The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup kicks off when joint-hosts Mexico get the tournament underway in Mexico City's Azteca Stadium on June 11, 2026. It will be the biggest World Cup, expanding from 32 nations in Qatar 2022 to 48 teams in the USA, Mexico and Canada. What is cricket’s contribution to the FIFA World Cup?
There are not many countries who have participated in both the football and cricket World Cup. England is the most prominent nation among those who have featured in both the tournaments. Football is one of the most popular games in Europe and with cricket also expanding, World Cup participation in both the sports has also increased in recent years.
England is the only team to have a world-class side in both sports. The lack of World Cup wins is a common strand between both men’s national teams, but they are the only side to achieve the double.
India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are far away from a shot at making the football World Cup. New Zealand gets a chance every four years but is inhibited by their continent’s frailties. South Africa even hosted it in 2010, but their run also ended there, and now they are returning after 16 years. The West Indies compete as individual nations in football, which leaves only Australia and Ireland amongst the top 12 full members of the International Cricket Council.
*The football World Cup expansion has helped in an increase the participation of nations in the event, of those who have appeared in the cricket World Cup (50 overs) also, and this time a total of 7 such teams are playing.
*In addition to the playing of regulars, the number of cricket World Cup teams in the football World Cup has been boosted by the return of New Zealand (after last participation in 2010), Scotland (after last participation in 1998) and South Africa (after last participation in 2010).
* So far, England is the only team to have won both the football and cricket World Cup.
Let us have a look:
Australia
World Cup Cricket: 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987,1992, 1996, 1999, 2003,2007, 2011, 2015. 2019, 2023
Best: Champions 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007,2015, 2023
World Cup Football: 1974, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 ,2026
Best: Second round 2006, 2022
Canada
World Cup Cricket: 1979, 2003, 2007, 2011
Best: First round
World Cup Football: 1986, 2022, 2026
Best: First round 1986, 2022
England
World Cup Cricket: 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987,1992, 1996, 1999, 2003,2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
Best: Champion 2019
World Cup Football: 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962,1966, 1970, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026
In 1958 Wales also participated and entered QF.
Best: Champion 1966
Netherlands
World Cup Cricket: 1996, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2023
Best: First round
World Cup Football: 1934, 1938, 1974, 1978, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2022, 2026
Best: Runners-up 1974, 1978, 2010
New Zealand
World Cup Cricket: 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987,1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
Best: Final 2015, 2019
World Cup Football: 1982, 2010, 2026
Best: First round
Ireland
World Cup Cricket: 2007, 2011, 2015
Best: Super Eights 2007
World Cup Football:
As Republic of Ireland in 1990, 1994, 2002 with best of Quarter-final in 1990
As Northern Ireland in 1958, 1982, 1986 with best of second round in 1958, 1982
Scotland
World Cup Cricket: 1999, 2007, 2015
Best: First round
World Cup Football: 1954, 1958, 1974, 1978,1982, 1986, 1990, 1998, 2026
Best: First round
South Africa
World Cup Cricket: 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003,2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
Best: Semi-final 1992, 1999, 2007, 2015, 2023
World Cup Football: 1998, 2002, 2010, 2026
Best: First round
UAE
World Cup Cricket: 1996, 2015
Best: First round
World Cup Football:1990
Best: First round
West Indies
World Cup Cricket: 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987,1992, 1996, 1999, 2003,2007, 2011, 2015, 2019
Best: Champion 1975, 1979
World Cup Football:
Trinidad & Tobago in 2006 with best of first round