- England face New Zealand today in their first World Cup warm-up match.
- Everton players have produced many memorable World Cup moments.
- Lineker, Pickford and Cahill feature among the Blues’ greatest tournament stories.
As England begin their final preparations for the 2026 World Cup against New Zealand today, Everton supporters have another reason to look forward to football’s biggest tournament.
With the World Cup now just five days away, attention is turning towards the players who could define the competition across the United States, Canada and Mexico. For Evertonians, however, the occasion also offers an opportunity to reflect on the club’s long and distinguished connection with the tournament.
Few clubs outside England’s traditional ‘big six’ can boast such a rich World Cup heritage.
From Golden Boot winners and penalty-shootout heroes to players who transformed the fortunes of their countries, Everton representatives have repeatedly left their mark on football’s grandest stage.
Here are the seven moments that stand above the rest.
7. Richarlison’s spectacular strike captivates Qatar
Richarlison had already moved on from Everton when he arrived at the 2022 World Cup, but Blues supporters still watched with admiration as the Brazil forward produced one of the tournament’s defining moments.
His stunning bicycle kick against Serbia instantly became one of the most replayed goals of the competition and showcased the instinctive finishing ability Everton fans had enjoyed for four seasons.
Not every great World Cup moment ends with a trophy. Some simply become part of football folklore.
This was one of them.
6. Romelu Lukaku leads Belgium’s golden generation
Belgium’s third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup represented the finest achievement in the nation’s history.
At the heart of that success was Romelu Lukaku.
The former Everton striker scored four goals during the tournament and arrived in Russia as one of the most feared forwards in world football.
For Everton supporters, it was another reminder of the calibre of talent that had passed through Goodison Park during the Premier League era.
5. Wayne Rooney carries a nation’s expectations
Few England players have entered a World Cup under greater scrutiny than Wayne Rooney in 2006.
The former Everton academy graduate travelled to Germany as the country’s biggest hope despite recovering from injury, with many believing he could be the difference between success and failure.
England ultimately fell short, but Rooney’s presence reflected the extraordinary expectations attached to one of the finest talents Everton have ever produced. Let’s ignore, for this purpose, his red card vs Portugal.
Even before he reached his peak, the football world expected him to carry a nation.
4. Tim Cahill changes Australian football history
Tim Cahill’s place in World Cup history was secured in Kaiserslautern on 12 June 2006.
Australia trailed Japan with little more than 10 minutes remaining before the Everton midfielder transformed the match.
Cahill scored twice in eight minutes to inspire a dramatic comeback and secure Australia’s first-ever World Cup victory.
His opening goal was also Australia’s first in the competition.
For Everton supporters, it was a familiar sight. When the pressure was highest, Cahill delivered.
3. Jordan Pickford ends England’s shootout curse
England’s relationship with penalty shootouts had become one of football’s most painful recurring stories.
Then Pickford intervened.
The Everton goalkeeper produced a crucial save from Carlos Bacca during England’s last-16 clash with Colombia at the 2018 World Cup before Eric Dier converted the winning penalty.
It was England’s first World Cup shootout victory and arguably the moment Gareth Southgate’s side truly began to believe.
Pickford’s save remains one of the most significant interventions by an Everton player on the international stage.
2. Everton help power England’s Mexico 86 challenge
Gary Lineker’s heroics rightly dominate memories of Mexico 1986, but Everton’s influence extended well beyond one player.
At the time, the Blues were one of Europe’s strongest sides and England’s squad reflected that reality.
Lineker, Peter Reid, Gary Stevens and Trevor Steven all travelled to Mexico, giving Everton one of the largest club representations at the tournament.
It was a reflection of the club’s standing in world football during one of the most successful periods in its history.
For a generation of supporters, it remains the clearest reminder of Everton’s place among the game’s elite.
1. Gary Lineker wins the Golden Boot
No Everton World Cup achievement can rival Gary Lineker’s performances in Mexico.
The striker scored six goals during the 1986 tournament, finishing as the competition’s leading scorer and becoming the first English player to win the Golden Boot.
His goals carried England to the quarter-finals and cemented his reputation as one of the world’s best forwards.
What makes the achievement even more significant from an Everton perspective is the timing.
Lineker was a Blue when he conquered the world’s biggest stage.
For a club with a proud footballing history, there is no greater individual World Cup accomplishment.
Why Everton’s World Cup legacy still matters
As England begin their World Cup countdown against New Zealand today, Everton’s place in tournament history remains secure.
The players may change and the eras may pass, but the club’s connection with football’s greatest competition continues to endure.
Lineker delivered goals. Pickford delivered nerve. Cahill delivered national history. Rooney carried expectation. Richarlison and Lukaku showed how Everton-connected players could thrive under the brightest spotlight.
Together, they tell a story that extends far beyond any single tournament.
Everton’s modern challenges are well documented, but the World Cup serves as a reminder of the calibre of footballer the club has consistently produced, developed and inspired.
Five days before another tournament begins, that legacy remains something worth celebrating.
