Kmflett's Blog

England play the opening match of the 2026 Men’s Football World Cup on 17th June.

Keir Starmer has issued some encouraging words, no doubt aware of historical precedent

The only time England have won the World Cup was in 1966 just months after Harold Wilson had led Labour to a 97 seat majority in the March Election of that year, Wilson noted:

Have you noticed how we only win the World Cup under a Labour government”

He may well have got the line from comedian Mike Yarwood

Wilson was also privately, and correctly, concerned about the impact England’s failure in the 1970 World Cup would have on Labour’s chances in the June General Election of that year. Labour lost.

Mark Perryman has written about 1966 and now on Facebook (the image comes from Philosophy Football). He makes the point that while at Wembley in 1966 the flags were mainly Union Jacks, in reality it was England. Scotland are at the 2026 World Cup while the Northern Ireland and Wales teams didn’t quite make it.

In recent times the St George’s flag has been associated with the far and fascist right and the debate about whether the left can win it back or appropriate it continues.

That said and as Perryman notes the England team who take the field this week is the most multi-ethnic ever and the manager is a German. Also the captain has a beard.

Revisiting 1966 we might note a different England but also question if we really have a Labour Government…