Question 1

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on 11 June. Which historic stadium hosted the opening match between Mexico and South Africa?

Accepted Answer

Estadio Azteca, Mexico City — The Estadio Azteca became the first venue ever to host three FIFA World Cup opening matches, making it the historic setting for the 2026 tournament opener.

Question 2

How many nations are competing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — the largest ever field in the tournament's history?

Accepted Answer

48 — The 2026 World Cup expanded to 48 teams for the first time, spread across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Question 3

The Women's T20 World Cup is being hosted in England and Wales from mid-June 2026. How many international teams are competing?

Accepted Answer

12 — Twelve international teams are battling it out across venues including Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, London, Manchester, and Southampton.

Question 4

What is the Bank of England base rate heading into its June 2026 Monetary Policy Committee meeting on 18 June?

Accepted Answer

3.75% — Bank Rate stands at 3.75% following an 8-1 vote to hold at the April meeting, with markets pricing another hold in June amid uncertainty over energy-driven inflation.

Question 5

UK CPI inflation fell to what figure in the 12 months to April 2026, down from 3.3% the previous month?

Accepted Answer

2.8% — The Consumer Prices Index rose by 2.8% in the year to April 2026, but the Bank of England warned that energy disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict could push it higher in the second half of the year.

Question 6

The OECD downgraded UK GDP growth for 2026 to just 0.7%. Which G7 country is forecast to have higher inflation than the UK in 2026 according to the OECD?

Accepted Answer

United States — The OECD expects UK headline inflation to reach around 4% in 2026, the second-highest in the G7 after the United States, largely due to energy price pressures from the Middle East crisis.

Question 7

The Strait of Hormuz has been largely blocked since late February 2026. What event triggered Iran's retaliatory closure of the strait?

Accepted Answer

The US and Israel launched an air war on Iran and assassinated its supreme leader — The US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran and assassinated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in late February 2026, prompting Iran to block the Strait of Hormuz — a waterway through which around 3,000 vessels previously passed each month.

Question 8

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck on 8 June 2026, sending a tsunami into nearby coasts and killing at least 32 people. Which country was affected?

Accepted Answer

Philippines — An offshore magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit the southern Philippines on 8 June 2026, killing at least 32 people, injuring more than 200 others, and generating a roughly 3-foot tsunami along nearby coasts.

Question 9

The UK Parliament's Business and Trade Committee called for sweeping reforms to Britain's investment institutions. How much annual growth did it claim could be unlocked?

Accepted Answer

Up to £200 billion — MPs warned that the Government will not achieve its ambition of delivering the highest growth in the G7 unless it undertakes sweeping reforms, potentially unlocking up to £200 billion of growth per year.

Question 10

Xi Jinping travelled to which capital city in June 2026 in a move seen as reasserting China's unique influence over its socialist neighbour?

Accepted Answer

Pyongyang — Xi Jinping visited Pyongyang in an attempt to reassert China's special relationship with North Korea amid the wider geopolitical turbulence caused by the Iran conflict and competing US-China tensions.

Question 11

Scientists successfully tested a new type of vaccine in humans for the first time in June 2026. What did it target?

Accepted Answer

Multiple strains of coronavirus — An AI-designed universal coronavirus vaccine was tested in humans for the first time and found to be safe and well tolerated, representing a significant step in preparing for future pandemic variants.

Question 12

Wimbledon 2026 is scheduled to begin at the end of June. On which dates does The Championships run?

Accepted Answer

29 June – 12 July — The Championships, Wimbledon 2026 are scheduled to run from 29 June to 12 July, with the traditional grass-court Grand Slam drawing players and fans from around the world to SW19.

News Quiz: June 2026

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