England have competed seven times in the World Cup; in 1975, 1995, 2000, 2008, 2013, 2017 and 2021. They have never won the competition, though finished runners-up three times to Australia; in 1975, 1995 and 2017. In every other year, Great Britain have represented England.
| World Cup Record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Win | Draw | Loss | |||
 1954 | Competed as  Great Britain | |||||||
 1957 | ||||||||
| 1960 | ||||||||
 1968 | ||||||||
| 1970 | ||||||||
| 1972 | ||||||||
| 1975 | Final | 2nd out of 5 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 1977 | Competed as Great Britain | |||||||
| 1985-88 | ||||||||
| 1989-92 | ||||||||
| 1995 | Final | 2nd out of 10 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | ||
 2000 | Semi-final | 4th out of 16 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2008 | Semi-final | 3rd out of 10 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | ||
| 2013 | Semi-final | 3rd out of 14 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | ||
 2017 | Final | 2nd out of 14 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2021 | Semi-final | 3rd out of 16 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 2025 | ||||||||
| Total | Runners up | x3 | 34 | 20 | 2 | 12 | ||
| England's World Cup record | ||
|---|---|---|
| First match | England 20–2 (16 March 1975; Leeds, England) | |
| Biggest win | England 94–4 (29 October 2022; Sheffield, England) | |
| Biggest defeat | 52–4 England (2 November 2008; Melbourne, Australia) | |
| Best result | Runners up in 1975, 1996 and 2017 | |
| Worst result | ||
| Year | Round | Score | Opponents | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Group Stage | 20-2 | Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds | |
| 7-12 | Lang Park, Brisbane | |||
| 17-17 | Carlaw Park, Auckland | |||
| 10-10 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | |||
| 22-16 | Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington | |||
| 48-2 | Toulouse | |||
| 27-12 | Odsal, Bradford | |||
| 16-13 | Central Park, Wigan | |||
| Final | 0-25 | Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds | ||
| 1995 | Group Stage | 20-16 | Wembley Stadium | |
| 46-0 | Central Park, Wigan | |||
| 46-0 | Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds | |||
| Semi Final | 25-10 | Old Trafford, Manchester | ||
| Final | 8-16 | Wembley Stadium, London | ||
| 2000 | Group Stage | 2-22 | Twickenham Stadium, London | |
| 76-4 | Knowsley Road, St Helens | |||
| 66-0 | Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds | |||
| Quarter Final | 26-16 | Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds | ||
| Semi Final | 6-49 | Reebok Stadium, Bolton | ||
| 2008 | Group Stage | 32-22 | Willows Sports Complex, Townsville | |
| 4-52 | Docklands Stadium, Melbourne | |||
| 24-36 | Newcastle International Sports Centre, Newcastle | |||
| Semi Final | 22-32 | Lang Park, Brisbane | ||
| 2013 | Group Stage | 20-28 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | |
| 42-0 | John Smiths Stadium, Huddersfield | |||
| 34-12 | KC Stadium, Hull | |||
| Quarter Final | 34-6 | DW Stadium, Wigan | ||
| Semi Final | 18-20 | Wembley Stadium, London | ||
| 2017 | Group Stage | 4-18 | ||
| 29-10 | ||||
| 36–6 | ||||
| Quarter Final | 36-6 | |||
| Semi Final | 20 -18 | |||
| Final | 0–6 | Lang Park, Brisbane | ||
| 2021 | Group Stage | 66-6 | ||
| 42-18 | ||||
| 94-4 | ||||
| Quarter Final | 46-6 | |||
| Semi Final | 26-27 AET (g.p.) |
| Rank | Player | Matches | World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Hill | 15 | 2013, 2017, 2021 |
| 2 | Kallum Watkins | 13 | 2013, 2017, 2021 |
| James Graham | 13 | 2008, 2013, 2017 | |
| 3 | Ryan Hall | 12 | 2013, 2017, 2021 |
| Tom Burgess | 12 | 2013, 2017, 2021 | |
| James Roby | 12 | 2008, 2013, 2017 |
| Rank | Player | Tries | World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ryan Hall | 14 | 2013, 2017, 2021 |
| 2 | Dom Young | 9 | 2021 |
| 3 | Tommy Makinson | 7 | 2021 |
| Jermaine McGillvary | 7 | 2017 | |
| Kallum Watkins | 7 | 2013, 2017, 2021 | |
| Jamie Peacock | 7 | 2000, 2008 | |
| Keith Fielding | 7 | 1975 |