Claim: David Beckham is a professional football player.

The England national football team represents England in international football and is controlled by The Football Association , the governing body for football in England .   England are one of the two oldest national teams in football ; alongside Scotland , whom they played in the world 's first international football match in 1872 . England 's home ground is Wembley Stadium , London , and the current manager is Gareth Southgate . Although part of the United Kingdom , England has always had a representative side that plays in major professional tournaments , though not in the Olympic Games , as the IOC has always recognised United Kingdom representative sides .   England contest the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship , which alternate biennially . In contesting for the World Cup seventeen times over the past sixty four years , England won the 1966 World Cup , when they hosted the finals , and achieved a semi final appearance in 1990 . England have never won the UEFA European Football Championship -- after fifteen attempts over fifty-six years -- their best performances were semi final appearances at the 1968 and 1996 Championships , the latter of which they hosted .