England’s kit for the World Cup 2026 is almost upon us, so we have looked at the best other Three Lions efforts from years gone by
As we approach the final international break of the season, attention will soon turn to the World Cup. The football itself might be the main event but, for many fans, the chance to obsess over new kits – with England’s unveiled on Friday – is always an added bonus.
England have been drawn in Group L for the tournament in North America, meaning they will be one of the last teams to showcase their new kit in the tournament proper. That hasn’t stopped leaks coming, though, even before we discovered how the Three Lions will look when they line up for their opener against Croatia on June 17.
There also tends to be a high demand for England retro football shirts whenever a tournament rolls around. Plenty of fans will don the new kit to watch Thomas Tuchel’s side in action, but others will opt for an older design to recall one of their favourite tournaments or kits from years gone by.
This will be England’s 17th appearance at a men’s World Cup finals. Don’t worry, we won’t be ranking all the kits from those years, though we will bring you the best nine, as well as more info on the 2026 design.
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9. 2010 (Home)
The 2010 World Cup wasn’t the most memorable as far as England were concerned. A mistake from goalkeeper Rob Green against the United States set the tone, with the Three Lions’ run ending against Germany in the round of 16.
England didn’t wear their home kit for that Germany match, nor was it in circulation for their only group stage win against Slovenia. It’s hard to find footage of players celebrating in the shirt but that shouldn’t take away from the kit itself.
It was one of the better examples of a less-is-more approach. Sadly, that motto appeared to translate to the on-field performances under Fabio Capello.
8. 2002 (Home)
Before the 2002 World Cup, most of the conversation surrounded David Beckham’s recovery from a metatarsal injury. When the tournament got under way, attention turned towards how the fully fit Beckham and his team-mates would look in England’s kits.
It was in the red away shirt that Beckham scored his memorable penalty against Argentina. However, that wasn’t a patch on the home kit with its distinctive red stripe on a white background, completed with dark blue shorts.
Sadly for Sven-Goran Eriksson’s squad, that wasn’t enough to inspire them to glory. Their run ended in the quarter-finals when Ronaldinho’s winner sent eventual champions Brazil through to the final four.
7. 1998 (Away)
England away shirts have often been variations on some kind of red. In 1998 this meant two different shades, capped off with a blue collar and white numbering.
It only got one airing at the World Cup itself, when Beckham and Darren Anderton scored in a vital group stage win over Colombia. However, it was also on show later in the year for Euro 2000 qualifiers against Sweden and Bulgaria – albeit with red shorts rather than the white in France.
We all know how things ended for England at the 1998 World Cup. Most of you will probably remember the kit they were wearing at the time, too, but more on that later.
6. 2022 (Away)
Another red away shirt, but a rather different one. England’s 2022 home effort drew a mixed response from fans but the away kit was more popular.
It was a lighter red than the 1998 edition, with the all-red design marking a departure from previous change strips. England gave the kit its first airing in the September before the Qatar tournament, in a Nations League meeting with Germany.
If you’re sat their thinking ‘I don’t remember seeing that kit at the World Cup’ there’s a good reason. England wore their white home kit in all five matches, culminating in a quarter-final defeat to France.
5. 1990 (Home)
You didn’t think we’d go through this list while ignoring 1990, did you? One of England’s most emotional tournament exits came with them wearing one of their most iconic kits.
Sometimes you don’t want to mess too much with a winning formula. White shirt, dark blue shorts with a classy collar.
The kit was on show for every single one of England’s matches in Italy. In fact, England wore it for 14 of their 15 matches in 1990, including that painful penalty shoot-out loss against West Germany.
4. 1998 (Home)
After the grey kit forever associated with Gareth Southgate’s penalty miss at Euro 96, England set out to create happier memories in France two years later. We’ve already filled you in on the red away shirt but the home effort was perhaps even more iconic.
You can picture it now. Michael Owen, still in his teens, shirt tucked into shorts as he bursts through the Argentina defence and scores one of the England goals we’ll remember forever.
The combination of red and blue on the sides of the white shirt and a badge in the centre rather than off to the side makes this an all-timer. Sadly, it will also be remembered for being the kit Beckham wore when he kicked Diego Simeone to earn a red card barely half an hour after that Owen goal.
3. 1966 (Away)
If we wanted to let emotion get in the way, this kit would be top of the list. After all, it’s the only shirt in which England have won a World Cup.
Even without that bias, though, it’s fair to say this is just a nice kit in its own right. There’s a reason efforts have been made to pay homage over the years.
The white home shirt from 1966 wasn’t too shabby either. However, the iconic red – worn in the victory over West Germany in the final – can’t be topped.
2. 1990 (Third)
Proof that a great World Cup kit doesn’t actually need to have been worn at a World Cup. England had this lovely blue number in reserve in 1990, but it wasn’t trotted out – unless you count the fans wearing it in the stands.
In fact, England only wore it once, against Turkey in 1991. Finding an example of the kit in action is a tall order.
And yet, you’ve seen it countless times at England matches, on shop shelves, or just in the pub. Sometimes the appeal of a kit goes beyond the results with which it is associated.
1. 1982 (Home)
Despite what we just said, it would be wrong to give top spot to a kit never worn at the tournament itself. Instead, top honours go to the 1982 kit, which has been oft-mimicked but never replicated.
The Admiral kit from 1982 was a rarity in incorporating red, white and blue so prominently, with a different shade of blue compared to some other years. The simpler kits before and after weren’t without their charm but the creative use of all three colours made for a kit remembered fondly and given the retro repackaging treatment.
England topped their group with maximum points at the tournament in Spain but were eliminated after a second group stage. It meant that England side remain one of a small number of teams to be knocked out of a World Cup without losing a single game.
England’s 2026 kits
As World Cup 2026 draws closer, the wait to discover the new kit is finally over. However, as is so often the case, that didn’t stop leaks before Friday’s official launch.
The words ‘Happy and Glorious’ feature on the collar of the kit. England will be wearing their usual white when playing as the designated home team and red for ‘away’ matches in North America when there’s a clash.
With the World Cup expanding to 48 teams, there’s a chance for more matches and more chances to wear different kits in the United States, Mexico and Canada. If England make another deep run, the new designs could become very familiar to fans over the summer.
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