Why England is called the Three Lions in football: Explaining the English men’s national team nickname

England fans will be hoping to witness a first World Cup win since 1966 as they battle it out in Qatar.

Gareth Southgate’s side reached a first World Cup semifinal since 1990 in Russia four years ago and the pressure is on to improve on that in the Middle East with a blend of exciting youth and high quality experienced players.

The iconic name of the Three Lions will fill the World Cup conversation as the nickname has become synonymous with England on the tournament journeys.

Three Lions has become the default name for the England side for decades, and is one f the most famous nicknames in world football, but what is the story behind it?

MORE: England World Cup squad 2022: Who is in and out for Three Lions for Qatar 2022?

Why is England called Three Lions?

The history of the nickname refers back to the Three Lions which feature on the England national team badge.

Three Lions have adorned the England national team badge since 1872 as the symbol of the English FA.

Explanations over the exact history of their usage differ, depending on historical interpretations, with 12th century historical battles including English armies bearing the standard of three gold lions on a red field.

There are also historical connections dating back to Henry I taking the throne in 1100 and Richard the Lionheart (1189-1199) using three golden lions on a scarlet background as a symbol of the English monarchy.

Use of England’s Three Lions nickname

Despite frequent kit changes over the years, the Three Lions on the England badge have never changed, with growing cult status towards it since Italia ’90.

It has entered into mainstream English pop culture since that tournament as the dawn of the Premier League, coupled with a desire to change perceptions around the England, has edged away from the negativity of the 1970s and 1980s.

Connections with hooliganism dogged the nickname in the post-1966 era, but a reshaping of its connection with the fan base has seen the Three Lions become associated with optimism surrounding the team.

Three Lions song lyrics

Nothing has done more to symbolise the change and redefinition of the Three Lions nickname than David Baddiel, Frank Skinner and the Lightning Seeds’ infamous Euro ’96 theme song.

“Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home)” captured a wave of optimism over England winning the European Championships on home soil.

Despite famously losing to Germany on penalties at the semifinal stage, the song lived on, with the pair releasing an updated version for the 1998 World Cup in France.

Seeds songwriter Ian Broudie originally approached the pair to sing, following their success as hosts of Fantasy Football League, after rejecting the FA’s offer to have players contribute, as he wanted to reduce the chances of it being labelled as ‘England-istic’.

The song includes lyrics which evoke memories of England previous frustrations at tournament including penalty shootout losses, the 1966 win and Gary Lineker scoring at Italia ’90.

In case you want to sing along, here’s the lyrics to the famous England team anthem: 

It’s coming home

It’s coming home

It’s coming

Football’s coming home (we’ll go getting bad results)

It’s coming home

It’s coming home

It’s coming

Football’s coming home

It’s coming home

It’s coming home

It’s coming

Football’s coming home

It’s coming home

It’s coming home

It’s coming

Football’s coming home

Everyone seems to know the score

They’ve seen it all before

They just know

They’re so sure

That England’s gonna throw it away

Gonna blow it away

But I know they can play

‘Cause I remember

Three Lions on a shirt

Jules Rimet still gleaming

Thirty years of hurt

Never stopped me dreaming

So many jokes, so many sneers

But all those oh-so-nears

Wear you down

Through the years

But I still see that tackle by Moore

And when Linekar scored

Bobby belting the ball

And Nobby Dancing

Three Lions on a shirt

Jules Rimet still gleaming

Thirty years of hurt

Never stopped me dreaming

(What a save, Gordon Banks!

(Good old England, England that couldn’t play football)

(England have got it in the bag)

I know that was then but it could be again

It’s coming home

It’s coming

Football’s coming home

It’s coming home

It’s coming home

It’s coming

Football’s coming home (England has done it)

It’s coming home

It’s coming home

It’s coming

Football’s coming home

It’s coming home

It’s coming home

It’s coming

Football’s coming home

Three Lions on a shirt (it’s coming home, it’s coming)

Jules Rimet still gleaming (football’s coming home, it’s coming home)

Thirty years of hurt (it’s coming home, it’s coming)

Never stopped me dreaming (football’s coming home)

Three Lions on a shirt (it’s coming home, it’s coming)

Jules Rimet still gleaming (football’s coming home, it’s coming home)

Thirty years of hurt (it’s coming home, it’s coming)

Never stopped me dreaming (football’s coming home)

Three Lions on a shirt (it’s coming home, it’s coming)

Jules Rimet still gleaming (football’s coming home, it’s coming home)

Thirty years of hurt (it’s coming home, it’s coming)

Never stopped me dreaming (football’s coming home)

Three Lions on a shirt

World Cup nicknames

England’s Three Lions will be just one of the famous nicknames on display in Qatar with the other 31 nations all carrying the hopes of their fans.

Defending champions France are notable as Les Bleus, along with the famous La Oranje of the Netherlands and La Selecao from Brazil.