Quiz Your Memory of FIFA World Cup Qualifying Upsets and Excitement

How well can you recall the biggest shocking moments from FIFA World Cup qualification history? Try this challenge to find out the number of answers you remember.

FIFA World Cup Qualifying Challenge

1. Question 1. In the year 1973, Polish keeper Jan Tomaszewski delivered a string of saves at Wembley to stop the England a berth at the 1974 edition FIFA World Cup. He had been labeled 'a gloved clown' by what England coach?

   • Sir Alf Ramsey
   • Brian Clough
   • Don Revie the coach
   • Coach Ron Greenwood
   Reveal Solution

2. Question 2. France's biggest FIFA World Cup failure came in 1993, when they failed to make it after defeats in their last two games at in France to Israel and ...

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

3. Question 3. Which person was Gerard Houllier consider at fault for the French team's elimination, describing him 'the murderer' of their FIFA World Cup chances?

   • Player Eric Cantona
   • David Ginola the player
   • Goalkeeper Bernard Lama
   • Didier Deschamps player
   Reveal Answer

4. 4. During 2006, what two African countries made their sole World Cup appearances to this day after stopping Senegal and the Nigerian side in qualification?

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

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

   • Sweden
   • Switzerland
   • The Portuguese team
   • North Macedonia
   Reveal Result

6. 6. Which side made it ahead of Mexico for the 1982 World Cup, only to suffer defeat in their opening match 10-1?

   • Canada
   • Cuba
   • El Salvador
   • The Honduran team
   Display Result

7. 7. The 1982 edition World Cup had a few surprise qualifiers. What nation secured their sole World Cup participation to date with an 89th-minute leveller against New Zealand?

   • Haiti
   • Iraq
   • Kuwait
   • United Arab Emirates
   Reveal Result

8. Question 8. You'll probably remember that a Thierry Henry's hand ball assisted France make it at the Ireland's expense in 2009. But which player did Henry pass to to score?

   • Anelka
   • Player Benzema
   • William Gallas
   • Sidney Govou
   Show Solution

9. Question 9. The only men World Cup the Argentine team have tried and failed to make it for was in 1970. Which nation got their place?

   • Brazil
   • Colombia
   • Peru
   • Uruguay
   Show Answer

10. 10. Roman Torres' 88th minute decisive goal against Costa Rica secured a thrilling FIFA World Cup 2018 spot for what nation?

    • Honduras
    • Mexico
    • Panama
    • Uruguay
    Display Solution

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

    • Famous as a notorious troublemaker, Hore went onto the pitch and damaged a goal net with the Socceroos leading 3-1 on total. The pause in play let the Iranian team to recover into the match and score two late goals.
    • Socceroos centre-back Hore scored an own goal that put Iran into the World Cup at the Socceroos' expense.
    • As Australian foreign minister, Hore stopped the team from travelling to Tehran city, resulting in a 3-0 defeat they could not reverse in Melbourne city.
    • Peter Hore was a ex Australia assistant who joined the Iranian team's coaching staff prior to the playoff matches.
    Reveal Solution

12. Question 12. The Australian team at last ended their lengthy drought for a second World Cup participation by defeating what team on penalty kicks in 2005?

    • Iran
    • Japan
    • Peru
    • Uruguay
    Show Solution

13. Question 13. The Dutch team whose 'total football' impressed the football world in 1974 almost didn't make it, saved by a debated linesman flag against ...

    • The Belgian team
    • Czechoslovakia
    • England
    • Yugoslavia
    Show Answer

14. 14. Back in 2009, who got a last-minute winning goal for Argentina against Peru in driving rain to rescue their qualifying chances?

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

15. Question 15. During the infamous 'Gualtieri match' in 1993, how many scores was England need to beat San Marino by to have a hope of making it for the World Cup?

    • Three
    • Five goals
    • 7
    • 10 goals
    Reveal Result

Check your own recall of these historic FIFA World Cup qualifying stories and see how many you knew.