<P> The tournament consists of two parts, the qualification phase and the final phase (officially called the World Cup Finals). The qualification phase, which currently take place over the three years preceding the finals, is used to determine which teams qualify for the finals . The current format of the finals involves thirty - two teams competing for the title, at venues within the host nation (or nations) over a period of about a month . The World Cup Finals is the most widely viewed sporting event in the world, with an estimated 715.1 million people watching the 2006 Final . </P> <P> England did not enter the competition until 1950, but have entered all eighteen subsequent tournaments . They have failed to qualify for the finals on three occasions, 1974 (West Germany), 1978 (Argentina) and 1994 (United States), and have failed to advance from the group stages on three occasions; at the 1950 FIFA World Cup, the 1958 FIFA World Cup and the 2014 FIFA World Cup . Their best ever performance is winning the Cup in the 1966 tournament held in England, whilst they also finished in fourth place in 1990, in Italy, and in 2018 in Russia . Other than that, the team have reached the quarter - finals on nine occasions, the latest of which were at the 2002 (South Korea / Japan) and the 2006 (Germany). </P> <P> England are the only team not representing a sovereign state to win the World Cup, which they did in 1966 when they hosted the finals . They defeated West Germany 4--2 after extra time to win the World Cup title . Since then, they have generally reached the knockout stages of almost every competition they have qualified for, including a fourth - place finish in the 1990 and 2018 World Cups . At the world cup, England have had more goalless draws than any other team . </P> <P> England's first qualifying campaign for the FIFA World Cup doubled as the 1950 British Home Championship . The series kicked off for England on 15 October 1949 at Ninian Park, Cardiff, against Wales . Stan Mortensen gave England the lead after twenty two minutes, and just seven minutes later, Jackie Milburn doubled the lead . This was the first goal of Milburn's hat trick, which left England 4--0 up with 20 minutes to play . Mal Griffiths scored a consolation goal for Wales ten minutes from time, but England held on for a comfortable victory . </P>

Has england ever won the world cup of soccer