Football's World Cup

Men’s international football has been played since 1872, when England played Scotland. Following that first game, the British Home Championships took place in 1884, and the Olympics held football matches for amateurs from 1900. The success of these resulted in the formation of FIFA – football's global governing body – in 1904.

In 1930, FIFA organised the first football World Championship in Uruguay, to mark the 100th anniversary of Uruguayan independence. As this Foreign Office note explains, while 'the Uruguayan Government ardently desired the presence of a British team', England's Football Association and Football League could not be persuaded to send one.

The note states this was because 'we had had some unhappy experiences recently in Europe in which such teams had not only disgraced themselves, but had caused much disappointment to their opponents and their supporters.'

England hosted the World Cup in 1966. The tournament was memorable as the only time that England have won a senior men’s international football tournament, and for the theft of the trophy. But the politics involved in hosting an international competition are noteworthy too.

This letter was sent by Alberto Dines, Vice President of the National Federation of Professional Journalists in Brazil, to Sir Leslie Fry, the UK's ambassador in Rio de Janeiro. It complains about 'the unprecedented and unjustifiable step taken by the Organizing Committee of the next "Football World Cup"' to permit only two photographers from each nation to come to each game, rather than the previous limit of seven.

Other controversies discussed with the Foreign Office included North Korea playing despite not being recognised as a state at the time, issues with fan behaviour, and trains running late.

Football – and the World Cup specifically – has been used to market products for many years.

In 1966, Tudor Foods Ltd registered this design for World Cup branded crisps, and a World Cup football game. A friendly lion mascot, ‘World Cup Willie’, was used on the packaging.

At the time, Tudor Foods Ltd was owned by Smith’s Crisps. They were later brought together with Walkers Crisps in 1982, and when PepsiCo bought them in 1989, they dropped the Tudor brand altogether. This left their most popular brand as Walkers Crisps – who use footballers prominently in their advertising to this day.

In 1970, the England men's team headed to the World Cup in Mexico as reigning champions. They stayed in Bogotá, Colombia, for a pretournament training camp. During their stay, team captain Bobby Moore was accused of stealing a bracelet and detained.

The case caused a stir at home. Prime Minister Harold Wilson suggested using diplomatic pressure to ensure the captain was released and allowed to play in the tournament. After being interviewed, Moore was released and joined the England team in Mexico.

The Football Association sent this letter to Wilson for his help, and thanked the Colombian people and authorities for the support that Bobby Moore received.

Moore played well, but couldn't prevent England losing in the quarter-finals to West Germany on 14 June. A further four-day trial at a Magistrates Court confirmed that there was no evidence of any theft.

The World Cup in 1982 coincided with the Falklands Conflict with Argentina. The Cabinet discussed calling for the UK's teams to boycott the tournament.

In this report on 'The Implications of Withdrawal', the government noted that it might have to pay around £250,000 to compensate the football associations involved (who could face penalties from FIFA). Ministers did not want to penalise sports teams by withdrawing, and noted that doing so 'would undoubtedly be greeted with pleasure in Argentina, who would regard it as a moral victory over the UK.'

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office concluded that the UK's teams would only be withdrawn if the situation worsened. In the event, the conflict ceased on 14 June 1982, a day after Argentina lost to Belgium in the opening game. England and Northern Ireland went out at the second group stage, and Scotland narrowly failed to progress from the first.

In the aftermath of the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985, English club teams were banned from competing in European tournaments.

Both England and Scotland qualified for the World Cup in Italy 1990, however. The government organised: 'a Working Group comprising representatives from the Home Office, FCO, the English and Scottish Police, British Transport Police and the Football Association to ensure that every possible step is taken to minimise the risk of crowd disorder at the Tournament.'

Attempting to limit the impact of 'hooliganism' and 'trouble-makers', the group looked at travel, accommodation, ferries, visas and assisting with policing. Despite this, England fans caused disturbances in Rimini and Sardinia.

On the pitch, Scotland beat Sweden but could not advance from their group, while Bobby Robson's England progressed to the semi-finals before losing to West Germany on penalties.

In 2023 the Privy Council issued a proclamation by the King to establish a new £5 silver coin dedicated to England women's football team, the Lionesses, in a period of great success.

The coin, named 'Pride of England', was specified to include 'a depiction of three lions passant guardant, being that quartering of Our Royal Arms known heraldically as England'.

It was hoped that the team might build on their victory at the 2022 European Women's Football Championship to win the 2023 Women's World Cup, hosted in Australia and New Zealand. But it was not to be. In a close-fought final, England were defeated 1-0 by Spain.