England 4-2 West Germany: The 1966 World Cup Final
England’s only World Cup win came on home soil, and the final included the most argued-about goal in football history.
Official highlights from the England YouTube channel. Press play, then use the full-screen button in the bottom-right corner of the player. Watch on YouTube
Match facts
| Competition | FIFA World Cup final |
|---|---|
| Date | 30 July 1966 |
| Venue | Wembley Stadium, London |
| Result | England 4-2 West Germany (after extra time) |
The story of the match
Helmut Haller put West Germany ahead, Geoff Hurst equalised with a header, and Martin Peters looked to have won it late on. But Wolfgang Weber scored in the last minute to force extra time.
In extra time Hurst’s shot hit the underside of the bar and bounced down. The linesman, Tofiq Bahramov, said it had crossed the line, and the goal stood. Right at the end Hurst ran clear and scored again, as Kenneth Wolstenholme said: "They think it’s all over… it is now."
Key moments to watch for
- Haller’s opener
- Weber’s last-minute equaliser
- Hurst’s crossbar goal
- "They think it’s all over"
- Bobby Moore lifts the trophy
Why it’s one of the greatest football matches ever
Hurst is still the only man to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final for a winning team, and the debate about whether his second goal crossed the line has never ended. Alf Ramsey’s team remain the only England men’s side to win a major trophy.
More classic football matches
- Man City 1-0 Inter: Rodri Wins the 2023 Champions League Final
- Portugal 3-3 Spain: Ronaldo’s Hat-Trick, 2018 World Cup
- Netherlands 0-1 Spain: Iniesta Wins the 2010 World Cup
See all 40 on our list of the greatest matches ever, or catch up on this season on the latest highlights page.
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