Quiz Your Memory of FIFA World Cup Qualifying Upsets and Drama

How much are you familiar with the greatest surprising moments from FIFA World Cup qualifying campaigns? Try this quiz to see the number of facts you know.

World Cup Qualifying Challenge

1. 1. During 1973, Polish keeper Jan Tomaszewski delivered a series of stops at Wembley Stadium to deny the England a berth at the 1974 edition World Cup. Tomaszewski had been described 'a clown in gloves' by what English coach?

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

2. 2. The French team's most embarrassing FIFA World Cup failure occurred in 1993, when they did not manage to qualify after losing their last two matches at in France to Israel and ...

   • Bulgarian side
   • Romanian team
   • Swedish team
   • Luxembourg team
   Reveal Result

3. Question 3. Which person was Gerard Houllier consider responsible for the French team's loss, describing him 'the murderer' of their FIFA World Cup dreams?

   • Eric Cantona
   • David Ginola
   • Bernard Lama
   • Deschamps
   Display Solution

4. Question 4. During 2006, which two African teams made their only World Cup appearances to date after stopping Senegal and Nigeria in qualifying?

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

5. Question 5. Italy, the 4-time World Cup winners, have failed to make it for the World Cup since 2014. Which team beat them from the qualifying playoffs in 2022?

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

6. Question 6. What team qualified ahead of the Mexican team for the 1982 World Cup, just to suffer defeat in their opening match ten to one?

   • Canada
   • Cuba
   • El Salvador
   • Honduras
   Reveal Solution

7. Question 7. The 1982 finals had a few unexpected participants. Which team secured their sole World Cup participation to now with an late tying goal against New Zealand?

   • The Haitian team
   • Iraq
   • The Kuwaiti team
   • UAE
   Reveal Result

8. 8. You'll likely know that a Thierry Henry's handball aided the French team qualify at the Republic of Ireland's cost in 2009. But which player was Henry assist to get the goal?

   • Anelka
   • Player Benzema
   • Player Gallas
   • Sidney Govou
   Display Result

9. 9. The sole men's FIFA World Cup Argentina have attempted and not managed to make it for came in 1970. Which side got their place?

   • The Brazilian team
   • The Colombian team
   • The Peruvian team
   • Uruguay
   Show Result

10. Question 10. Román Torres' 88th minute winner against the Costa Rican team earned a exciting World Cup 2018 berth for what side?

    • Honduras
    • The Mexican team
    • The Panamanian team
    • Uruguay
    Show Solution

11. 11. What role did Peter Hore have in Australia's away goals loss to Iran in a qualifying playoff for the 1998 FIFA World Cup?

    • Known as a serial troublemaker, Hore ran onto the field and damaged a goalpost net with the Socceroos leading 3-1 on aggregate. The break in play allowed Iran to recover into the game and get two late scores.
    • Australian defender Hore scored own goal that put the Iranian team into the finals at Australia' expense.
    • As Australian minister of foreign affairs, Hore stopped the team from travelling to Tehran city, leading to a 3-0 loss they could not reverse in Melbourne.
    • Hore was a former Australia assistant coach who joined Iran's coaching staff prior to the playoff matches.
    Display Answer

12. 12. Australia finally finished their lengthy wait for a 2nd World Cup showing by beating which nation on penalty kicks in 2005?

    • The Iranian team
    • The Japanese team
    • The Peruvian team
    • Uruguay
    Show Result

13. Question 13. The Netherlands team whose 'attacking football' impressed the world in 1974 almost did not make it, rescued by a debated linesman flag against ...

    • Belgium
    • Czechoslovakia
    • England
    • The Yugoslav team
    Display Answer

14. 14. Returning in 2009, who scored a last-minute winner for Argentina against the Peruvian team in pouring rainfall to save their qualifying bid?

    • Gonzalo Higuaín
    • Player Mascherano
    • Player Messi
    • Player Palermo
    Show Result

15. 15. In the infamous 'Davide Gualtieri game' in 1993, how many scores was England need to beat the San Marino team by to have a opportunity of making it for the World Cup?

    • Three goals
    • Five
    • Seven
    • 10
    Display Answer

Test your own recall of these famous FIFA World Cup qualification events and see the number you got right.