Short answers, pulled from the story.
Geoff Hurst scored England's second goal early in the match, added a third in extra time after his shot bounced off the crossbar and was ruled to have crossed the goal line, and scored a fourth as spectators invaded the pitch. He became the first player in history to score three goals in a World Cup final.
All fifteen African nations withdrew from qualifying in protest over a 1964 FIFA ruling that required African zone winners to compete in a playoff against the Asian zone just to qualify. The Confederation of African Football also objected to FIFA's readmission of South Africa in 1963, despite South Africa's expulsion from the Confederation in 1958 over its apartheid regime. The boycott ultimately secured African nations an automatic World Cup berth from 1970 onward.
The United Kingdom did not formally recognise North Korea and had fought for South Korea in the Korean War. British officials feared North Korea's presence would damage relations with South Korea and the United States. The Foreign Office proposed removing stadium flags after each team's elimination and considered denying visas to North Korean players, though the Department of Education and Science vetoed the flag plan.
Eusébio of Portugal was the top scorer with nine goals, earning the golden boot by three goals over second-placed Helmut Haller. His most decisive performance came in the quarter-final against North Korea at Goodison Park, where he scored four goals to overturn a 3-0 deficit and lead Portugal to a 5-3 win.
The goal remains disputed. In the 98th minute of extra time, Geoff Hurst's shot struck the crossbar and bounced near the goal line. Officials ruled the ball had crossed the line and awarded the goal, but debate over whether it fully crossed has continued ever since.
Refereeing controversies at the 1966 tournament, including the fouling of Pelé out of the competition and contentious dismissals in multiple quarter-finals, prompted FIFA to introduce the yellow and red card system before the 1970 World Cup. Two substitutions per team were also permitted from then on, and efforts were made to standardise referee training and interpretation of the Laws of the Game.