I've been running pub quiz nights in Yorkshire for the better part of a decade, and I've learned one thing with absolute certainty: nothing clears a room of goodwill faster than asking an England football question that someone gets wrong with total confidence. I once watched a bloke in Harrogate absolutely insist that England won the 1966 World Cup final 4-2 after extra time — which is correct — but then swear blind it was played at Anfield. His wife looked like she wanted to emigrate. The table went silent. Someone ordered another round. It was, genuinely, one of the greatest moments of my quizzing career.
England at the World Cup is perfect quiz territory precisely because everyone thinks they're an expert. It spans proper history — grainy black and white footage, Bobby Moore lifting the Jules Rimet trophy — all the way through to recent tournaments that half the room watched on a mate's big telly last Christmas. The gaps in people's knowledge are wildly unpredictable. Your average punter knows Gazza cried in 1990 but has absolutely no idea who England's top scorer in 2018 was. They'll remember Beckham's red card but blank on the year. That combination of foggy half-memory and fierce confidence is exactly what makes a quiz round crackle.
I've split this post into five rounds of ten questions each: Round 1 covers 1966 and the glory days; Round 2 dives into Italia '90 and everything Gazza-shaped; Round 3 tackles the grim trudge through 2002 to 2014 and England's many creative ways of going out; Round 4 celebrates the Southgate revival and the unexpected joy of 2018; and Round 5 covers Qatar 2022 and where things stand heading into the future. Fifty questions in total, and I've tried to give every round a proper mix of straightforward openers and questions that'll make even the confident ones squint at the ceiling.
One practical note: I'd suggest printing the answers separately if you're using these at a live event, because at least one person at every table will peek. I know this from bitter experience. These questions also work brilliantly as a standalone themed round if you're hosting a football night — Round 2 in particular tends to generate a lot of debate, which is half the fun. If you've got a mixed group where some are less football-obsessed, lean on Rounds 1 and 4, which tend to produce the most "oh, I actually knew that" moments.
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Round 1: 1966 & The Glory Days
This is the round that sorts the genuine historians from the people who've just seen the highlights reel on YouTube. Yes, everyone knows England won in 1966, but the detail is where it gets delicious. A couple of these questions have tripped up people who've been watching England for fifty years, so don't assume this one's a gimme just because the era is familiar.
1. In which stadium was the 1966 World Cup final played?
✓ Wembley Stadium (the old Wembley)
💡 The original Wembley had 39 steps up to the Royal Box — Bobby Moore climbed them to receive the trophy with muddy hands.
2. Who scored a hat-trick for England in the 1966 World Cup final?
✓ Geoff Hurst
💡 Geoff Hurst remains the only player ever to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final. No one else has come close.
3. What was the final score of the 1966 World Cup final between England and West Germany?
✓ 4-2 (after extra time)
💡 England were level at 2-2 after 90 minutes. Hurst's controversial third goal — did it cross the line? — is still debated today.
4. Who was the England manager during the 1966 World Cup?
✓ Alf Ramsey
💡 Ramsey famously predicted England would win the 1966 World Cup before the tournament began — a bold call that paid off spectacularly.
5. Which England player captained the team and lifted the Jules Rimet Trophy in 1966?
✓ Bobby Moore
💡 Moore wiped his hands on his shorts before shaking the Queen's hand to avoid muddying her white gloves — a moment of pure class.
6. True or false: England were the hosts of the 1966 FIFA World Cup.
✓ True
💡 England beat FIFA member nations including West Germany and Spain to win hosting rights for the 1966 tournament back in 1960.
7. Name the England goalkeeper who kept goal throughout the 1966 World Cup final.
✓ Gordon Banks
💡 Banks is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in history — later famous for his save from Pelé in 1970.
8. In which year did England first participate in a FIFA World Cup?
✓ 1950
💡 England's 1950 debut ended in humiliation — they lost 1-0 to the United States, a result widely called the biggest upset in World Cup history.
9. Which country knocked England out of the 1970 World Cup in the quarter-finals?
✓ West Germany
💡 England led 2-0 before an extraordinary West German comeback. Peter Bonetti replaced the ill Gordon Banks and conceded three goals.
10. Who was England's top scorer at the 1966 World Cup, finishing as joint top scorer of the entire tournament?
✓ Geoff Hurst
💡 Hurst finished joint top scorer with four goals alongside Eusébio, Helmut Haller, and three others — all on four goals each.
Round 2: 1990 Italia & Gazza
Italia '90 is basically a national emotional wound that a significant portion of the population treasures fondly, which is a very English thing indeed. This round will have people of a certain age going misty-eyed, while younger players may know less than they think. The tears, the penalty shootout, and Nessun Dorma are all well-trodden ground — but there's genuine detail in here that will catch people out.
11. In which city was England's 1990 World Cup semi-final against West Germany played?
✓ Turin
💡 The match was played at the Stadio delle Alpi in Turin on 4 July 1990. England lost on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
12. Which England player scored in the 1990 World Cup semi-final against West Germany?
✓ Gary Lineker
💡 Lineker's equaliser made it 1-1 and sent the game to extra time. He finished the tournament as England's top scorer with four goals.
13. Paul Gascoigne received a yellow card in the 1990 semi-final that would have ruled him out of the final. Who booked him?
✓ José Roberto Wright (the Brazilian referee)
💡 Gazza's booking for a foul on Thomas Berthold triggered the famous tears — one of football's most iconic and genuinely heartbreaking moments.
14. Who was the England manager during the 1990 World Cup in Italy?
✓ Bobby Robson
💡 Robson had been under enormous media pressure before the tournament. Italia '90 effectively rehabilitated his reputation entirely and permanently.
15. Which two England players missed their penalties in the 1990 World Cup semi-final shootout against West Germany?
✓ Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle
💡 Waddle's penalty sailed so far over the bar it almost landed in the crowd. Pearce famously redeemed himself at Euro '96.
16. England finished third at the 1990 World Cup. Who did they beat in the third-place play-off?
✓ Italy
💡 David Platt scored the only goal in England's 1-0 third-place win over Italy — a result often forgotten given how much Gazza dominates the memory.
17. Which club did Paul Gascoigne play for when England reached the 1990 World Cup semi-final?
✓ Tottenham Hotspur
💡 Gazza's World Cup performances led directly to his £8.5 million move to Lazio in 1992, then one of the biggest transfers in history.
18. True or false: England failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup in the USA.
✓ True
💡 England needed a win against San Marino on the final qualifying night but conceded after just 8.3 seconds — the fastest international goal ever recorded.
19. Who scored England's opening goal of the 1990 World Cup, in their group game against the Republic of Ireland?
✓ Gary Lineker
💡 The match finished 1-1. England were unimpressive in the group stage but grew stronger as the tournament progressed.
20. Which opera aria, performed by Luciano Pavarotti, became synonymous with Italia '90 and was used in the BBC's tournament coverage?
✓ Nessun Dorma (from Puccini's Turandot)
💡 The BBC's use of Nessun Dorma sent the aria to number two in the UK charts — a remarkable crossover moment for classical music.
Round 3: 2002–2014: Early Exits
This is the round where the mood traditionally dips at quiz nights, because it covers fifteen years of optimism gradually curdling. We had Golden Generations, expensively assembled squads, and a quite remarkable ability to find new ways to disappoint. The questions here are specific enough that genuine fans will earn their points, while casual viewers may find the detail blurrier than they expected.
21. Who scored England's winner against Argentina in the 2002 World Cup group stage?
✓ David Beckham
💡 Beckham converted from the penalty spot — personal redemption after being sent off against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup.
22. Which country knocked England out of the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals?
✓ Brazil
💡 Ronaldinho's audacious long-range chip over David Seaman was the defining moment. Seaman was widely — perhaps harshly — blamed for the goal.
23. In which tournament did Wayne Rooney make his senior England debut and become England's youngest-ever scorer at the time?
✓ Euro 2004 (not a World Cup, but Rooney's World Cup debut was 2006)
💡 At the 2006 World Cup, Rooney was sent off against Portugal for stamping — his tournament ended in controversy and a red card.
24. Who was the England manager when they were eliminated from the 2006 World Cup by Portugal on penalties?
✓ Sven-Göran Eriksson
💡 Eriksson left the role after the 2006 tournament. It was his third consecutive World Cup or European Championship exit at the quarter-final stage.
25. True or false: England failed to qualify for the 2008 European Championship, which contributed to Steve McClaren losing his job as manager.
✓ True
💡 McClaren watched England's 3-2 defeat to Croatia from under an umbrella — earning him the lasting tabloid nickname "The Wally with the Brolly."
26. Which England goalkeeper was blamed for a crucial error during the 2010 World Cup group stage against the USA?
✓ Robert Green
💡 Green fumbled Clint Dempsey's soft shot into the net. England drew 1-1. Green was dropped for the rest of the tournament.
27. Who knocked England out of the 2010 World Cup in the round of sixteen?
✓ Germany
💡 Germany won 4-1. A Frank Lampard shot clearly crossed the line but was not given — England's latest chapter in goal-line controversy.
28. Name the England manager who resigned after England's group-stage exit from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
✓ Roy Hodgson
💡 England were eliminated after two matches — defeats to Italy and Uruguay — becoming the first holders of the No. 1 FIFA ranking to go out in the group stage.
29. Which Uruguayan striker scored twice against England at the 2014 World Cup, effectively ending their tournament?
✓ Luis Suárez
💡 Suárez had played only one match before the England game after recovering from knee surgery. England's preparation had focused elsewhere.
30. How many points did England finish with in their 2014 World Cup group, which included Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica?
✓ 1 point
💡 England's only point came from a 0-0 draw with Costa Rica — a match played after both sides had already been eliminated.
Round 4: 2018 Southgate Revival
Russia 2018 was the tournament that reminded England fans what optimism felt like, which was a slightly disorienting experience. Southgate's waistcoat became a cultural moment, "It's Coming Home" soundtracked an entire summer, and England reached a semi-final for the first time since 1990. This round rewards people who actually followed the tournament rather than those who just caught the vibe through Twitter and barbecue conversation.
31. Who was England's top scorer at the 2018 World Cup in Russia?
✓ Harry Kane
💡 Kane won the Golden Boot with six goals — three of which came from penalties. He scored five in the group stage alone.
32. Which country did England beat in the round of sixteen at the 2018 World Cup?
✓ Colombia
💡 England won on penalties after a 1-1 draw — their first-ever penalty shootout win at a World Cup, ending a miserable record of four defeats.
33. True or false: England beat Sweden in the 2018 World Cup quarter-final.
✓ True
💡 England won 2-0. Harry Maguire and Dele Alli scored — a straightforward win that felt anything but straightforward given England's recent history.
34. Which country knocked England out of the 2018 World Cup semi-final?
✓ Croatia
💡 Croatia won 2-1 after extra time. Kieran Trippier's stunning free-kick had given England a dream start before Croatia came back.
35. Who scored England's first goal of the 2018 World Cup, in the group stage against Tunisia?
✓ Harry Kane
💡 Kane scored twice against Tunisia, including a late header to win 2-1. England had looked shaky before his second goal rescued them.
36. What item of clothing did Gareth Southgate wear throughout the 2018 World Cup that became a fashion phenomenon in England?
✓ A waistcoat
💡 Marks & Spencer reportedly sold out of waistcoats during the tournament as fans copied Southgate's look. Sales rose by 35%.
37. England's 2018 World Cup campaign included a group-stage game against Belgium. What was the result, and which team won the group?
✓ Belgium won 1-0; Belgium topped the group
💡 Both teams were already through when they met. Some questioned whether England deliberately selected a weakened team to get a "better" draw.
38. Which England defender scored a header in the quarter-final victory over Sweden at the 2018 World Cup?
✓ Harry Maguire
💡 It was Maguire's first international goal. The image of him rising to head home became one of the defining photographs of England's summer.
39. Name the England player who scored a stunning free-kick in the semi-final against Croatia at the 2018 World Cup.
✓ Kieran Trippier
💡 Trippier's free-kick after just five minutes was one of the most celebrated England goals in years — and ultimately one of the most bittersweet.
40. In the 2018 World Cup third-place play-off, which country did England face, and what was the result?
✓ Belgium; England lost 2-0
💡 England's third-place defeat to Belgium was their second loss to them in the tournament — both matches ended 1-0 or 2-0 in Belgium's favour.
Round 5: 2022 Qatar & Beyond
Qatar 2022 was England's chance to go one better than 2018, and for a while — particularly through the group stage — it genuinely looked possible. This final round covers a tournament that's fresh enough that people should remember it clearly, but specific enough in its detail that the confident ones will still come unstuck. There's also a question or two with one eye on what comes next, which should spark a decent post-quiz argument.
41. Who scored a hat-trick for England against Iran in their opening game of the 2022 World Cup?
✓ Bukayo Saka
💡 Saka scored twice, not a hat-trick. Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish also scored in England's 6-2 opening win over Iran.
42. What was the correct final score in England's opening 2022 World Cup game against Iran?
✓ England 6-2 Iran
💡 It was England's joint-biggest World Cup win in history. The goals came from Bellingham, Saka (2), Sterling, Rashford and Grealish.
43. Which teenager scored England's first goal of the 2022 World Cup against Iran?
✓ Jude Bellingham
💡 Bellingham was 19 years old. His headed goal announced him on the biggest international stage and confirmed what Dortmund fans already knew.
44. Which country knocked England out of the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals?
✓ France
💡 France won 2-1. Harry Kane scored a penalty to equalise but then blazed a second penalty over the bar — England's tournament ended in agony.
45. True or false: Harry Kane scored a penalty that would have equalised for England against France in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final, but missed a second penalty moments later.
✓ True
💡 Kane's missed penalty ended England's tournament and meant he finished the 2022 World Cup without scoring from open play.
46. Who scored France's winning goal in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final against England?
✓ Olivier Giroud
💡 Giroud's header made it 2-1 and ultimately proved decisive. It was his 52nd international goal — drawing level with Thierry Henry's French record at the time.
47. England drew 0-0 with which opponent in the 2022 World Cup group stage, a result that raised eyebrows after their opening thrashing of Iran?
✓ USA
💡 The goalless draw against the USA led to significant criticism of England's attacking performance despite their dominant display against Iran.
48. Who replaced Gareth Southgate as England manager following his resignation after Euro 2024?
✓ Thomas Tuchel
💡 Tuchel became the first German manager of England, appointed in October 2024 — a choice that raised plenty of eyebrows and some pub debate.
49. How many times has England reached the semi-finals or further at a World Cup, including 1966, 1990, and 2018?
✓ Three times (1966 — winners; 1990 — fourth place; 2018 — fourth place)
💡 England have never reached a World Cup final other than in 1966, despite often being ranked among Europe's stronger nations.
50. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by three countries. Name all three.
✓ USA, Canada, and Mexico
💡 The 2026 tournament will be the first World Cup with 48 teams — meaning more matches, more upsets, and hopefully more England drama.
What strikes me most when putting together a set like this is how emotionally specific England's World Cup history is. Most countries have tournaments they'd rather forget. England has tournaments they rewatch on YouTube with a kind of fond, masochistic nostalgia. Italia '90 is arguably more culturally significant than any tournament England could win now — the Gazza tears, the Pavarotti, the penalties — it's become mythology. And 2018 in Russia produced a genuine summer of collective joy, not because England won anything, but because for a few weeks Gareth Southgate made the whole thing feel dignified again. That's a low bar, but we'll take it.
If you spot an error in any of these questions — and with fifty questions across sixty years of history, I'd be mildly surprised if everything's perfect — please do drop me a line at hello@simplyquizzes.com. I'd rather be corrected than wrong, and I'll update accordingly. There are plenty more quiz posts over on the SimplyQuizzes blog covering everything from British history to Premier League records, so have a look around if this one's whetted your appetite.