The roaring anthem, first released in 1996 and now woven into the fabric of every major tournament, is returning just in time for England’s latest World Cup campaign.
A brand-new anniversary edition lands on June 12, promising to soundtrack yet another summer of hope, heartbreak and heroic delusion.
This special release comes with new illustrated artwork by Guardian cartoonist David Squires, whose instantly recognisable style gives the single a fresh, tongue-in-cheek makeover.
Fans can pick up the vinyl featuring Three Lions (Remastered) and a full karaoke version – perfect for pub gardens, fan parks and anyone who thinks they can out-sing David Baddiel and Frank Skinner after two pints.
The CD single goes even further, packing in two extra mixes: the Jules Rimet Extended Mix and the Sake Bar Remix, giving the anthem a celebratory glow-up for its big birthday.
Three decades on, Three Lions remains a scorer on the charts. It’s the only song in UK history to hit Number One four separate times with the same artists – twice in 1996, again during the 1998 World Cup, and then in 2018 when it rocketed from No.24 to No.1 in a single week as England’s semi-final run sent the country into full-blown football fever.
The 2026 edition arrives as Lightning Seeds head out on a packed summer of festival dates, plus a tour with Deacon Blue – meaning fans can expect plenty of live renditions of the anthem that refuses to retire.
Lightning Seeds frontman Ian Broudie wishes his legacy was another of the group’s tracks, but he also finds the sporting anthem an appropriate association.
He told The Big Issue magazine in 2024: “It’s quite fitting that I will be remembered for Three Lions.
“When I was in Big in Japan, I had this instrumental track that went on an album called Street to Street – which was a very early Liverpool indie compilation – and it was called Match of the Day because it didn’t have a title but I figured it would sound good on Match of the Day.
“Years later, my song Life of Riley – which is written about my son Riley – was suddenly on Match of the Day and being played all the time.
“So some ways, it’s probably fitting that a football song, Three Lions, is the song I will be remembered for.
“But I’d rather be remembered for Pure.”
