40 sports quiz questions for your next pub quiz

Sports rounds are polarising. Get them wrong and you'll watch half the room disengage while the one football obsessive on each team takes over. Get them right and they're one of the best parts of the quiz.

The secret is asking questions that reward general awareness, not encyclopaedic knowledge. Most people know who won the last World Cup. Far fewer know the goalkeeper's middle name.

Here are 30 sports questions that work well at quiz nights, covering a range of sports so there's something for everyone.

Easy Questions

Start here. These are questions that anyone who's vaguely aware of sport should be able to answer.

1How many players are on a football team on the pitch at one time?

Answer:11(click to reveal)

2In tennis, what score is known as "love"?

Answer:Zero(click to reveal)

3Which country has won the most FIFA World Cups?

Answer:Brazil (5)(click to reveal)

4What sport does Tiger Woods play?

Answer:Golf(click to reveal)

5How many rings are on the Olympic flag?

Answer:Five(click to reveal)

6In which city were the 2012 Summer Olympics held?

Answer:London(click to reveal)

7What colour jersey does the leader of the Tour de France wear?

Answer:Yellow(click to reveal)

8Which boxer was known as "The Greatest"?

Answer:Muhammad Ali(click to reveal)

9How many points is a try worth in rugby union?

Answer:5 points(click to reveal)

10What sport is played at Wimbledon?

Answer:Tennis(click to reveal)

Medium Questions

These require a bit more sports knowledge but shouldn't stump anyone who follows news generally.

11Which team won the 2023 Rugby World Cup?

Answer:South Africa(click to reveal)

12In which sport would you perform a slam dunk?

Answer:Basketball(click to reveal)

13What is the maximum break in snooker?

Answer:147(click to reveal)

14In cricket, how many balls are there in an over?

Answer:6(click to reveal)

15Which country hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup?

Answer:Qatar(click to reveal)

16What nationality is tennis player Rafael Nadal?

Answer:Spanish(click to reveal)

17In golf, what term describes a score of one under par on a hole?

Answer:Birdie(click to reveal)

18Which English football club plays at Anfield?

Answer:Liverpool(click to reveal)

19How many Grand Slam tournaments are there in tennis each year?

Answer:Four (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open)(click to reveal)

20Which sprinter holds the 100m world record?

Answer:Usain Bolt (9.58 seconds)(click to reveal)

Harder Questions

These will separate the sports fans from the casual observers. Use sparingly.

21In American football, how many points is a touchdown worth?

Answer:6 points (before the extra point attempt)(click to reveal)

22Which country has won the most Olympic gold medals in history?

Answer:United States(click to reveal)

23What is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament played on clay courts?

Answer:French Open (Roland Garros)(click to reveal)

24Which football club has won the most English league titles?

Answer:Manchester United (20)(click to reveal)

25What year did Leicester City win the Premier League?

Answer:2016(click to reveal)

26Which golfer has won the most major championships?

Answer:Jack Nicklaus (18)(click to reveal)

27Which country has appeared in three FIFA World Cup finals but never won?

Answer:Netherlands(click to reveal)

28What is the only country to have played in every FIFA World Cup?

Answer:Brazil(click to reveal)

29In darts, what is the highest possible score with a single dart?

Answer:60 (triple 20)(click to reveal)

30Who did England beat in the final of the 2022 Women's European Championship?

Answer:Germany(click to reveal)

Tips for Sports Rounds

Balance the sports. Don't ask seven football questions and one each of tennis, rugby, and cricket. Mix them up so different people can contribute.

Include different eras. Older participants might know more about 1990s sports, while younger ones are better on recent events. A good round spans decades.

Consider your audience. A quiz in a rugby club can be heavier on rugby questions. A general pub quiz needs broader appeal.

Women's sport deserves space. The Lionesses' Euro 2022 win, women's rugby and cricket growing massively. These are mainstream topics now.