Challenge Your Own Memory of FIFA World Cup Qualifying Shocks and Excitement

To what extent can you recall the biggest surprising incidents from World Cup qualification history? Take this test to see how many facts you know.

World Cup Qualification Challenge

1. Question 1. During the year 1973, Poland keeper Jan Tomaszewski produced a series of stops at Wembley to prevent the hosts a spot at the 1974 edition World Cup. Tomaszewski had been labeled 'a circus clown with gloves' by which England manager?

   • Alf Ramsey
   • Coach Brian Clough
   • Don Revie the coach
   • Ron Greenwood
   Display Answer

2. 2. The French team's greatest World Cup embarrassment occurred in 1993, when they failed to qualify after defeats in their final two matches at home to Israel and ...

   • Team Bulgaria
   • Romania
   • Sweden
   • Luxembourg team
   Show Result

3. 3. Who was Gerard Houllier hold at fault for France's loss, labeling him 'the killer' of their World Cup chances?

   • Eric Cantona
   • Ginola
   • Goalkeeper Bernard Lama
   • Deschamps
   Reveal Result

4. 4. In 2006, which two African teams achieved their only FIFA World Cup appearances to now after denying Senegal and Nigeria in qualifying?

   • Angola and Togo
   • Zambia and Botswana
   • Tanzania and Libya
   • Mali and Ethiopia
   Show Result

5. 5. The Italian team, the 4-time champions of the world, have not managed to make it for the finals since 2014. Which team knocked out them from the playoffs in 2022?

   • Sweden
   • The Swiss team
   • Portugal
   • North Macedonia
   Display Solution

6. Question 6. Which side made it in front of the Mexican team for the 1982 World Cup, just to suffer defeat in their opening match 10-1?

   • Canada
   • Cuba
   • El Salvador
   • Honduras
   Show Answer

7. Question 7. The 1982 edition finals had a number of unexpected qualifiers. What team booked their only FIFA World Cup showing to this day with an late tying goal against New Zealand?

   • The Haitian team
   • Iraq
   • Kuwait
   • The UAE team
   Display Solution

8. 8. You will probably recall that a Thierry Henry's hand ball helped France qualify at the Ireland's expense in 2009. However who was Henry set up to score?

   • Player Anelka
   • Player Benzema
   • Gallas
   • Player Govou
   Reveal Answer

9. Question 9. The sole men FIFA World Cup Argentina have attempted and not managed to qualify for occurred in 1970. What team took their spot?

   • Brazil
   • Colombia
   • The Peruvian team
   • Uruguay
   Reveal Solution

10. 10. Román Torres' late decisive goal against the Costa Rican team won a thrilling FIFA World Cup 2018 place for what nation?

    • Honduras
    • Mexico
    • Panama
    • Uruguay
    Reveal Result

11. 11. Which part did Peter Hore have in Australia's away-goals defeat to Iran in a play-off for the 1998 World Cup?

    • Known as a serial prankster, Hore ran onto the field and damaged a net with the Socceroos leading 3-1 on aggregate. The break in play allowed Iran to recover into the match and score two last-minute goals.
    • Socceroos centre-back Hore scored own goal that sent Iran through the finals at the Socceroos' cost.
    • Being Australian foreign minister, Hore stopped the team from travelling to Tehran, leading to a 3-0 defeat they could not reverse in Melbourne.
    • Hore was a ex Australian assistant who joined the Iranian team's coaching team before the play-off games.
    Reveal Answer

12. 12. The Australian team at last finished their long drought for a second FIFA World Cup appearance by defeating which team on penalties in 2005?

    • Iran
    • The Japanese team
    • Peru
    • Uruguay
    Reveal Solution

13. 13. The Dutch side whose 'total football' shook the world in 1974 almost did not make it, saved by a debated linesman flag against ...

    • Belgium
    • Czechoslovakia
    • England
    • Yugoslavia
    Reveal Solution

14. 14. Returning in 2009, who got a final minute decisive goal for Argentina against Peru in driving rain to rescue their qualifying campaign?

    • Higuaín
    • Mascherano
    • Lionel Messi
    • Palermo
    Show Answer

15. 15. During the notorious 'San Marino game' in 1993, what number of goals was England need to beat the San Marino team by to have a chance of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup?

    • 3
    • Five
    • 7
    • Ten
    Display Solution

Challenge your own knowledge of these memorable FIFA World Cup qualifying moments and see how many you knew.