Have all home nations ever played in same World Cup?

[BBC] The 2026 World Cup came close to matching a scenario that has only happened once before. After England booked their place with a flawless campaign and Scotland qualified for their first World Cup in 28 years, Wales and Northern Ireland went into the play-offs. However a home nations clean sweep at the finals is not going to happen again this year, because Wales and Northern Ireland nations have been drawn in the same European qualifying pathway.

That means that even if they both win their semi-finals, they will face each other for the same spot at the tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Northern Ireland have been drawn away to Italy in their semi-final, while Wales host Bosnia-Herzegovina for a place in the Group A final. So, when was the last time all four home nations qualified for the same men's World Cup?

When was the last time all home nations played at same World Cup? Scotland qualified for their first World Cup in 28 years with a dramatic win over Denmark at Hampden Park [Getty Images] The 1958 World Cup in Sweden was the last and in fact only time all home nations have played at the same World Cup. Qualifying was a much more simple process back then, with nine automatic qualification spots up for grabs for the 27 European nations competing.

Scotland, Northern Ireland and England all topped their groups, but Wales qualified in unusual fashion after finishing second in qualifying but then being selected at random to compete in a play-off against Israel. Wales advanced with a 4-0 aggregate victory over two legs to book their place at their first World Cup. The tournament did not go to plan for England and Scotland though.