The World Cup is upon us, so to get you in the mood, get your heart racing and the anticipation of excitement, here at Entertainment Swindon, we have put together the Top 20 Greatest England Anthems of All Time!
Here We Go! Come On England!
No 20: Dario G – Carnival 2002
Carnaval de Paris is a song by English electronic music trio Dario G. The song was recorded for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France and was released as a single on 18th May 1998 in Europe. The following month, the track was issued in the United Kingdom and peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart.
No 19: Sweet FA – Stand Up
Sweet FA – Stand Up is a 1998 Euro-house football anthem by the group Sweet F.A., which peaked at Number 43 on the Official UK Singles Chart. It gained popularity as an unofficial England track during the 1998 World Cup and samples the iconic melody of the Village People’s Go West.
No 18: Rider Feat. Terry Venables – England Crazy
England Crazy is a novelty football anthem released in May 2002 by the pop band Rider, featuring lead vocals from the former England national football manager, Terry Venables. Released through the East West record label, the track was created to coincide with England’s campaign for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan.
No 17: Grandad Roberts & His Son Elvis – Meat Pie, Sausage Roll
Meat Pie, Sausage Roll (Come on England, Gi’s a Goal) is a famous novelty football anthem released in 1998 by Grandad Roberts and His Son Elvis. The track was created by Manchester-based comedian and radio presenter Smug Roberts (real name Ian Smith), stemming from a popular comedy jingle on his afternoon radio show on Key 103.
No 16: England 1970 World Cup Squad – Back Home
Back Home is the iconic popular song recorded by the 1970 England World Cup Squad. Just 4yrs earlier, the England Squad won the 1966 World Cup. The team were defending champions going into the 1970 World Cup, but were knocked out in the Quarter Finals by West Germany.
Released as a single on Pye Records ahead of the tournament in Mexico, it launched the tradition of the national football team recording official tournament anthems. The track became a massive commercial success, hitting number one on the UK Singles Chart for three consecutive weeks in May 1970.
No 15: The Pogues – Fiesta
Fiesta was not originally released as an England song. It is a Celtic punk track by Anglo-Irish band The Pogues (fronted by the late Shane MacGowan), released on 1st July 1988. It was featured on their acclaimed third album, If I Should Fall from Grace with God.
However, it has frequently been associated with major football tournaments and England, as well as used as an anthem by England opponents.
No 14: Bell & Spurling – Sven Sven Sven (2002 World Cup)
Sven Sven Sven is a comedy football anthem by the British musical duo Bell & Spurling (Martin Bell and Johnny Spurling). Originally written to celebrate England’s historic 5–1 victory over Germany in September 2001, the track was updated and re-released as a 2002 World Cup version.
The song is a light-hearted tribute to Sven-Göran Eriksson, England’s first-ever foreign manager. And gained chart success where it peaked at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart in October 2001.
The 2002 Single, for the 2002 World Cup campaign, the track was paired with a B-side track titled “GoldenBalls (Mr Beckham To You)”, dedicated to David Beckham.
No 13: House of Pain – Jump Around
Jump Around by House of Pain has been sung in the stands as an unofficial England sports anthem. The chaos and energy definitly creates excitement in a stadium, but it does come with a hilarious cultural contradiction.
No 12: Bad Manners – Can Can
While it is not the official national anthem, Can Can by Bad Manners is a legendary, high-energy English ska classic that frequently doubles as a massive football and celebration anthem across England. Released in June 1981, the instrumental hit is famously based on Jacques Offenbach’s 1858 opera arrangement.
Led by frontman Buster Bloodvessel, the band crafted a chaotic, fast-paced 2-tone version that remains deeply embedded in British sports culture.
No 11: Mr Smash & Friends – We’re Coming Over
We’re Coming Over is a 2002 football anthem released by Mr Smash & Friends featuring The England Supporters’ Band.
The track was created for the 2002 FIFA World Cup by Cathal Smyth (better known as Chas Smash, the backing vocalist, trumpet player, and dancer from the legendary British ska/pop band Madness).
No 10: Back Yard Dog – Baddest Ruffest
Baddest Ruffest is a 2001 song by Backyard Dog. It made No15 on the UK Singles Chart, and was used as Coca-Cola’s 2002 FIFA World Cup theme in the UK, and in the films Ali G Indahouse and Bend It Like Beckham.
No 9: Buster Bloodvessel – Come On England!
Come On England is a high-energy football anthem recorded by Buster Bloodvessel, the famous, energetic frontman of the British 2-Tone ska band Bad Manners. The song was recorded and released around the UEFA Euro 2000 tournament to support the England national football team.
No 8: 442 – Come On England!
Come On England is a music single by the band 4-4-2. The song is a re-working of the Dexys Midnight Runners hit “Come On Eileen“. A football-themed song, it was released on 7th June 2004 to coincide with the England national team’s appearance at the European Championships. It entered the UK Singles Chart at number two, held off the number-one spot by “I Don’t Wanna Know” by Mario Winans.
4-4-2 consisted of Phil Doleman (banjo), Mark ‘madfiddler‘ Knight (fiddle), Jimmy McCafferty (drums), Lucy Wills (trumpet), Neil Murray (vocals), Micky Quinn (vocals) and Ian Murphy (vocals). The band appeared on the U.K. TV shows CD:UK and Top of the Pops to promote the single.
No 7: Collapsed Lung – Eat My Goal
While the song first came out in 1995, it achieved massive mainstream success when it was re-released as the Euro ’96 Mix in June 1996. It was famously selected as the soundtrack for Coca-Cola’s global “Eat Football, Sleep Football, Drink Coca-Cola” advertising campaign during the UEFA Euro 1996 football tournament hosted in England. This exposure propelled the track to number 31 on the Official UK Singles Chart
No 6: Bell & Spurling – Goldenballs
Goldenballs (Mr Beckham To You) is a comedy football anthem released by the English musical duo Bell & Spurling in May 2002. The track was recorded as a tribute to English football legend David Beckham ahead of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
The songs inspiration celebrates David Beckham, utilising his famous nickname “Goldenballs”—which was originally given to him by his wife, Victoria Beckham.
No 5: New Order & The England Squad – World In Motion
Released in May 1990 for the FIFA World Cup, World in Motion is a groundbreaking collaboration between English synth-pop band New Order, the England national football team, and comedian Keith Allen. Famously, it became New Order’s first and only number-one single on the UK Singles Chart.
No 4: Danny Dyer, Paddy McGuinness, Keith Lemon – Vindaloo Two
Vindaloo Two is a 2021 charity remake of the classic 1998 English football anthem “Vindaloo“, released under the supergroup name “Together for England” to support the England national team during the Euro 2020 tournament.
No 3: Come On England, Starmer’s a Wanker! The Official Unofficial England 2026 Anthem
The phrase originates from a highly popular, tongue-in-cheek football chant and parody song that emerged among supporters for the World Cup. Sung to various fan-favourite melodies, including the riff from The White Stripes‘ “Seven Nation Army“, the chant vents frustration toward Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The foul-mouthed, satirical chant initially gained massive traction during England’s qualifying matches and summer fixtures, effectively making the Prime Minister a staple of terrace banter. It has since been adapted into several viral unofficial songs and fan videos circulating online, functioning as an anti-establishment anthem on the terraces.
No 2: Dizzee Rascal & James Corden – Shout For England
Shout is 2010 single by Shout for England, an ensemble featuring Dizzee Rascal and James Corden. It was an unofficial anthem of the England football team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The song contains extracts from the Tears for Fears song of the same name and “No Diggity” by Blackstreet and features additional lyrics written by Rascal. It was published by Syco Music in association with the telecommunications company TalkTalk.
No1: Baddiel, Skinner & Lightening Seeds – Three Lions
Three Lions is a song by the English comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner and the rock band the Lightning Seeds. It was released on 20th May 1996 through Epic Records to mark the England football team’s participation in that year’s UEFA European Championship, which England was hosting.
The music was written by the Lightning Seeds singer, Ian Broudie, while Baddiel and Skinner—presenters of the football comedy show Fantasy Football League—provided the lyrics. All three provided vocals. The title comes from the England team emblem.
Both the original version of “Three Lions” and the updated “Three Lions ’98” reached number one on the UK singles chart. It regularly reappears in the UK singles chart around major football tournaments involving the England team. Its music video was directed by Pedro Romhanyi.
The song has been described as the de facto “anthem” of English football since 1996. Its chorus, with the refrain “It’s coming home“, has become a popular chant for fans at England games.
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