Wembley 1966 Final
England's national football stadium and a global icon of the sport.
Wembley Stadium, branded as Wembley Stadium connected by EE for sponsorship reasons, is an association football stadium in Wembley, London, England. It opened in 2007 on the site of the original Wembley Stadium, which had stood from 1923 until 2000. The stadium is England's national football stadium, and thus hosts the majority of the England national team home matches and the FA Cup Final.
- Venue
- Wembley Stadium, London
- Opponent
- West Germany
- Final Score
- 4–2 (AET)
- Manager
- Sir Alf Ramsey
- Captain
- Bobby Moore
- Trophy Won
- FIFA World Cup
Lore & Background
The stadium is crowned by the 134 m Wembley Arch which serves aesthetically as a landmark across London as well as structurally, with the arch supporting over 75% of the entire roof load. The stadium was built by Australian firm Multiplex at a cost of £798 million. Two partially retractable roof structures over the east and west ends of the stadium can be opened to allow sunlight and aid pitch growth.
In Their Own Story
The rain had stopped, but the tension hung heavy over Wembley as extra time began. Geoff Hurst stood over the ball, his white kit stained with grass and mud from ninety minutes of war against the Germans. He struck it hard; the net rippled, then bounced back out. The roar of the crowd was deafening, a wall of sound that shook the stands. Whether it crossed or not mattered less than the referee's whistle blowing for a goal. In that moment, history was written in white and red.
Reader's Guide
With 90,000 seats, it is the largest stadium in the UK and the second-largest stadium in Europe, behind Barcelona's Camp Nou. The all-seater stadium is a bowl design protected by a sliding roof that does not completely enclose it. The stadium's signature feature is a circular section lattice arch of 7 m internal diameter with a 315 m span, rising to 133 m, supporting all the weight of the north roof and 60% of the weight of the retractable roof on the southern side.
Did You Know?
- The arch is the world's longest unsupported roof structure.
- The stadium hosted the 2011, 2013 and 2024 Champions League Finals, eight games at UEFA Euro 2020 (including the final and both semi-finals), and the final of the UEFA Women's Euro 2022.
- Wembley Stadium is owned by the Football Association through its subsidiary Wembley National Stadium Ltd.
- The stadium also hosts NFL London Games and was the temporary home of Tottenham Hotspur between August 2017 and March 2019.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who led the team during this victory?
Sir Alf Ramsey served as the manager while Bobby Moore acted as the captain on the pitch. Their leadership guided the squad through a tense contest that went into extra time.
What was the outcome of the match?
The Three Lions secured a 4-2 victory after additional play, lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy for the first time. This result followed a deadlock at regular time which necessitated further scoring.
Why does this final remain significant today?
It represents the crowning glory of English football and continues to define the national team's legacy. The win established Wembley as the spiritual home of the sport within the country.
More in Trophies & Records
Elsewhere in the England National Team universe
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