England’s World Cup qualifying campaign has been nothing short of flawless. With seven wins from seven matches, 20 goals scored, and none conceded, the Three Lions are closing in on a rare accomplishment.
If Thomas Tuchel’s side beat Albania in their final qualifier on Sunday (17:00 GMT) and keep another clean sheet, they will become the first European team to win at least six qualifiers without conceding a single goal.
“A perfect qualifying run isn’t just dominance — it’s historical.”
A 100% win record alone is uncommon. Only four European nations have managed such a feat in past World Cup qualifiers—Germany in 2018, Spain and the Netherlands in 2010, and West Germany in 1982.
England aren’t the only ones in the race for perfection; Spain and Norway have also maintained perfect winning streaks in the 2026 qualifiers, with Spain yet to concede.
England’s Qualifying Journey Becoming Easier
England have now qualified for eight straight World Cups since missing out in 1994. While fans now see qualification as routine, it wasn’t always smooth sailing.
They famously failed to qualify in the 1970s and only narrowly progressed to the 1990, 1998, and 2002 tournaments. Terry Butcher’s iconic blood-soaked performance in 1989 and David Beckham’s unforgettable free-kick against Greece in 2001 remain defining qualifying moments.
Those dramatic escapes, however, have faded. England’s recent qualifying campaigns have been far more straightforward — though sometimes less exciting to watch.
“The drama may be gone, but the efficiency is unmatched.”
Dominant Stats: 38 Games Unbeaten & Pickford’s Historic Streak
England haven’t lost a World Cup qualifier since 2009, when they fell 1-0 to Ukraine — a match that didn’t affect their qualification. Since then, they’ve gone 38 qualifiers without defeat, winning 30 of them, scoring 111 goals, and conceding just 10.
They now have a chance to equal Spain’s European record of 10 consecutive competitive wins without conceding.
Much of this defensive success is thanks to Jordan Pickford, who has set two new England records this year:
- 10 consecutive clean sheets in all matches
- 9 straight clean sheets in competitive fixtures
He last conceded in October 2024, when Greece stunned England at Wembley in the Nations League.
A Scoring Streak Not Seen in Over a Century
While the defense impresses, England’s attack is just as relentless. The Three Lions have now scored in 19 consecutive matches, their best run in 115 years, tallying 46 goals in the process. The streak began with Jude Bellingham’s dramatic overhead kick against Slovakia at Euro 2024.
This is England’s third-longest scoring run ever, behind two sequences from the early 1900s.
England on Track for Their Best Year Since 1946
A win over Albania would give England nine wins from 10 matches in 2025, marking just the third time since 1900 that they finish a calendar year with a win rate of 90% or higher.
The only setback under Tuchel so far remains the 3-1 friendly loss to Senegal in June — a small blemish on an otherwise outstanding year.
Also Read: Slovakia Snatch Late Win but Northern Ireland Still Clinch Play-off Spot