How to play Football 501: a football trivia game with darts scoring

Football 501 is a football trivia game inspired by the countdown tension of darts. Every turn asks you to name an eligible footballer. Their verified statistic is subtracted from your score, and the aim is to reach checkout.

The objective

You start on 501. A valid answer reduces your score by that player's value. You win when a turn takes you to zero or a number down to -10. The narrow finish makes the best answer the one that gives you a route to checkout, not necessarily the player with the biggest statistic.

How a turn works

1. Read the question, such as Premier League appearances or international goals.
2. Name a footballer who appears on the verified answer sheet.
3. Subtract their statistic from your current score.
4. Plan the next turn around the score you have left.

The answer search suggests names from the full directory, but it does not reveal whether a player is valid for the current question. You still have to know your football.

What counts as a bust?

A bust leaves your score unchanged. In Football 501, that happens when you repeat a player, use a value above 180, or go below -10. A missed answer also leaves the score where it was. In a multiplayer game, the turn then passes to the next player.

Playing with friends

Use Local Football 501 to pass one phone between two to four players. You can choose a single leg or a best-of-three or best-of-five match, with an optional shot clock.

For remote games, create a private online room and copy the invite link. Players can join from their own devices without an account.

The daily challenge

Everyone receives the same daily question. You get one resumable run, your progress is saved on the current device, and completing the checkout extends your streak. The daily challenge resets at 00:00 UTC.

Football 501 rewards both memory and score management: name the right player, then leave yourself a finish.