The FIFA World Cup is almost here, and whether your little ones are obsessed with football or just love the buzz of a global tournament, there's no better time to get them excited about the beautiful game and the beautiful world it's played in. The best part? You don't need a screen in sight.
What are the best World Cup activites for kids?
Here at eatsleepdoodle, we believe the World Cup is more than just 90 minutes of football, it's a chance for kids to discover new countries, learn about different cultures, and get genuinely curious about the world. And we've got three brilliant screen-free products to help them do exactly that.
Explore our World Cup kid's activities collections here.
Play World Cup Flag bingo
The World Cup brings together nations from every corner of the globe, so what better way to get kids fired up than by colouring in the flags of every single one?
Flag bingo is a great way to turn the tournament into a geography game without it feeling like schoolwork. Create a simple bingo sheet with different flags or country names. Then, during the build-up, crowd shots or opening ceremony, children can tick off the flags they spot.
For younger children, keep it simple: spot red, blue, green or yellow flags; look for stripes, stars or circles; match colours to countries. For older children, make it trickier: name the country, find it on a map, guess the continent or learn the capital city.
For map inspired play, browse our educational activities for kids:
Or view our World Flags Tablecloth which the flags of every United Nations member state - from Brazil and France to Senegal and South Korea, with 10 wash-out fabric pens included so the whole family can join in.
Colour the countries on a world map
For kids who want to know where all those World Cup teams are actually coming from, our award-winning World Map Tablecloth is the perfect companion. Measuring a generous 130x85cm and packed with countries, iconic landmarks, wild animals and exotic sea creatures, it turns any table into a giant canvas of discovery.
It’s a lovely activity because it connects football with travel, geography and culture. And yes, it absolutely counts as learning - even if it happens while everyone is eating crisps on the sofa.
Winner of the 2020 Kids Product of the Year and Creative Play of the Year Awards, this tablecloth has delighted families, classrooms and home schoolers alike. One parent put it perfectly: "All really enjoyed getting creative with the world map tablecloth over the week — adults and under 10s!"
Love the world map design? It's also available as a placemat for smaller tables and on-the-go use, a pencil case to keep all those colouring pens organised, and a backpack - ideal for carrying World Cup snacks to a friend's house!
Learn about the host country of the football world cup
With the USA co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, there's never been a better moment to get kids excited about America! Our US Map Placemat to Go is a coast-to-coast colouring adventure, featuring all 50 states to colour in, plus each state's capital city, native bird, animal and flower to discover.
Flip it over and there are iconic US landmarks to explore too - the Statue of Liberty, the White House, Mount Rushmore and more. Plus space to write your own American adventure notes. It comes with 10 wash-out fabric pens and arrives in its own stars-and-stripes mini tote bag, making it perfect for colouring on the go: restaurants, long journeys, or those nail-biting half-time waits!
As with all eatsleepdoodle products, a simple machine wash at 30° and it's completely blank again, ready for another lap of the USA.
Can't get enough of the USA theme? The US map design is also available as a tablecloth for even bigger colouring adventures at the dinner table, and as a pillowcase so kids can dream of American road trips long after the World Cup is over!
Why screen-free World Cup activites work so well.
Big sporting events are exciting, but they can also mean lots of sitting, waiting and background noise. For children, that can get boring quickly. Colouring, drawing and simple games let them join in with the World Cup in a way that works for them.
They are easy to pause and restart too. Children can colour during the build-up, stop for a goal, come back at half-time, then carry on during the second half if they get restless.
Ready to kick off the colouring fun? Browse all our World Cup activities here and keep your eyes peeled for some very special deals throughout the tournament…
