- England face New Zealand today as their World Cup preparations begin.
- Everton’s World Cup numbers reveal a rich and enduring legacy.
- Four Blues will represent three nations at this summer’s tournament.
When England face New Zealand today, Everton supporters will have more than one reason to tune in.
Jordan Pickford will once again be part of England’s preparations for football’s biggest tournament, but he is not the only Blue preparing for the journey ahead.
Idrissa Gana Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye are set to represent Senegal, while Nathan Patterson will travel with Scotland.
Together, they continue a tradition that stretches back generations and helps explain why Everton’s relationship with the World Cup is richer than many supporters might realise.
At a time when the club is preparing for a new chapter at the Hill Dickinson, the numbers tell a fascinating story about Everton’s place in the global game.
A World Cup footprint bigger than many realise
Everton’s representation at this summer’s tournament will span three nations and four players.
That may not sound remarkable at first glance, but it is the latest chapter in a long-running tradition.
Across the history of the competition, Everton have supplied 37 players to World Cup tournaments and have been represented at 13 of the first 22 editions.
| Category | Everton Record |
|---|---|
| Everton players at the 2026 World Cup | 4 |
| Nations represented in 2026 | 3 |
| Individual Everton players to appear at World Cups | 37 |
| World Cup tournaments featuring Everton players | 13 of the first 22 |
| Everton players in England’s 1986 World Cup squad | 4 |
For supporters who have spent years watching Everton compete against clubs with greater financial resources, those figures offer a useful reminder.
This has long been a club with an international reach.
The players who carried Everton’s World Cup presence
Some names appear repeatedly throughout Everton’s World Cup history.
Tim Cahill remains one of the club’s great tournament specialists, representing Australia at three World Cups while an Everton player.
Jordan Pickford is now building a similar legacy with England, while Gueye’s longevity at international level continues to enhance his standing as one of Senegal’s most important modern footballers.
| Record | Player |
| Most World Cups while contracted to Everton | Tim Cahill (3) |
| Consecutive World Cups while at Everton | Tim Cahill (2006, 2010, 2014) |
| Current England representative | Jordan Pickford |
| Current Senegal representatives | Idrissa Gana Gueye, Iliman Ndiaye |
| Current Scotland representative | Nathan Patterson |
More than anything, it underlines the club’s enduring relevance on the international stage.
Everton’s fortunes may have fluctuated domestically, but the World Cup has continued to feature players carrying the club’s badge for generations.
The story goes beyond the players
Most supporters associate Everton’s World Cup history with names such as Gary Lineker, Tim Cahill and Jordan Pickford.
Yet Goodison Park itself played a significant role in the tournament’s history.
The stadium hosted five matches during the 1966 World Cup, more than any venue outside Wembley.
Three group-stage fixtures were played there, alongside a quarter-final and a semi-final. The ground welcomed some of football’s greatest names, including Pelé and Eusébio.
Long before Everton’s move to Hill Dickinson Stadium, Goodison had already earned its place on football’s biggest stage.
Few clubs can point to both a rich history of international players and a stadium that has hosted the world’s biggest football tournament.
The goals that made history
No Everton player has enjoyed a World Cup quite like Gary Lineker.
His six goals at Mexico 1986 earned him the Golden Boot and remain the benchmark for any Blue on the global stage.
| Player | Nation | World Cup Goals While at Everton |
| Gary Lineker | England | 6 |
| Tim Cahill | Australia | 3 |
| Kevin Sheedy | Republic of Ireland | 1 |
| Niclas Alexandersson | Sweden | 1 |
| Yakubu | Nigeria | 1 |
Lineker’s achievement sits comfortably at the top, but the names beneath him tell their own story.
Australia, Sweden, Nigeria and the Republic of Ireland all feature, underlining the breadth of Everton’s international influence.
How many nations have Everton represented?
Perhaps the most overlooked statistic is the sheer variety of countries represented by Everton players at World Cups.
Over the decades, Blues have appeared for:
- England
- Scotland
- Wales
- Republic of Ireland
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Australia
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sweden
- Denmark
- United States
- Netherlands
- South Africa
That breadth of representation highlights a club whose influence has consistently extended beyond domestic football.
A club with a global reach
Looking at total World Cup goals scored by Everton-connected players paints an even broader picture.
| Player | Nation | Total World Cup Goals |
| Gary Lineker | England | 10 |
| Tim Cahill | Australia | 5 |
| Romelu Lukaku | Belgium | 5 |
| Richarlison | Brazil | 3 |
| Wayne Rooney | England | 1 |
Different generations. Different countries. Different footballing cultures.
Yet all became part of Everton’s story.
Cahill became a national icon for Australia. Lukaku helped lead Belgium’s golden generation. Richarlison produced one of the defining moments of Qatar 2022.
Lineker, meanwhile, remains England’s leading World Cup goalscorer.
A timely reminder
As England’s preparations begin against New Zealand and the World Cup draws closer, Pickford, Gueye, Ndiaye and Patterson will each carry Everton representation into the tournament.
The modern game often focuses on what Everton are trying to become.
The World Cup numbers provide a reminder of what the club has already been.
For decades, Everton have supplied football’s greatest tournament with goalscorers, leaders, captains and national heroes.
Five days before another World Cup begins, that feels worth remembering.
