Quiz Your Recall of FIFA World Cup Qualification Shocks and Drama

How well are you familiar with the biggest surprising events from FIFA World Cup qualifying history? Attempt this test to find out the number of facts you recall.

FIFA World Cup Qualification Test

1. 1. During the year 1973, Poland goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski made a series of blocks at Wembley to stop the hosts a place at the 1974 edition FIFA World Cup. Tomaszewski had been called 'a circus clown with gloves' by which England coach?

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

2. 2. France's biggest FIFA World Cup failure came in 1993, when they did not manage to make it after defeats in their final two games at in France to the Israeli team and ...

   • Bulgaria
   • Romanian team
   • Team Sweden
   • Luxembourg
   Reveal Answer

3. 3. Who did Gerard Houllier hold at fault for France's defeat, describing him 'the assassin' of their FIFA World Cup dreams?

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

4. 4. During 2006, which two Africa countries made their sole World Cup appearances to now after beating the Senegalese team and the Nigerian side in qualification?

   • Angola and Togo
   • Botswana and Zambia
   • Libya with Tanzania
   • Mali with Ethiopia
   Display Solution

5. Question 5. The Italian team, the four-time World Cup winners, have failed to qualify for the finals since 2014. Who beat them from the playoffs in 2022?

   • The Swedish team
   • Switzerland
   • The Portuguese team
   • The North Macedonian team
   Display Result

6. 6. What side made it in front of the Mexican team for the 1982 FIFA World Cup, only to suffer defeat in their first match 10-1?

   • Canada
   • Cuba
   • The El Salvador team
   • Honduras
   Show Answer

7. 7. The 1982 edition finals had a number of surprise participants. What side secured their only FIFA World Cup appearance to now with an 89th-minute tying goal against the New Zealand team?

   • The Haitian team
   • The Iraqi team
   • Kuwait
   • UAE
   Show Solution

8. Question 8. You will likely remember that a Henry's hand ball aided France qualify at the Republic of Ireland's cost in 2009. However which player did Henry assist to score?

   • Player Anelka
   • Player Benzema
   • Player Gallas
   • Sidney Govou
   Reveal Solution

9. Question 9. The only men FIFA World Cup the Argentine team have attempted and failed to qualify for came in 1970. Which team secured their place?

   • Brazil
   • Colombia
   • Peru
   • Uruguay
   Show Result

10. 10. Román Torres' 88th-minute decisive goal against Costa Rica won a dramatic World Cup 2018 spot for which team?

    • Honduras
    • The Mexican team
    • Panama
    • Uruguay
    Display Answer

11. 11. Which role did Peter Hore play in the Australian team's away-goals defeat to Iran in a qualifying playoff for the 1998 World Cup?

    • Famous as a serial troublemaker, Hore ran onto the pitch and broke a net with the Socceroos leading 3-1 on total. The pause in play let Iran to recover into the game and get two last-minute scores.
    • Socceroos defender Hore scored own goal that sent the Iranian team through the World Cup at the Socceroos' cost.
    • Being Australia minister of foreign affairs, Hore stopped the squad from travelling to Tehran city, resulting in a 3-0 defeat they could not overturn in Melbourne.
    • Hore was a ex Australian assistant who joined the Iranian team's coaching staff before the play-off matches.
    Reveal Answer

12. 12. Australia finally ended their long drought for a 2nd FIFA World Cup appearance by beating which side on a shootout in 2005?

    • Iran
    • The Japanese team
    • Peru
    • The Uruguayan team
    Show Solution

13. 13. The Netherlands side whose 'attacking football' shook the football world in 1974 almost didn't qualify, saved by a controversial linesman flag against ...

    • Belgium
    • Czechoslovakia
    • England
    • Yugoslavia
    Reveal Solution

14. Question 14. Returning in 2009, which player got a last-minute decisive goal for Argentina against the Peruvian team in pouring rainfall to rescue their qualifying bid?

    • Higuaín
    • Javier Mascherano
    • Player Messi
    • Player Palermo
    Show Solution

15. 15. During the notorious 'Gualtieri match' in 1993, what number of goals was the English team require to beat the San Marino team by to have a hope of making it for the World Cup?

    • Three goals
    • Five
    • 7
    • 10 goals
    Display Answer

Check your memory of these memorable FIFA World Cup qualification moments and see the number you knew.