Football at the United Kingdom was at a low point in 1959 and 1960, following the failure of the national sides (except Wales and Ireland), to perform well in the 1958 FIFA World Cup two years before.

A part of the problem involved the deaths of senior members of all four national sides at the Munich air disaster in early 1958.

England had also suffered a further loss of confidence following poor form in a pre-season tour of the Americas, losing three games in a row to Brazil, Peru 4–1 and Mexico.

The Scots started well, with a 4–0 drubbing of their opponents in Belfast whilst the English and Welsh played out a tame draw.

This set the tone for the tournament, with the Irish losing their subsequent matches with more respectable scorelines but still unable to gain a point.