England’s first World Cup game ever (1950) featured a player named Stan Mortensen. He later became the first man to score a hat-trick in an FA Cup final at Wembley. Quirky legend.
Fast forward to 2026. This will be England’s seventh opening match in the last eight World Cups. They are basically professionals at starting tournaments. The pressure is on.
And here’s a wild one: England’s first World Cup goal ever was scored by Alf Ramsey. Wait. No. That’s not right. It was actually scored by Mortensen. But Sir Alf Ramsey did play in that match! He later managed the 1966 winning team. Spooky coincidence.
What about the stadium?
The match is at the Khalifa International Stadium. This is the oldest stadium in Qatar. It was built in 1976. They renovated it for the World Cup. It looks like a giant shiny spaceship now.
It holds 40,000 fans. You will hear the crowd. Expect a lot of noise, flags, and probably someone playing a vuvuzela. Brace your ears.
Where to watch England's first World Cup game in Lincoln - Lincolnshire
