England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford revisited five of his most iconic international appearances, including England's 3-2 win over co-hosts Mexico at the 2026 World Cup. He also reflected on his senior debut against Germany in November 2017 and several other key matches.
Debut and shootout breakthrough
Pickford said his senior England debut came against Germany in November 2017. Pickford said: "My debut was unreal. Probably one of the only times I’ve felt nervous going into a game. I’d worked towards that lifelong dream and finally making it was incredible."
He also highlighted England's World Cup penalty shootout win against Colombia in July 2018 as one of the defining games of his international career. Pickford said: "To be the first England team to win a penalty shootout in so many years, it was special and it gave us that belief."
Spain and Switzerland memories
Pickford reflected on England's 3-2 victory in Spain in October 2018. Pickford said: "Gareth talked about if we want to be a top nation in the world... we’re going to have to go to these places and start winning."
He also remembered scoring in the penalty shootout against Switzerland in the 2019 UEFA Nations League third-place play-off. Pickford said: "I think I was number six and it was a great feeling, hitting the back of the net... for me to do it – the only time taking a penalty so far in my career – it was a great moment."
Mexico at the Azteca
Pickford selected England's 3-2 victory against co-hosts Mexico at the 2026 World Cup as one of his greatest experiences. He said the game was played at the Azteca in front of 90,000 fans.
Pickford said: "It was mega. I knew it was us eleven versus 90,000 and I knew what type of game it was going to be. There aren’t many times in your career you’re going to go and play in the Azteca in a World Cup."
He added: "I’ve always been able to kick the ball far but to do it in Mexico, it felt like the ball wasn’t going to stop when I was kicking it!"
His view of the game
On the Mexico match, Pickford said: "Making big saves... me commanding my box was a big part in that game that got us over the line"
He also said: "The game had everything. Suffering in a good way to get the result was amazing and something we’ll look back on when we’re retired and go, ‘what a game that was’."