The then-home of the Black Cats was in the global spotlight as Roker Park played host to three of the competition's group games, and the quarter-final between the Soviet Union and Hungary. Football supporters descended on Sunderland for the matches, with more than 27,000 fans making up the ground’s biggest attendance of the tournament; a group game between the Soviet Union and Italy.
Do you remember the excitement of seeing the players arrive, queueing for autographs and watching the action inside Roker Park? Ahead of this year’s tournament beginning in Qatar, let’s take a trip back in time to the golden year of 1966 on Wearside – the year England took the trophy!
1. Flying the flag
Italian fans pictured on Wearmouth Bridge in Sunderland, ahead of a game at Roker Park in 1966. Photo: Sunderland Echo
2. Autographs
Here come the stars! World Cup footballers take some time to meet supporters as they arrive at Roker Park. Photo: Sunderland Echo
3. Roll up, roll up!
Fans join the queue to score a ticket to one of the '66 World Cup matches held at Roker Park. Which one did you see? Photo: Sunderland Echo
4. Back of the net!
The then-Soviet Union and Chile battle it out at Roker Park. The ground hosted the tournament's Group 4 games, and one of the quarter-finals. Photo: Sunderland Echo