Achieving a perfect record in World Cup qualification is a rare and impressive feat, reserved for only the most dominant national sides. While many teams navigate their groups with the occasional draw or narrow win, a select few have managed to win every single match without ever letting their goal be breached.
The most recent entry into this elite group is the England men’s team, which secured its place at the upcoming tournament by winning all eight of its qualifying matches without conceding a single goal. Historical data suggests they are the first European men’s side to complete a qualifying campaign of five or more games with a perfect defensive record.
This accomplishment is more common, though still exceptional, in the women’s game. The England women’s team itself mirrored this achievement during qualification for the 2023 World Cup, scoring 80 goals across 10 games while maintaining a pristine defensive sheet. Other women’s powerhouses like Germany, Spain, France, and Denmark have also posted 100% records in their qualifying campaigns over the years.
For the men, the list of European teams with flawless qualifying records (minimum five games played) is short. It includes West Germany (1982), the Netherlands and Spain (both 2010), Germany (2018), and now England and Norway (2026). Interestingly, a historical quirk shows that three of the four men’s teams to do this before 2026 subsequently lost their opening match at the final tournament, though West Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain all rebounded to reach the final in those years.
The feat underscores a period of supreme dominance, where a team is not only victorious but utterly unbreachable throughout a lengthy qualifying process. It sets a formidable precedent as these teams prepare to compete on the world’s biggest stage.