The FIFA World Cup 2026 has come to an exciting end with Spain taking home the trophy! For English teachers, major world events like this are more than just entertainment, they’re also valuable teaching opportunities.

When students are already talking about a topic outside the classroom, they’re often more motivated to talk about it in class as well. Even students who aren’t passionate soccer fans usually have opinions about sports, teamwork, competition, or international events.

Using current events as conversation starters makes lessons feel more authentic and applicable. These discussions encourage learners to share personal experiences, practice agreeing and disagreeing politely, ask follow-up questions, and build confidence spontaneously.

But one important reminder: sports can be an emotional topic! In many parts of the world, especially in Latin America, students may feel very passionate about their favourite soccer clubs or national teams. Although friendly debates are a great way to practice English, it’s worth reminding students to respect different opinions, avoid personal attacks, and remember that the goal is communication, not winning an argument.

Here are 20 discussion questions you can use in your next online English class:

1) Do you enjoy watching sports? Why or why not?

2) What is the most popular sport in your country?

3) Which sports have you played, and which one did you enjoy the most?

4) Do you prefer playing sports or watching them? Why?

5) Which sporting event do you look forward to the most each year?

6) Who is your favourite athlete? What do you admire about them?

7) If you could attend any sporting event in the world, which one would you choose?

8) Do you think sports bring people together? Can you think of an example?

9) Have you ever supported the underdog in a competition? Why?

10) What qualities make a great team captain or leader?

11) How important is teamwork in sports? Is it just as important at school or work?

12) Have you ever experienced a memorable victory or a disappointing defeat? What happened?

13) Which sport do you think requires the most skill? Explain.

14) Do you think children should be encouraged to play sports? Why or why not?

15) Would you rather play an individual sport or a team sport? Why?

16) How do sports teach people about handling success and failure?

17) Do professional athletes make good role models? Why or why not?

18) How has technology (such as VAR, instant replay, or wearable fitness trackers) changed sports?

19) If you could invent a new sport, what would it be like?

20) What was your favourite moment from the FIFA World Cup 2026? Or what sporting event has impressed you the most recently?

To keep the conversation going, encourage students to explain their answers rather than giving one-word responses. Follow-up questions such as, “Why do you think that? Can you give an example? Has that ever happened to you?” help students produce longer, more natural responses.

If you teach larger classes, try having students discuss the questions in pairs or small groups before opening the conversation to the whole class. This gives quieter students time to organize their thoughts and build confidence before speaking in front of everyone.

Finally, remind students that there are no “correct” opinions. The goal is to communicate clearly, listen respectfully, and learn from different perspectives.

As this soccer tournament comes to an end, the conversations it inspires can continue in classrooms for weeks to come. Use these global events as opportunities to help students practice authentic communication in English and discover that learning a language extends far beyond textbooks and grammar exercises.

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