Only one of the home nations has ever won the World Cup, and only once have all of them reached the same tournament. The 2026 finals offered another reminder of how their fortunes differ, with England and Scotland qualifying while Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland all fell short in the playoffs.
England go into the tournament among the leading names in the FIFA World Cup betting, as they often do, while Scotland return for the first time since 1998. Their records at the World Cup, though, look very different once you trace them back through the years.
In this article, we run through the best World Cup run managed by each of the four home nations and the Republic of Ireland.
England
England remain the only one of these sides to win the World Cup, beating West Germany 4-2 after extra time at Wembley in 1966. Geoff Hurst's hat-trick, the only one scored in a final until Kylian Mbappe in 2022, settled it.
No England side has reached a final since, though they made the semi-finals in 1990 and 2018. The 1966 win remains the high point for any side covered here.
Wales
Wales have been to only two World Cups, the fewest of any side on this list, yet their first trip is still their best. At Sweden 1958, they reached the quarter-finals before losing 1-0 to Brazil, the goal scored by a 17-year-old Pele.
They did not return to the finals until 2022, when they went out in the group stage. That leaves 1958 as a run no Welsh side has matched since.
Republic of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland have appeared at three World Cups and progressed from the group at every one. Their finest came at the 1990 finals in Italy, when Jackie Charlton's side drew all three group games, edged Romania on penalties in the last 16, then pushed hosts Italy before losing 1-0 in the quarter-finals.
For a nation at its first World Cup, reaching the last eight was a remarkable effort.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland have also been to three World Cups, and their best came at the first time of asking. In 1958, they reached the quarter-finals in Sweden, beating Czechoslovakia in a playoff before losing 4-0 to France.
They returned in 1982 and 1986 but have not qualified since, the longest absence of any side here. Anyone running a World Cup Predictor for 2026 will not find them among the 48, after Italy ended their playoff hopes in March.
Scotland
