To provide an internal combustion engine capable of improving ignitability, improving thermal efficiency, and enlarging an operable load range even if fuel is hard to be ignited from a view point of increase in thermal efficiency and reduction in NOx.

In the internal combustion engine where a period T during which an intake valve 14 and an exhaust valve 15 are both closed from an exhaust stroke to an intake stroke can be set, it is provided with a fuel injection valve 24 capable of injecting fuel toward the inside of a combustion chamber 16. A closing period of the exhaust valve 15 is set at a timing closer to the advance side than a suction top dead center, fuel injected from a fuel injection valve 2 during a period T during which the intake valve 14 and the exhaust valve 15 are both closed is pressurized together with gas remaining in a combustion chamber 16.