Burning The Ground Exclusive
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup currently taking place, this felt like the perfect time to revisit one of the most unlikely, and most successful, football records ever released.
When a football record works, it is usually because it forgets to be a football record for a few minutes. World In Motion is exactly that. On paper, the whole idea sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. New Order, one of Manchester’s coolest and most unlikely pop institutions, teamed up with the England national football team for the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy.
Somehow, it worked. Not only did it work, but it also became one of the best football songs ever recorded.
Credited as Englandeworder, World In Motion was released in May 1990. It arrived at just the right moment. The band had come off the success of Technique, UK dance culture was everywhere, and football was about to have one of its most emotional summers.
What makes World In Motion so special is that it still sounds like a New Order single. The bright synths, steady dance rhythm, Peter Hook’s bass, and Bernard Sumner’s understated vocal all sit perfectly in place. The football chants are there, but they never take over. Even the squad vocals feel like part of the record instead of a cheap add-on.
Then, of course, there is John Barnes.
His rap near the end of the song has become part of UK pop culture in its own right. It is joyful, awkward, charming, and strangely perfect. It should not work as well as it does, but Barnes delivers it with enough confidence to make it unforgettable. In a genre filled with novelty football records, this one had rhythm, wit, and a real pulse.
The 12-inch single is especially interesting because it treats the song like a proper club release. My US 12-inch does not include The B-Side, which appeared on other editions, but instead focuses on the remixes. The Subbuteo Mix and Subbuteo Dub by Graeme Park and Mike Pickering give the track a more club-ready feel, while Andrew Weatherall and Terry Farley’s Carabinieri Mix and No Alla Violenza Mix take things even further into the dancefloor.
That roster alone tells you this was not being handled like a throwaway sports tie-in. This was New Order, football culture, and the club scene meeting at the exact right moment.
World In Motion became New Order’s only UK No. 1 single, spending two weeks at the top and 12 weeks on the Official Singles Chart. It also reached No. 1 on the UK Indie chart and found success in several other countries.
More than three decades later, World In Motion still has that rare glow. It captures a moment when pop, football, club music, and national hope all collided without becoming corny. England did not win the World Cup in 1990, but this record gave them a song that has outlived the tournament itself.
Now, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup underway, it feels like the right record at the right time all over again.
It is funny, bright, emotional, and completely of its time. It is also still a fantastic New Order single.
And really, how many football records can you honestly say that about?
AWAY SIDE:
World In Motion… (Carabinieri Mix) 5:54
Mixed By – Andrew Weatherall, Terry Farley
World In Motion… (No Alla Violenza Mix) 5:36
Mixed By – Andrew Weatherall, Terry Farley
HOME SIDE:
World In Motion… (Subbuteo Mix) 5:08
Producer [Additional Production By], Remix [Remix By] – Graeme Park, Mike Pickering
World In Motion… (Subbuteo Dub) 5:08
Producer [Additional Production By], Remix [Remix By] – Graeme Park, Mike Pickering
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
| Chart Performance – New Order: World In Motion (1990) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 1 |
| UK Indie Chart | 1 |
| Eurochart Hot 100 | 2 |
| Finland | 4 |
| Ireland | 7 |
| New Zealand | 8 |
| Australia | 21 |
| Switzerland | 27 |
| US Modern Rock Tracks | 5 |
| US Dance Club Songs | 10 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Qwest Records – 0-21582, Qwest Records – 9 21582-0, Warner Bros. Records – 0-21582, Warner Bros. Records – 9 21582-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: May 1990
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Design [Uncredited], Art Direction [Uncredited] – Peter Saville Associates
- Producer [Produced By], Recorded By – Stephen Hague
- Written-By – Keith Allen, New Order
NOTES:
Artist on sleeve & spine: Englandneworder
Artist on labels: New Order
Both labels say “Side 1”.
A1, A2 mixed at the Townhouse
Made in U.S.A.
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2
Phono Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
Audio Interface: MOTU M4
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Cleaning Solution: Turgikleen Record Cleaning Solution
Scanner: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
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So pleased you picked this. It’s forever a sunshine filled day when this comes on, and I’ve never known an indie dance floor to not love it. Being a New Order obsessed fan at the time (and still I suppose!), for once I may already have all the versions but still a joy to have this as a prompt to give them a listen once more. ⚽️
One of the best football songs imho. And so much trivia associated with it. Barney didn’t have a clue about football, hence Keith Allen co-writing the lyrics. Somewhere there’s a recording of Gazza performing the rap, and if you catch John Barnes and ask nicely, he’ll do the rap for you after all this time. He recently performed it with Peter Hook & The Light. Manager Tony Wilson thought of the 3-syllable “Eng-er-land” to help the lyrics scan. The original title was “E for England” until the FA vetoed it due to possible ecstasy references. Perish the thought :p And,… Read more »
Thank you, Paul. I’m sure your revival of this song inspired Harry Kane’s perfectly executed penalty kick in yesterday’s match, advancing Team England to the quarterfinals! 😉
Perfect timing, Paul, as ENG just beat MEX 3-2 as I tap this out. Curiously, the US CD Maxi-Single only has 4 tracks: single mix, ‘B-side” (exclusive to the CD single), the No Alla Violenza Mix, and the Subbuteo Mix, included here. The cassette mirrors the 12” vinyl release. I’m glad to have two more great mixes to add to the files. Usually the WB labels included every mix that was on a 12” for the maxi-singles (i.e. Madonna; Depeche Mode), but not here as I discovered. Also out of all the FIFA-authorized tracks over the years, the one we… Read more »
dj xrey, that timing could not have worked out better. England beating Mexico 3-2 while this post is up makes this one feel even more perfect for the moment. Thank you for the info on the US CD Maxi-Single. That is interesting, especially since Warner Bros. usually did such a good job packing the CD singles with all of the available mixes. I agree, it is odd they did not do that here. I am glad this 12-inch helped fill in a couple of those gaps for you. And yes, Ricky Martin’s “La Copa De La Vida” was absolutely huge.… Read more »
Had a feeling this one would appear during World Cup! Appreciate the post.
Reed, you know me too well. With the World Cup underway, this one felt like it had to make an appearance.
It is one of those records that fits the moment perfectly, and it also gives me a good excuse to sneak in some New Order. Glad you enjoyed the post.
Your write-up is perfect, especially the fact that this record should not have worked, but definitely did! It’s also clear that it wasn’t just a quick project, considering the remixer power behind it. I’m grateful that you chose the 12″ with the Andrew Weatherall and Terry Farley Remixes! WOW!!! THANK YOU!!!
Thank you, Axel. That is exactly what fascinates me about this record. On paper, it really should have been a mess, but everyone involved seemed to understand that it still had to work as a proper New Order single.
And yes, the remixer lineup says a lot. Andrew Weatherall and Terry Farley were not there by accident, and their mixes really help push the record beyond the usual sports anthem territory. I am glad you enjoyed this 12-inch. It felt like the right one to share.
Timely indeed!! While I love New Order, I can say I definitely… like-ish this 🙂 Parts really work for me, other parts less so. I think it is really best enjoyed in the spirit it was made, and I totally get why the artist name was selected. I’ve never been a big fan of any of the sports songs, I guess ‘jock jams’ was the branding, I can still appreciate them and have some fun with them in moderation. This is definitely one of the better ones, and this single treating it like a straight up club track with the… Read more »
Happy 4th, JP!! Well said! On the discussion of “jock jams” I’ve made my own compilation of tracks that I thought would be perfect for sports and called it, “Game On!” I’ll have to share the listing one day! It’s different than the mainstream tunes, but this is why I love it!
Always a pleasure to read your comments, JP. You are a great writer with these great insights into the music and your reactions. You should definitely be a record reviewer!!
Have a blast this weekend!
Jeff
Here is my playlist
Haha thanks for the kind words my friend. I’d love to read your reviews too!
I hadn’t had a chance to read everyone’s comments due to the holiday and finally just read your great comment below… and you also mentioned jock jams! Great minds 🙂
Thanks for the playlist, those are some fantastic picks… ‘You can’t stop the rock!’
JP, I think “like-ish” is a very fair reaction to this one. It is definitely a record that works best when taken in the spirit it was made. New Order were still New Order, but the football element is right there in the middle of it, so I can understand why some parts hit harder than others, depending on how much tolerance one has for sports anthems. I do think the remixes help a lot because they pull it closer to the club world instead of leaving it as just a World Cup novelty single. That is probably why it… Read more »
How did this pass me by?? This must have flown completely under my radar at the time. Of course I knew New Order, I certainly knew sports anthems (I still love your Chicago Bears Shuffling Crew single!)… And I’m quite familiar with Giorgio Moroder Project – To Be Number One from the very same World Cup in 1990. But this is one of the many reasons why you are so beloved by us Paul!! And then to find out this was New Order’s only UK No. 1?! As well as being a hit on the US Modern Rock and Dance… Read more »
Happy Independence Day, Retro Hound!
Jeff ❤️ 🤍💙
Retro Hound, I love when that happens. Even with artists we know well, there are always those odd singles, side projects, soundtrack cuts, and one-off moments that somehow slip through the cracks. This one really is a strange little treasure. New Order, the England team, John Barnes rapping, and somehow it all works. That is not something anyone could have guaranteed on paper. I also love that you brought up Giorgio Moroder Project’s “To Be Number One.” The 1990 World Cup certainly provided us with some memorable music. And yes, it is wild that this became New Order’s only UK… Read more »
For a time this seemed like it may have been the last hurrah for New Order.
This has to be the best soccer anthem. Just ripe for Ted Lasso.
Thanks Paul.
Joey, it really did feel that way for a while, didn’t it? At the time, no one really knew where New Order were headed next, so “World In Motion” almost had this strange closing-chapter feeling around it.
And I agree, it has to be one of the best football anthems ever. It is catchy, clever, and just odd enough to still feel like New Order. I love the Ted Lasso thought too. It would have fit perfectly in that world.
Thanks, Joey.
Hey Paul, I was surprised to see you not mention the passing away of Victor Willis of The Village People the other day. I understand that the gay community gave them their rise yet recently their allegiance to the current administration may rub people the wrong way, so understandably many may not care anymore. Maybe he wasn’t big enough on his own, who knows. I just thought it was an interesting mention because it’s you whom I credit with introducing him to me. I mean I knew of the Village People but nothing more than surface level. it was your… Read more »
Hi Jon, thank you for the kind words. I really appreciate that. I did choose not to post about Victor’s passing. His voice is tied to some huge records, and there is no denying the impact that Village People had on pop and disco history. At the same time, some of his more recent public comments and political positions have made that legacy more complicated for many of us, especially within the LGBTQ+ community. That said, I am really glad my post of his version of “Physical” introduced you to that side of him as a solo artist. That is… Read more »
Difiero en su comentario decir que YMCA no es un himno gay no es nada malo, al contrario creo que es mas a favor de la comunidad lgbt que el aclarara el punto,
I was a bit surprised to see no mention here, but I totally get why you said nothing. I’d really have to take whatever Victor Willis said at any time with a grain of salt, I think his words depended on where his bread was buttered… the work of a true hedonist, his words being real only at the moment he says them. Perhaps as the lead singer of The Village People he was living a lie and wanted to separate himself from it, as an older person with the ear of conservatives he wanted to impress, he felt the… Read more »
Dynamite tune, Paul, and most timely. Like, ING, below, I’m not much of a sports fan, but I do love these sorts of sports anthems! Some of these “jock jams” can be quite thrilling and motivating! As a New Order fan, this was a record I liked a lot! I have the CD5, and at the time only really liked one of the mixes. I think it was just the single mix. I’m looking forward to revisiting the mixes because sometimes one has to re-evaluate with fresh new ears! Thanks so much, Paul, for a week of tasty cuts! Especially… Read more »
Thank you, Jeff. I am with you, I am not much of a sports fan either, but when a sports anthem works, it can really hit that sweet spot between excitement and pure pop energy. This one is such a strange little miracle because it is still very much a New Order record. I think the single mix is probably the one most people gravitate toward, but the 12-inch mixes are fun to revisit, especially with fresh ears and a little distance from the original moment. I am glad you enjoyed this week’s selections. I hope you have a wonderful… Read more »
Paul! I love the mixes! They really got me going! I can’t believe I wasn’t initially a fan! What’s wrong with me? Thank you again for reminding me what a superb 12-inch this is!🙌🥰
Thanks Paul, this is one of those rare good songs, great job Bro!
Thank you, Eduardo. I agree, this is one of those rare sports-related records that actually stands on its own as a great song. New Order somehow made the whole thing work without it feeling like a novelty record. Glad you enjoyed it, Bro!
Not being a sports fan, but being a new order fan & working at a record store I was all over this one! It had so many variants between the UK Europe and North America it was dizzying… eventually my collection finalized with I believe an Australian edition with all the mixes on one CD. I’d have to dig it out to be sure!!! Fun song, best sports song ever.
If I am correct, The Lightning Seeds later on did a World Cup Theme that was also enjoyable!
ING, same here. I am not much of a sports person either, but it is New Order, so of course I was in. You are absolutely right about the variants. There were so many different configurations across the UK, Europe, Australia, and North America that it almost became a sport of its own trying to track them all down. The Australian CD is a nice one to have since it pulls several of those mixes together in one place. And yes, The Lightning Seeds did “Three Lions,” which became another hugely loved football song. I agree, it is very enjoyable,… Read more »
Totally agree! “We’re playing for England (ING GUH LUND!)!!!”
For all of the mixes, you’ll want the Canadian CD. For years, it was the only release where you could get the Carabinieri Mix on CD, until it was included on the 2008 expanded reissue of Technique. And for the completist, the Subbuteo Dub is about 1 minute longer on the North American releases compared to the UK/EU/AUS releases.
Oh man now I’ll have to dig and compare!!! I know I had multiple versions at one time, like so many Depeche, Erasure and other releases these little differences were almost impossible to keep track of! Maybe it is the Canadian I have and I just don’t remember correctly!!!