January 1879 | | 2–1 | | Kennington Oval, London | |
5 April 1879 | | 5–4 | | Kennington Oval, London | |
7 April 1879 | | 0–3 | | Acton Park, Wrexham | |
13 March 1880 | | 5–4 | | Hampden Park (I), Glasgow | |
15 March 1880 | | 2–3 | | Racecourse Ground, Wrexham | |
27 March 1880 | | 5–1 | | Hampden Park (I), Glasgow | |
18 January 1881 | | 0–1 | | Alexandra Meadows, Blackburn | |
12 March 1881 | | 1–6 | | Kennington Oval, London | |
14 March 1881 | | 1–5 | | Acton Park, Wrexham | |
18 February 1882 | | 0–13 | | Knock Ground, Belfast | |
25 February 1882 | | 7–1 | | Wrexham | |
11 March 1882 | | 5–1 | | Hampden Park (I), Glasgow | |
13 March 1882 | | 5–3 | | Racecourse Ground, Wrexham | |
25 March 1882 | | 5–0 | | Hampden Park (I), Glasgow | |
3 February 1883 | | 5–0 | | Kennington Oval, London | |
24 February 1883 | | 7–0 | | Aigburth Cricket Ground, Liverpool | |
10 March 1883 | | 2–3 | | Bramall Lane, Sheffield | |
12 March 1883 | | 0–3 | | Acton Park, Wrexham | |
17 March 1883 | | 1–1 | | Belfast | |
14 February 1973 | | 0–5 | | Hampden Park, Glasgow | |
24 March 1976 | | 1–2 | | Racecourse Ground, Wrexham | |
18 February 1992 | | 1–0 | | Hampden Park, Glasgow | |
27 May 1997 | | 0–1 | | Rugby Park, Kilmarnock | |
18 February 2004 | | 4–0 | | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | |
6 February 2007 | | 0–0 | | Windsor Park, Belfast | |
20 August 2008 | | 0–0 | | Hampden Park, Glasgow | |
14 November 2009 | | 3–0 | | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff | |
14 August 2013 | | 3–2 | | Wembley Stadium, London | |
18 November 2014 | | 1–3 | | Celtic Park, Glasgow | |
25 March 2015 | | 1–0 | | Hampden Park, Glasgow | |
24 March 2016 | | 1–1 | | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff | |
8 October 2020 | | 3–0 | | Wembley Stadium, London | |
12 September 2023 | | 1–3 | | Hampden Park, Glasgow | |
26 March 2024 | | 0–1 | | Hampden Park, Glasgow | | |
Others
Date | Competition | | Score | | Venue | Notes |
---|
25 May 1985 | Rous Cup | | 1–0 | | Hampden Park, Glasgow | |
23 April 1986 | Rous Cup | | 2–1 | | Wembley Stadium (I), London | |
23 May 1987 | Rous Cup | | 0–0 | | Hampden Park, Glasgow | |
21 May 1988 | Rous Cup | | 1–0 | | Wembley Stadium (I), London | |
27 May 1989 | Rous Cup | | 0–2 | | Hampden Park, Glasgow | |
9 February 2011 | 2011 Nations Cup | | 0–3 | | Aviva Stadium, Dublin | |
25 May 2011 | 2011 Nations Cup | | 1–3 | | Aviva Stadium, Dublin | |
27 May 2011 | 2011 Nations Cup | | 2–0 | | Aviva Stadium, Dublin | | |
Head to head
England
Opponent | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | W% |
---|
| 98 | 75 | 16 | 7 | |
| 112 | 47 | 24 | 41 | |
| 102 | 67 | 21 | 14 | | |
Northern Ireland
Opponent | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | W% |
---|
| 98 | 7 | 16 | 75 | |
| 95 | 15 | 17 | 63 | |
| 96 | 28 | 24 | 44 | | |
Scotland
Opponent | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | W% |
---|
| 112 | 41 | 24 | 47 | |
| 95 | 63 | 17 | 15 | |
| 107 | 61 | 23 | 23 | | |
Wales
Opponent | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | W% |
---|
| 102 | 14 | 21 | 67 | |
| 96 | 44 | 24 | 28 | |
| 107 | 23 | 23 | 61 | | |
British Overseas Territories
Seven British Overseas Territories have a national football team affiliated to FIFA – Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos Islands. All play within the CONCACAF (North American) area, with the exception of Gibraltar. This makes fixtures between the Home Nations and the overseas territories rare, although the North American overseas territories play between each other often.
Gibraltar v UK Home Nations
In 2013, the Gibraltar Football Association became a member of UEFA enabling their national team to play international fixtures. This opened the possibility of Gibraltar playing against a Home Nation during the qualification phase of major international competitions. To date, there have been three matches between Gibraltar and one of the Home Nations – Scotland played them twice as part of their UEFA Euro 2016 qualification group, beating them on both occasions; and Wales defeated them in a friendly match. These fixtures are the only occasions when a Home Nation and an overseas territory have played each other in an official international match.
Head to head
Opponent | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | W% |
---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | |
CONCACAF overseas territories
FIFA World Cup
Date | Competition | | Score | | Venue | Notes |
---|
5 March 2000 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification | | 1–5 | | Shirley Ground, Road Town | |
19 March 2000 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification | | 9–0 | | Bermuda National Stadium, Hamilton | |
| 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | | 13–0 | | Bermuda National Stadium, Hamilton | |
| 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | | 0–7 | | Blakes Estate Stadium, Look Out |
3 February 2008 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification | | 1–1 | | Bermuda National Stadium, Hamilton | |
30 March 2008 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification | | 1–3 | | Truman Bodden Stadium, George Town | |
8 June 2021 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | | 1–1 | | IMG Academy, Bradenton | |
22 March 2024 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | | 0–0 | | Raymond E. Guishard Technical Centre, The Valley | |
26 March 2024 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | | 1–1 | | TCIFA National Academy, Providenciales | |
4 June 2025 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | | v | | Dame Flora Duffy National Sports Centre, Hamilton | | |
CFU Caribbean Cup
Date | Competition | | Score | | Venue | Notes |
---|
28 March 1990 | 1990 Caribbean Cup qualification | | 0–6 | | Stade Alberic Richards, Marigot | |
10 May 1991 | 1991 Caribbean Cup qualification | | 1–2 | | Warner Park, Basseterre | |
| 1991 Caribbean Cup qualification | | 1–1 | | Vieux Fort National Stadium, Vieux Fort | |
2 March 1994 | 1994 Caribbean Cup qualification | | 0–5 | | Truman Bodden Stadium, George Town | |
| 1995 Caribbean Cup qualification | | 5–2 | | Sturge Park, Plymouth | |
| 1995 Caribbean Cup qualification | | 0–1 | | Webster Park, The Valley | |
3 April 1997 | 1997 Caribbean Cup qualification | | 4–1 | | Windsor Park, Roseau | |
10 May 1998 | 1998 Caribbean Cup qualification | | 2–0 | | Truman Bodden Stadium, George Town | |
5 February 1999 | 1999 Caribbean Cup qualification | | 3–1 | | Shirley Ground, Road Town | |
7 February 1999 | 1999 Caribbean Cup qualification | | 3–0 | | Shirley Ground, Road Town | |
7 May 1999 | 1999 Caribbean Cup qualification | | 4–1 | | Bermuda National Stadium, Hamilton | |
| 2001 Caribbean Cup qualification | | 1–4 | | Stade Alberic Richards, Marigot | |
4 April 2001 | 2001 Caribbean Cup qualification | | 2–2 | | Stade Dillon, Fort-de-France | |
24 November 2004 | 2005 Caribbean Cup qualification | | 2–1 | | Arnos Vale Stadium, Kingstown | |
26 November 2004 | 2005 Caribbean Cup qualification | | 0–1 | | Arnos Vale Stadium, Kingstown | |
28 November 2004 | 2005 Caribbean Cup qualification | | 2–0 | | Arnos Vale Stadium, Kingstown | |
4 September 2006 | 2007 Caribbean Cup qualification | | 0–2 | | Estadio Pedro Marrero, Havana | |
31 August 2008 | 2008 Caribbean Cup qualification | | 0–0 | | Truman Bodden Stadium, George Town | |
4 October 2010 | 2010 Caribbean Cup qualification | | 4–1 | | Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel, Bayamón | |
| 2012 Caribbean Cup qualification | | 7–0 | | Stade Pierre-Aliker, Fort-de-France | |
3 June 2014 | 2014 Caribbean Cup qualification | | 0–2 | | Trinidad Stadium, Oranjestad | | |
CONCACAF Nations League
Date | Competition | | Score | | Venue | Notes |
---|
21 March 2019 | 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualifying | | 2–2 | | Raymond E. Guishard Technical Centre, The Valley | |
| 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualifying | | 2–0 | | Ed Bush Stadium, West Bay | |
3 June 2022 | 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League | | 1–1 | | A. O. Shirley Recreation Ground, Road Town | |
6 June 2022 | 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League | | 1–1 | | Truman Bodden Sports Complex, George Town | |
11 June 2022 | 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League | | 3–2 | | Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez, Santo Domingo | |
14 June 2022 | 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League | | 3–0A | | Dame Flora Duffy National Sports Centre, Hamilton | |
9 September 2023 | 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League | | 3–1 | | A. O. Shirley Recreation Ground, Road Town | |
16 October 2023 | 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League | | 2–2 | | TCIFA National Academy, Providenciales | |
4 September 2024 | 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League | | v | | TCIFA National Academy, Providenciales | |
4 September 2024 | 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League | | v | | Truman Bodden Sports Complex, George Town | |
9 October 2024 | 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League | | v | | FFB Stadium, Belmopan | |
9 October 2024 | 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League | | v | | Warner Park, Basseterre | | |
Friendlies
Date | Competition | | Score | | Venue | Notes |
---|
9 September 1999 | Friendly | | 3–1 | | Bermuda National Stadium, Hamilton | |
11 September 1999 | Friendly | | 1–0 | | Bermuda National Stadium, Hamilton | |
25 February 2000 | Friendly | | 3–4 | | A. O. Shirley Recreation Ground, Road Town | |
27 February 2000 | Friendly | | 4–0 | | A. O. Shirley Recreation Ground, Road Town | |
27 September 2000 | Friendly | | 3–0 | | Truman Bodden Sports Complex, George Town | |
6 July 2002 | Friendly | | 2–1 | | A. O. Shirley Recreation Ground, Road Town | |
18 September 2010 | Friendly | | 2–1 | | Stade Thelbert Carti, Quartier-d'Orleans, Saint Martin | |
7 July 2012 | Friendly | | 1–0 | | A. O. Shirley Recreation Ground, Road Town | |
28 February 2012 | Friendly | | 1–0 | | Ronald Webster Park, The Valley | |
1 March 2015 | Friendly | | 3–1 | | Ronald Webster Park, The Valley | |
27 January 2022 | Friendly | | 1–2 | | Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, Bisham | | |
Non-FIFA matches
In addition to games in competitions sanctioned by FIFA, friendlies and competitions have taken place that are unsanctioned, and therefore not counted as official internationals. One of the most notable competitions is the Island Games, an Olympics-style multi-sport event taking place every two years between various islands. The following list includes games played by teams of British territories that are members of either FIFA or one of FIFA's affiliated continental confederations.
Date | Competition | | Score | | Venue | Notes |
---|
25 May 1967 | Friendly | | 1–4 | | Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong |
4 July 1993 | 1993 Island Games – Group Stage | | 1–2 | | Green Lane, Shanklin | |
17 July 1995 | 1995 Island Games – Group Stage | | 2–1 | | Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar | |
20 July 1995 | 1995 Island Games – Semi-Final | | 1–0 | | Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar | |
29 June 1997 | 1997 Island Games – Group Stage | | 1–2 | | Le Boulivot, Grouville | |
3 July 1997 | 1997 Island Games – Group Stage | | 3–2 | | Springfield Stadium, St. Helier | |
29 June 1999 | 1999 Island Games – Group Stage | | 1–5 | | Fardhem Football Ground, Fardhem | |
10 July 2001 | 2001 Island Games – Group Stage | | 2–1 | | The Bowl, Douglas | |
23 May 2004 | GFA Tournament | | 1–0 | | Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar | |
1 July 2007 | 2007 Island Games – Group Stage | | 1–1 | | Municipal Stadium Ekonomideio, Rhodes | |
4 July 2007 | 2007 Island Games – Semi-Final | | 2–0 | | Diagoras Stadium, Rhodes | |
20 May 2008 | 2008 Four Nations | | 1–0 | | Llanelian Road, Old Colwyn | |
22 May 2008 | 2008 Four Nations | | 6–2 | | Belle Vue, Rhyl | |
24 May 2008 | 2008 Four Nations | | 4–2 | | Park Hall, Oswestry | |
28 June 2009 | 2009 Island Games – Group Stage | | 0–0 | | Solvallen, Eckerö | |
15 November 2011 | Friendly | | 3–1 | England C | Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar | |
28 June 2012 | International Challenge Shield | | 2–0 | | Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar | |
30 June 2012 | International Challenge Shield | | 2–1 | | Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar | |
5 June 2013 | Friendly | | 1–6 | England C | Bermuda National Stadium, Hamilton | |
15 July 2013 | 2013 Island Games – Group Stage | | 8–0 | | Bermuda National Stadium, Hamilton | |
30 June 2015 | 2015 Island Games – Group Stage | | 0–4 | | Springfield Stadium, St. Helier | | |
Great Britain Olympic football team
Because membership of the International Olympic Committee is taken by Great Britain and Northern Ireland as a single nation, a single British football team is required to participate in the Olympic football tournament. Up to the 1972 Olympics, a team was organised by The Football Association based around the England amateur team. This team participated in both the qualifying and final Olympic tournaments, as well as in preparatory games leading up to the competition. Some of these games, which served as trial games for players, were played against other British national teams, while the Great Britain team also played a handful of friendlies against national teams that were, at the time, still overseas territories of the United Kingdom.[6]
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Scotland – International Results. RSSSF. 23 June 2016.
- Web site: England – International Results . . 23 June 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20030426172351/http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/eng-intres.html . 26 April 2003 .
- Web site: (Northern) Ireland – International Results. RSSSF. 23 June 2016.
- Web site: International matches of Wales. RSSSF. 23 June 2016.
- Web site: McNulty . Phil . Wales 0-3 England-Rashford double sees England top group as Wales exit . www.bbc.co.uk . BBC Sport . 29 November 2022.
- Web site: Great Britain's Amateur History 1908-71 . . 3 January 2022 . Team GB Football Online . 7 July 2024 .