Quiz Your Memory of World Cup Qualification Shocks and Drama

To what extent do you remember the biggest shocking events from FIFA World Cup qualification history? Attempt this quiz to find out the number of answers you remember.

FIFA World Cup Qualification Quiz

1. Question 1. During 1973, Polish goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski produced a series of blocks at Wembley to prevent the England a spot at the 1974 edition FIFA World Cup. Tomaszewski had been described 'a circus clown with gloves' by which English manager?

   • Manager Alf Ramsey
   • Brian Clough
   • Don Revie
   • Coach Ron Greenwood
   Reveal Result

2. Question 2. The French team's biggest FIFA World Cup failure came in 1993, when they failed to qualify after losing their last two matches at home to the Israeli team and ...

   • Bulgaria
   • Romania
   • Swedish team
   • The Luxembourg side
   Show Solution

3. 3. Which person did Gerard Houllier hold responsible for France's elimination, calling him 'the assassin' of their FIFA World Cup dreams?

   • Cantona
   • David Ginola
   • Bernard Lama
   • Didier Deschamps
   Show Solution

4. Question 4. During 2006, what two African teams achieved their sole World Cup appearances to now after stopping Senegal and the Nigerian side in qualification?

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

5. Question 5. Italy, the four-time world champions, have failed to qualify for the finals since 2014. Which team eliminated them from the play-offs in 2022?

   • The Swedish team
   • Switzerland
   • Portugal
   • Macedonia
   Reveal Solution

6. Question 6. Which nation qualified in front of the Mexican team for the 1982 FIFA World Cup, only to lose their first match 10-1?

   • Canada
   • Cuba
   • The El Salvador team
   • The Honduran team
   Reveal Answer

7. 7. The 1982 edition finals had a few unexpected participants. What side earned their sole World Cup participation to now with an 89th-minute leveller against the New Zealand team?

   • Haiti
   • Iraq
   • Kuwait
   • UAE
   Reveal Result

8. Question 8. You will probably know that a Henry's handball helped the French team qualify at the Ireland's cost in 2009. However which player did Henry pass to to get the goal?

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

9. 9. The sole men FIFA World Cup the Argentine team have attempted and failed to qualify for occurred in 1970. Which side secured their spot?

   • Brazil
   • The Colombian team
   • Peru
   • Uruguay
   Reveal Answer

10. 10. Román Torres' late winning goal against the Costa Rican team earned a dramatic World Cup 2018 spot for which side?

    • Honduras
    • Mexico
    • Panama
    • Uruguay
    Show Answer

11. Question 11. What role did Peter Hore have in the Australian team's away goals loss to the Iranian team in a qualifying playoff for the 1998 World Cup?

    • Famous as a serial joker, Hore ran onto the field and cut a net with the Socceroos ahead 3-1 on aggregate. The pause in the game allowed the Iranian team to recover into the game and get two late scores.
    • Australian centre-back Hore scored an own goal that sent the Iranian team into the finals at Australia' expense.
    • As Australia minister of foreign affairs, Hore stopped the squad from travelling to Tehran, resulting in a 3-0 defeat they could not reverse in Melbourne city.
    • Hore was a former Australian assistant coach who joined the Iranian team's coaching staff prior to the playoff matches.
    Show Answer

12. Question 12. Australia finally finished their lengthy wait for a second FIFA World Cup appearance by beating which side on penalties in 2005?

    • Iran
    • Japan
    • Peru
    • Uruguay
    Display Solution

13. Question 13. The Netherlands team whose 'Total Football' shook the world in 1974 almost did not qualify, rescued by a debated offside flag against ...

    • The Belgian team
    • The Czechoslovak team
    • England
    • Yugoslavia
    Show Result

14. 14. Back in 2009, which player got a final minute decisive goal for the Argentine team against the Peruvian team in driving rainfall to revive their qualifying chances?

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

15. 15. In the infamous 'San Marino game' in 1993, how many scores did the English team need to beat the San Marino team by to have a hope of making it for the World Cup?

    • 3
    • 5
    • Seven
    • 10 goals
    Show Solution

Check your memory of these historic World Cup qualification moments and find out the number you answered correctly.