100 World Cup Trivia Questions and Answers (2026 Edition)

April 20, 2026 James Pitchford

🌍 World Cup · 100 Questions · Updated May 2026

🔑 Key Facts: The FIFA World Cup has been held 22 times since 1930. Brazil leads with 5 titles, followed by Germany and Italy with 4 each. Only 8 different nations have ever won it. The 2026 World Cup expands to 48 teams across the USA, Canada, and Mexico — the largest tournament in history.

100

Questions

Difficulty Levels

WC Wins (Brazil)

📋 In This Article

⬤ Easy Questions (1–30)
⬤ Medium Questions (31–70)
⬤ Hard Questions (71–100)
🏆 How Did You Score?
❓ FAQ

The FIFA World Cup is the most-watched sporting event on the planet — but how much do you actually know about it? Whether you’re prepping for pub quiz night, settling a bet with friends, or just want to test your football knowledge, these 100 World Cup trivia questions and answers cover everything from the very first tournament in 1930 right through to the upcoming 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

We have split them into three difficulty levels so you can warm up before going deep. Good luck!

⬤ EASY

Easy World Cup Trivia Questions (1–30)

Start here if you are new to football trivia or want a warm-up round.

Q: Which country has won the most FIFA World Cup titles?
A: Brazil, with 5 titles (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002).
Q: In which year was the first FIFA World Cup held?
A: 1930, in Uruguay.
Q: Who is the all-time top scorer in World Cup history?
A: Miroslav Klose (Germany) with 16 goals.
Q: Which country hosted the 2018 FIFA World Cup?
A: Russia.
Q: How many teams participated in the World Cup finals from 1998 to 2022?
A: 32 teams (expanding to 48 from 2026).
Q: Which country won the 2022 FIFA World Cup?
A: Argentina.
Q: Who scored the winning penalty for Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final shootout?
A: Gonzalo Montiel.
Q: What is the FIFA World Cup Trophy made of?
A: Solid 18-carat gold.
Q: Which player won the Golden Ball (best player award) at the 2022 World Cup?
A: Lionel Messi.
Q: How often is the FIFA World Cup held?
A: Every four years.
Q: Which three countries are co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
A: United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Q: Which country has qualified for every single World Cup tournament?
A: Brazil — the only nation never to miss a World Cup.
Q: What colour cards does a referee use at the World Cup?
A: Yellow (caution) and Red (dismissal).
Q: Which nation won the very first FIFA World Cup in 1930?
A: Uruguay.
Q: Who won the Golden Boot (top scorer) at the 2018 World Cup?
A: Harry Kane with 6 goals.
Q: How many minutes are in a standard World Cup match (excluding extra time)?
A: 90 minutes.
Q: Which team did Germany defeat in the 2014 World Cup final?
A: Argentina (1–0).
Q: Who scored Germany’s winning goal in the 2014 final?
A: Mario Götze, in extra time.
Q: What is the name of the official mascot of the 2022 World Cup?
A: La’eeb.
Q: In which city is the iconic Maracanã stadium located?
A: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Q: Which European country won back-to-back World Cups in 1934 and 1938?
A: Italy.
Q: How many goals did Kylian Mbappé score at the 2022 World Cup?
A: 8 goals, the most of any player at that tournament.
Q: What does VAR stand for?
A: Video Assistant Referee.
Q: In which country was the 2014 FIFA World Cup held?
A: Brazil.
Q: How many World Cup titles has France won?
A: Two (1998 and 2018).
Q: Who captained France to the 2018 World Cup title as a player?
A: Hugo Lloris was captain; Didier Deschamps managed the team.
Q: Which World Cup final was decided on penalties in 2006?
A: Italy vs France (Italy won 5–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw).
Q: Who was the top scorer at the 2014 World Cup?
A: James Rodríguez (Colombia) with 6 goals.
Q: How many World Cup titles has Italy won?
A: Four (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006).
Q: How many World Cup titles has Germany won?
A: Four (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014).

💡 Did You Know?

The fastest goal in World Cup history was scored by Hakan Şükür of Turkey — just 11 seconds into the match against South Korea in 2002. The ball was barely in play before it was in the back of the net.

⬤ MEDIUM

Medium World Cup Trivia Questions (31–70)

Step it up — these questions test proper World Cup knowledge.

Q: Which player scored a hat-trick for Portugal against Spain at the 2018 World Cup?
A: Cristiano Ronaldo.
Q: Who scored the famous Hand of God goal?
A: Diego Maradona (Argentina vs England, 1986).
Q: In which year did England win their only World Cup?
A: 1966, at Wembley, London.
Q: Who did England beat in the 1966 World Cup final?
A: West Germany (4–2 after extra time).
Q: Which team suffered the biggest ever defeat in World Cup history?
A: El Salvador, who lost 10–1 to Hungary in 1982.
Q: What was the final score when Germany demolished Brazil at the 2014 World Cup semi-final?
A: 7–1 — known as the Mineirazo.
Q: Who scored the fastest goal in World Cup history?
A: Hakan Şükür (Turkey) — 11 seconds vs South Korea in 2002.
Q: How many goals did Just Fontaine score at the 1958 World Cup — still the single-tournament record?
A: 13 goals.
Q: Which goalkeeper saved three penalties in the 2022 World Cup semi-final shootout?
A: Emiliano Martínez (Argentina vs Netherlands).
Q: Who captained France to the 1998 World Cup title as a player?
A: Didier Deschamps.
Q: In what year was the World Cup first held in Asia?
A: 2002, co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.
Q: Which African team reached the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in 2022?
A: Morocco.
Q: Which player scored in four consecutive World Cup tournaments?
A: Uwe Seeler and Pelé both achieved this feat.
Q: Who was the manager of Spain when they won the 2010 World Cup?
A: Vicente del Bosque.
Q: Where was the 2010 World Cup held?
A: South Africa — the first World Cup on African soil.
Q: Which player scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final?
A: Andrés Iniesta (Spain vs Netherlands, 1–0 AET).
Q: What is the award given to the best goalkeeper at each World Cup?
A: The Golden Glove.
Q: How many teams will take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
A: 48 teams.
Q: Which country’s national team is nicknamed the Seleção?
A: Brazil.
Q: Which player has won the most World Cup winners medals?
A: Pelé won three World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970).
Q: Which country knocked France out of the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals?
A: Morocco (on penalties after a 0–0 draw).
Q: Who was the first player to score 100 international goals?
A: Cristiano Ronaldo (for Portugal).
Q: At what venue was the 2022 World Cup final played?
A: Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar.
Q: Which country has hosted the World Cup the most times?
A: Mexico (1970 and 1986) — with their third hosting in 2026.
Q: Who was the youngest player to score at a World Cup?
A: Pelé — 17 years and 239 days old, in 1958.
Q: Which team has appeared in the most World Cup finals?
A: Germany/West Germany — 8 finals.
Q: Which South American team shocked Argentina 2–1 at the 2022 World Cup group stage?
A: Saudi Arabia.
Q: How many penalties were taken in the 2022 World Cup final shootout?
A: Ten total (5 each). Argentina won 4–2.
Q: What happened to the original Jules Rimet Trophy?
A: Brazil kept it permanently after their third title in 1970. It was stolen in 1983 and never recovered.
Q: Which player scored both goals in the 2022 World Cup final for France?
A: Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick (equalising twice before France lost on penalties).
Q: Who provided the assist for Iniesta’s winning goal in the 2010 final?
A: Cesc Fàbregas.
Q: Which team eliminated Brazil from the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals?
A: Croatia (on penalties after a 1–1 draw).
Q: Who was the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final?
A: Morocco in 2022.
Q: Which player has scored in the most consecutive World Cups?
A: Several players have scored in four consecutive World Cups, including Cristiano Ronaldo (2006–2022).
Q: Who did Argentina defeat in the 2022 World Cup final?
A: France (3–3 after extra time, Argentina won 4–2 on penalties).
Q: Which Brazilian legend is associated with three World Cups (1978, 1982, 1986)?
A: Zico.
Q: Where will the 2026 World Cup final be played?
A: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey (serving the New York metro area).
Q: Which World Cup saw Germany score 7 goals in the semi-final against Brazil?
A: 2014 — Germany won 7–1.
Q: How many World Cups has Argentina won?
A: Three (1978, 1986, 2022).
Q: Who was the coach of Argentina during their 2022 World Cup win?
A: Lionel Scaloni.

🏅 Record Breaker

Miroslav Klose holds the all-time World Cup scoring record with 16 goals across four tournaments (2002–2014). Kylian Mbappé enters the 2026 World Cup with 12 goals — he needs just 5 more to break it, entirely achievable if France go deep.

⬤ HARD

Hard World Cup Trivia Questions (71–100)

Only true football historians will get these right. Can you score 20 out of 30?

Q: Who scored the only goal of the 1990 World Cup final?
A: Andreas Brehme (West Germany) — a penalty in the 85th minute.
Q: Which Swiss referee awarded the controversial goal in the 1966 final?
A: Gottfried Dienst, after consulting linesman Tofiq Bahramov.
Q: What was the score of the highest-scoring World Cup match ever?
A: Austria 7–5 Switzerland in 1954 — 12 goals total.
Q: Who was the first player to be sent off in a World Cup final?
A: Marcel Desailly (France) vs Brazil in the 1998 final.
Q: How did Japan progress above Senegal from their group at the 2018 World Cup despite equal records?
A: Fair play points — Japan had fewer yellow cards.
Q: How many goals were scored at the entire 1990 World Cup, making it the lowest-scoring in history?
A: 115 goals in 52 games.
Q: Which country won the first World Cup held outside Europe or the Americas?
A: Spain won in South Africa in 2010.
Q: Who scored the last-ever goal for West Germany (before reunification) at a World Cup?
A: Andreas Brehme in the 1990 final.
Q: Who is the only manager to win the World Cup as both a player and a head coach?
A: Didier Deschamps (France) — player in 1998, manager in 2018.
Q: What is the largest ever attendance at a World Cup match?
A: Approximately 199,854 at the Maracanã for Uruguay vs Brazil in 1950.
Q: Who holds the record for most appearances at World Cups as an outfield player?
A: Lothar Matthäus (Germany) — 25 appearances across 5 World Cups.
Q: What record did Kylian Mbappé achieve in the 2022 World Cup final?
A: He became only the second player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, after Geoff Hurst in 1966.
Q: Who was the last player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final before Mbappé?
A: Geoff Hurst (England vs West Germany, 1966).
Q: Which team defeated the Netherlands in the 1974 World Cup final?
A: West Germany (2–1).
Q: How many matches will the 2026 World Cup feature in total?
A: 104 matches.
Q: In 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo scored vs Ghana to become the first man to achieve what?
A: To score in five different World Cup tournaments (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022).
Q: Which match is known as the Game of the Century?
A: Italy vs West Germany 4–3 in the 1970 World Cup semi-final.
Q: How did Zinedine Zidane end his World Cup career in 2006?
A: He was sent off for headbutting Marco Materazzi in the chest during the final.
Q: Which team scored the most goals in a single World Cup tournament?
A: Hungary scored 27 goals at the 1954 World Cup.
Q: The 1950 World Cup had no knockout final — how was the winner decided?
A: A round-robin final group of four teams. Uruguay beat Brazil 2–1 in the decisive last match.
Q: Which nation won the World Cup in 1978 on home soil with a controversial path through the tournament?
A: Argentina — amid controversy over their 6–0 win over Peru which secured their passage.
Q: How many World Cup finals did the Netherlands (Holland) reach without winning?
A: Three (1974, 1978, 2010).
Q: Who scored the goal that knocked holders France out of the 2002 World Cup group stage?
A: Papa Bouba Diop (Senegal) scored the first goal. France were eliminated without scoring a single goal at that tournament.
Q: Which country famously refused to attend the 1950 World Cup despite qualifying?
A: Scotland — they had pledged only to go as British Champions, finishing second behind England.
Q: What was unique about the 1942 and 1946 World Cups?
A: They were cancelled due to World War II — the only World Cups never held.
Q: Who played in a World Cup final for two different countries?
A: Luis Monti — he played finals for Argentina (1930) and Italy (1934), the only man to do so.
Q: Which was the first World Cup to use goal-line technology?
A: The 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Q: Who scored a bicycle kick goal widely praised as the greatest World Cup goal in 2018?
A: Cristiano Ronaldo’s free-kick vs Spain is widely cited, but Gareth Bale’s overhead kick for Wales (Euro not WC) is sometimes confused. Ronaldo’s volley vs Spain at the 2018 WC is the most celebrated goal of that tournament.
Q: What shirt number did Pelé famously wear at the 1970 World Cup?
A: Number 10.
Q: Which World Cup match holds the record for the longest ever penalty shootout?
A: The 2022 quarter-final between Morocco and Spain went to 12 penalties (Morocco won 3–0 on penalties after 12 kicks total).

🏆 How Did You Score?

🥇 80–100

World Class
You know the World Cup better than most commentators.

🥈 50–79

Solid Fan
Above average — a bit more studying and you’re elite.

🎯 0–49

Getting Started
Keep reading FutbolTrivia — you’ll nail it next time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has scored the most World Cup goals of all time?

Miroslav Klose of Germany holds the all-time World Cup scoring record with 16 goals, scored across four tournaments in 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014.

Which country has won the World Cup the most times?

Brazil leads with 5 World Cup titles. Germany and Italy follow with 4 each, while France and Argentina have won 2 each.

When and where is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026. It will be the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, expanding from the previous format of 32.

What is the biggest ever World Cup upset?

Strong candidates include Saudi Arabia’s 2–1 defeat of Argentina in 2022, the USA’s shock 1–0 win over England in 1950, and Senegal’s victory over holders France in 2002.

Has any team won the World Cup on home soil?

Yes — Uruguay (1930), Italy (1934), England (1966), West Germany (1974), Argentina (1978), and France (1998) have all lifted the trophy on home territory.