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?Use in quizUse

Answer:11(click to reveal)

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

Answer:Zero(click to reveal)

3Which country has won the most FIFA World Cups?Use in quizUse

Answer:Brazil (5)(click to reveal)

4What sport does Tiger Woods play?Use in quizUse

Answer:Golf(click to reveal)

5How many rings are on the Olympic flag?Use in quizUse

Answer:Five(click to reveal)

6In which city were the 2012 Summer Olympics held?Use in quizUse

Answer:London(click to reveal)

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

Answer:Yellow(click to reveal)

8Which boxer was known as "The Greatest"?Use in quizUse

Answer:Muhammad Ali(click to reveal)

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

Answer:5 points(click to reveal)

10What sport is played at Wimbledon?Use in quizUse

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?Use in quizUse

Answer:South Africa(click to reveal)

12In which sport would you perform a slam dunk?Use in quizUse

Answer:Basketball(click to reveal)

13What is the maximum break in snooker?Use in quizUse

Answer:147(click to reveal)

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

Answer:6(click to reveal)

15Which country hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup?Use in quizUse

Answer:Qatar(click to reveal)

16What nationality is tennis player Rafael Nadal?Use in quizUse

Answer:Spanish(click to reveal)

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

Answer:Birdie(click to reveal)

18Which English football club plays at Anfield?Use in quizUse

Answer:Liverpool(click to reveal)

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

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

20Which sprinter holds the 100m world record?Use in quizUse

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?Use in quizUse

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

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

Answer:United States(click to reveal)

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

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

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

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

25What year did Leicester City win the Premier League?Use in quizUse

Answer:2016(click to reveal)

26Which golfer has won the most major championships?Use in quizUse

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

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

Answer:Netherlands(click to reveal)

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

Answer:Brazil(click to reveal)

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

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

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

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.