The World Cup is the sporting event that generates the most widespread knowledge and the most widespread false confidence simultaneously. Every four years, people who haven't thought about football since the last tournament suddenly become experts on group stage formats, penalty shootout statistics, and the respective merits of various national squads. A lot of that knowledge is, generously, approximate. A World Cup trivia quiz is where the approximate meets the actual.
What makes the World Cup such good quiz territory is that it spans decades in a way that club football doesn't. Asking about a specific Premier League season from 15 years ago is a niche question. Asking about a World Cup final from 15 years ago is a completely fair general knowledge question — it was the biggest sporting event in the world that year, and most people have some memory of it. The tournament creates shared reference points in a way that other competitions don't.
A hundred questions across ten rounds — because the World Cup has enough history to justify the depth. We cover format and basics, winners through the decades, golden boot and top scorers, England's World Cup story, legendary players, iconic matches and upsets, host nations, managers and tactics, records and statistics, and a dedicated 2022 Qatar round to finish. Something for every type of football fan — and enough depth to catch even the well-prepared ones out.
If you're running this as a full quiz night, split the rounds across the evening rather than going straight through — ten rounds of football is a long commitment and works better with breaks. The England round mid-way works well as a natural pause point, because the reactions it produces tend to be worth dwelling on.
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Round 6: Iconic Matches & Upsets (Questions 51–60)
51. Which country pulled off the biggest upset in 1950 by beating England 1–0?
✓ The United States
💡 The USA's 1–0 win over England in the 1950 group stage was front-page news. England were heavy favourites and the result was so surprising that some newspapers in England assumed it was a typo — that the score had to be 10–1 to England.
52. Which match in the 1954 World Cup ended 7–5 and is the highest-scoring in World Cup history?
✓ Austria vs Switzerland (7–5)
💡 Austria beat Switzerland 7–5 in what remains the highest-scoring World Cup match ever. The game featured nine goals in the second half alone.
53. Senegal caused a famous upset at the 2002 World Cup by beating which defending champion?
✓ France
💡 Senegal beat France 1–0 in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup. France, the defending champions, failed to score a single goal and were eliminated in the group stage.
54. Germany beat Brazil 7–1 in which stage of the 2014 World Cup?
✓ The semi-final (held in Belo Horizonte)
💡 Known as the 'Mineirazo' in Brazil, the 7–1 defeat on home soil is considered one of the worst in World Cup history. Germany scored five goals in 18 first-half minutes.
55. North Korea shocked Italy at the 1966 World Cup — what was the score?
✓ 1–0 to North Korea
💡 North Korea's 1–0 win over Italy at Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough remains one of the biggest World Cup upsets ever. North Korea went on to reach the quarter-finals.
56. What was significant about the 1950 World Cup format that meant it had no official final?
✓ It used a final round-robin group instead of a knockout final
💡 The 1950 tournament used a final group of four. Uruguay's 2–1 win over Brazil in the final game decided the champions — a match known as the 'Maracanazo'.
57. Jack Charlton's Republic of Ireland knocked which country out of the 1990 World Cup?
✓ Romania (on penalties in the round of 16)
💡 The Republic of Ireland beat Romania on penalties to reach their first ever World Cup quarter-final. They were then beaten by Italy, the host nation.
58. Who scored the 'Goal of the Century' at the 1986 World Cup?
✓ Diego Maradona (Argentina vs England, quarter-final)
💡 Maradona dribbled from his own half past five England players and the goalkeeper before slotting in. It was voted the Goal of the Century in a 2002 online poll by FIFA.com.
59. Which country scored the fastest goal in World Cup history, after 11 seconds in 2002?
✓ Turkey (Hakan Şükür vs South Korea)
💡 Hakan Şükür's goal after 11 seconds in the third-place play-off between Turkey and South Korea is the fastest in World Cup history. Turkey won 3–2.
60. Which team famously lost the 1974 World Cup final without a single player being tackled during a move that led to a penalty?
✓ The Netherlands (vs West Germany)
💡 The Netherlands' first attack of the 1974 final saw 13 passes before Johan Cruyff was brought down for a penalty — without a West German player touching the ball. Johan Neeskens scored, but the Netherlands ultimately lost 2–1.
Round 7: World Cup Host Nations (Questions 61–70)
61. Which country hosted the 2014 FIFA World Cup?
✓ Brazil
💡 Brazil hosted for the second time, having previously held the 1950 World Cup. The tournament was marred by protests over the cost of staging the event, amid widespread social inequality.
62. Which city hosted the 1966 World Cup final?
✓ London (Wembley Stadium)
💡 The old Wembley Stadium, with its famous twin towers, hosted the final. England won 4–2 in front of 96,924 spectators.
63. Which three countries are co-hosting the 2026 World Cup?
✓ USA, Canada and Mexico
💡 The 2026 World Cup will be the first to be co-hosted by three nations. Mexico will become the first country to host World Cup matches three times (having hosted in 1970 and 1986).
64. Which country hosted the World Cup in 1978?
✓ Argentina
💡 Argentina hosted and won the 1978 World Cup under military dictatorship. The host nation's victory was controversial, with accusations that the 6–0 win over Peru that sealed their progress was arranged.
65. The 2002 World Cup was co-hosted by which two countries?
✓ Japan and South Korea
💡 It was the first World Cup held in Asia and the first to be co-hosted by two nations. South Korea controversially reached the semi-finals, producing several upsets along the way.
66. Which Mexican stadium hosted two World Cup finals (1970 and 1986)?
✓ Estadio Azteca
💡 The Azteca in Mexico City is the only stadium to have hosted two World Cup finals. It has a capacity of over 87,000 and is one of the most iconic football venues in the world.
67. Which country was stripped of World Cup hosting rights after a political scandal in 1938?
✓ None — Argentina withdrew as host. Italy hosted in 1934, France in 1938.
💡 The 1938 World Cup in France was notable for being the last before World War II. Austria had qualified but was forced to withdraw after being annexed by Germany (the Anschluss).
68. Which US city will host the 2026 World Cup final?
✓ New York/New Jersey (MetLife Stadium)
💡 MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey will host the 2026 final. It has a capacity of over 82,000 and is the home of both the New York Giants and New York Jets.
69. Germany hosted and won the World Cup in which year?
✓ 1974 (West Germany)
💡 West Germany beat the Netherlands 2–1 in the Munich final. Franz Beckenbauer became the first captain to lift the new FIFA World Cup Trophy, replacing the Jules Rimet Trophy.
70. Which country hosted the 2018 World Cup?
✓ Russia
💡 Russia hosted across 12 stadiums in 11 cities. Despite political controversy, it was widely praised for organisation and atmosphere. France won, beating Croatia 4–2 in the Moscow final.
Round 8: Managers & Tactics (Questions 71–80)
71. Which manager led Brazil to three World Cups using the 4–2–4 formation?
✓ Vicente Feola (1958), Aymoré Moreira (1962), and Mário Zagallo (1970)
💡 Mário Zagallo is the only man to win the World Cup as both a player (1958, 1962) and manager (1970). He was also part of the backroom staff for Brazil's 1994 and 2002 victories.
72. Who managed England at the 2018 World Cup in Russia?
✓ Gareth Southgate
💡 Southgate, famous for his missed penalty in Euro 96, transformed England's image and culture. His waistcoat became a fashion phenomenon during the tournament.
73. Which Dutch manager pioneered 'Total Football' with the Netherlands at the 1974 World Cup?
✓ Rinus Michels
💡 Total Football required every outfield player to be able to play in any position. Johan Cruyff was the system's embodiment — he was also Michels' player at Ajax before the World Cup.
74. Who managed Italy to World Cup glory in 2006?
✓ Marcello Lippi
💡 Lippi had previously won Serie A and the Champions League with Juventus. Italy won the 2006 tournament on penalties over France, with Zidane's headbutt providing the decisive moment.
75. Which manager took an unfancied Greece to World Cup qualification before coaching Nigeria?
✓ Otto Rehhagel took Greece to Euro 2004 glory; Sven-Göran Eriksson managed Nigeria. Stephen Keshi managed Nigeria to the 2014 World Cup.
💡 Stephen Keshi became only the second African to manage an African nation at the World Cup. Nigeria reached the round of 16 in Brazil 2014 before losing to France.
76. Who managed Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title?
✓ Lionel Scaloni
💡 Scaloni was a relatively unknown former player when appointed. He transformed Argentina's style, building the team around Messi and creating a cohesive, hard-working unit that finally delivered the trophy Messi had long coveted.
77. Which England manager resigned after being eliminated from the 2006 World Cup?
✓ Sven-Göran Eriksson
💡 Eriksson had already announced before the tournament that he would leave after it. England lost on penalties to Portugal in the quarter-finals, with Wayne Rooney sent off.
78. Who famously managed the 'Three Lions' at Euro 96 and was England manager between 1994 and 1996?
✓ Terry Venables
💡 Venables managed England at Euro 96 but was not involved at a World Cup. Glenn Hoddle managed England at the 1998 World Cup, where they were knocked out on penalties by Argentina.
79. Franz Beckenbauer won the World Cup as both a player (1974) and manager — in what year did he win as manager?
✓ 1990 (West Germany)
💡 Beckenbauer became only the second man after Mário Zagallo to win the World Cup as both player and manager. West Germany beat Argentina 1–0 in Rome, the third final between the two sides.
80. Which South American manager led Colombia to the round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup?
✓ José Pékerman
💡 Pékerman's Colombia featured James Rodríguez's outstanding performances and were considered one of the tournament's most attractive sides. They lost 2–1 to Brazil in the quarter-final in a match marred by a foul on Neymar.
Round 9: Records & Statistics (Questions 81–90)
81. What is the record for the most goals scored in a single World Cup tournament by one team?
✓ Hungary scored 27 goals at the 1954 World Cup
💡 Hungary's 27 goals in 1954 remain the most by a single team in one tournament. Despite this, they lost the final 3–2 to West Germany in the 'Miracle of Bern'.
82. Which goalkeeper holds the record for most World Cup clean sheets?
✓ Peter Shilton (England) and Fabien Barthez (France) — both 10 clean sheets
💡 Shilton kept 10 clean sheets across the 1982, 1986 and 1990 World Cups. He made 125 appearances for England, a record that stood until Wayne Rooney overtook it in 2016.
83. How many times has the host nation won the World Cup?
✓ 6 times (Uruguay 1930, Italy 1934, England 1966, West Germany 1974, Argentina 1978, France 1998)
💡 No host nation has won the World Cup since France in 1998. South Africa (2010), Brazil (2014) and Russia (2018) all failed to progress past the knockout stages.
84. What is the highest number of red cards shown in a single World Cup match?
✓ 4 red cards (Portugal vs Netherlands, 2006 — the 'Battle of Nuremberg')
💡 The 'Battle of Nuremberg' saw Russian referee Valentin Ivanov show 16 yellow cards and 4 red cards. Portugal won 1–0 in what was widely criticised as a disgrace to the sport.
85. Brazil hold the record for the most World Cup appearances — in how many finals tournaments have they played?
✓ All 22 tournaments (every World Cup from 1930 to 2022)
💡 Brazil are the only nation to have qualified for every World Cup finals. Germany (including West Germany) and Argentina have appeared in 20 of the 22 tournaments.
86. What is the record for the most goals scored by one player in a single World Cup match?
✓ 4 goals — shared by several players
💡 Several players have scored four goals in a single World Cup match. Eusébio scored four against North Korea in 1966, and Emilio Butragueño scored four against Denmark in 1986.
87. Which nation holds the record for the biggest winning margin in a World Cup match (17–0)?
✓ Hungary vs El Salvador, 1982 (10–1) — the record is actually Australia 31–0 over American Samoa, but that was a qualifier. In the finals, Hungary beat El Salvador 10–1.
💡 Hungary's 10–1 win over El Salvador at the 1982 World Cup is the biggest margin of victory in a World Cup finals match. László Kiss scored a hat-trick as substitute in just 8 minutes.
88. Who is the youngest player ever to appear in a World Cup finals?
✓ Norman Whiteside (Northern Ireland), aged 17 years and 41 days, in 1982
💡 Whiteside broke Pelé's record at the 1982 World Cup. He went on to become one of the most physically imposing midfielders of his generation at Manchester United.
89. How many penalty shootouts did England lose in a row before finally winning one at the 2018 World Cup?
✓ 6 shootout losses before winning against Colombia in 2018
💡 England's shootout losses were against West Germany (1990), Argentina (1998), Portugal (2004 Euros), Portugal (2006), and Italy (2012 Euros). The 2018 win over Colombia ended the curse.
90. What is the record attendance for a World Cup match?
✓ 199,854 — Brazil vs Uruguay, 1950 (Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro)
💡 The Maracanã was not yet fully completed but the crowd for the 1950 final round match is officially the largest ever for a World Cup game. Brazil needed only a draw to win the tournament but lost 2–1.
Round 10: World Cup 2022 Qatar (Questions 91–100)
91. Which country won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar?
✓ Argentina
💡 Argentina beat France 4–2 on penalties after a 3–3 draw in one of the greatest finals in the history of the sport. It was Argentina's third World Cup title.
92. Who won the Golden Ball for best player at the 2022 World Cup?
✓ Lionel Messi
💡 Messi finished as Argentina's top scorer with 7 goals and 3 assists. At 35, he finally won the one trophy that had eluded him, completing his legacy as the greatest player of all time in many fans' eyes.
93. Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick in the 2022 final — what was the final score after normal time?
✓ 3–3
💡 Argentina led 2–0 with 10 minutes remaining before Mbappé's explosive fightback. He scored twice in 97 seconds to level it, then equalised again in extra time before losing on penalties.
94. Which African nation reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup — the first African team to do so?
✓ Morocco
💡 Morocco beat Spain and Portugal in the knockouts to become the first African and Arab nation to reach a World Cup semi-final. They lost to France but beat Croatia in the third-place play-off.
95. Saudi Arabia pulled off a major upset in the 2022 group stage — which South American giant did they beat?
✓ Argentina (2–1)
💡 Saudi Arabia's win over Argentina was one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. Argentina, playing their first match of the tournament, had Messi equalise from the penalty spot before Saudi Arabia scored two goals in the second half.
96. How many VAR (Video Assistant Referee) decisions were made during the 2022 World Cup?
✓ Approximately 180 VAR reviews were conducted during the tournament
💡 VAR was used extensively at Qatar 2022, with semi-automated offside technology used for the first time. The technology was credited with improving decision accuracy but also slowed the pace of matches.
97. Which stadium hosted the 2022 World Cup final?
✓ Lusail Stadium (Lusail, Qatar)
💡 The Lusail Stadium was purpose-built for the tournament and held 88,966 spectators for the final. Qatar pledged to repurpose or dismantle several of the eight stadiums built for the event.
98. Who did England beat in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals?
✓ England were beaten by France in the quarter-finals, not the other way round
💡 France beat England 2–1 in the quarter-final. Olivier Giroud and Aurélien Tchouaméni scored for France; Bukayo Saka pulled one back. Harry Kane missed a penalty that would have levelled the score late in the match.
99. Which goalkeeper was awarded the Golden Glove at the 2022 World Cup?
✓ Emiliano Martínez (Argentina)
💡 Martínez made several crucial saves during the tournament and saved two penalties in the shootout against France. His celebrations were controversial but his performances were undeniably decisive.
100. How many goals were scored in total at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar?
✓ 172 goals across 64 matches (average 2.69 per game)
💡 The 2022 World Cup had the joint-lowest goals-per-game average since the 32-team format was introduced, though it produced some of the most dramatic individual matches and comebacks in the tournament's history.
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World Cup trivia has a quality that almost no other quiz topic shares: the facts are part of a living memory for most people who follow football. The 1966 final, the 1986 Maradona hand-of-God, the 2022 Saudi Arabia upset — these aren't just historical facts, they're things people watched happen. That emotional connection makes the reveal moments particularly resonant.
Errors, outdated records, or specific tournaments or matches you'd like to see covered in a dedicated post? Email the team at hello@simplyquizzes.com. More World Cup and football content is on the blog.