60 years of hurt: Ranking England's 5 most painful World Cup exits
This article ranks England's most painful World Cup exits following their recent semifinal defeat to Argentina. It reflects on historical losses, including the 2018 match against Croatia and the 1998 match against Argentina.
Why it matters
Sports culture and national identity are often tied to international tournament performance, making these historical analyses significant for fans.
Lewis Watson Uncrowned Thu, July 16, 2026 at 2:56 PM UTC · 6 min read Once again, England fans, it's not "coming home."
England was defeated 2-1 by Lionel Messi's Argentina on Wednesday in Atlanta, registering yet another semifinal loss in the World Cup knockout rounds for the "Three Lions," following on from similar exits in 1990 and 2018.
England's 60 years (and counting) of hurt have been littered with painful World Cup exits, but where does this latest addition slot in on the pain-o-meter?
Croatia 's Mario Mandžukić scores his side's second goal of the game during extra time during the FIFA World Cup, semifinal at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow. (Tim Goode - PA Images via Getty Images) 5. 2018 World Cup semifinal — England 1-2 Croatia Perhaps this belongs higher up the list, but in 2018 England wasn't expected to do much at the World Cup in Russia.
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