1966 FIFA World Cup – England

1966 FIFA World Cup – England

For the 1966 FIFA World Cup, England was chosen as hosts winning the bids from West Germany and Spain. It was the first tournament in a country directed affected by World War II.

Fifteen African teams who enter the qualifying later boycotted it because FIFA ruled that there would be no direct qualification for African teams. Despite of that, there was a new record number of entries for the qualifying round with 70 nations taking part of it. With the hosts, England, and the defending champions, Brazil guaranteed, the remaining places were allocated: 9 to UEFA, 3 to CONMEBOL, 1 to AFC/CAF (including Australia) and 1 to CONCACAF (Former NAFC and CCCF confederations).

The final had one of the most heated debates over one of goals scored by England in the extra time. After tying at 2-2, the game went to extra time when Hurst shot the ball, it hit the crossbar, bounced onto the goal line and was awarded a goal. Debate has long raged over whether the ball crossed or not the line. England scored one more time and beat West Germany 4-2, winning their first and only title.

List of qualified teams: Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, England, France, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, North Korea, Portugal, Soviet Union, Spain, Switzerland, Uruguay, West Germany.

Champions: England
2nd place: West Germany
3rd place: Portugal

Top scorer player: Eusébio, Portugal – 9 goals
Top scorer team: Portugal – 17 goals

List of all the tournaments