🔗 Share this article

How well can you recall the greatest unexpected events from FIFA World Cup qualifying campaigns? Attempt this test to discover how many facts you know.

FIFA World Cup Qualifying Challenge

1. 1. In the year 1973, Polish keeper Jan Tomaszewski delivered a number of blocks at Wembley to deny the hosts a spot at the 1974 FIFA World Cup. Tomaszewski had been labeled 'a gloved clown' by which England coach?

   • Sir Alf Ramsey
   • Coach Brian Clough
   • Don Revie
   • Coach Ron Greenwood
   Display Solution

2. 2. France's greatest FIFA World Cup embarrassment happened in 1993, when they failed to make it after losing their final two games at home to the Israeli team and ...

   • Team Bulgaria
   • The Romania squad
   • Team Sweden
   • The Luxembourg side
   Reveal Solution

3. 3. Which person did Gerard Houllier hold accountable for France's loss, labeling him 'the murderer' of their FIFA World Cup dreams?

   • Eric Cantona
   • David Ginola
   • Lama
   • Didier Deschamps player
   Display Solution

4. Question 4. During 2006, which two Africa teams achieved their sole FIFA World Cup appearances to now after denying Senegal and Nigeria in qualification?

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

5. Question 5. Italy, the 4-time world champions, have not managed to qualify for the finals since 2014. Which team eliminated them from the qualifying playoffs in 2022?

   • The Swedish team
   • Switzerland
   • The Portuguese team
   • The North Macedonian team
   Reveal Solution

6. 6. Which side made it ahead of Mexico for the 1982 FIFA World Cup, just to lose their first match 10-1?

   • The Canadian team
   • Cuba
   • El Salvador
   • Honduras
   Show Result

7. Question 7. The 1982 World Cup had a number of unexpected qualifiers. Which team secured their sole FIFA World Cup participation to date with an 89th-minute leveller against the New Zealand team?

   • Haiti
   • Iraq
   • Kuwait
   • United Arab Emirates
   Display Solution

8. 8. You'll likely recall that a Thierry Henry's hand ball helped the French team make it at the Republic of Ireland's expense in 2009. But who was Henry pass to to get the goal?

   • Player Anelka
   • Benzema
   • William Gallas
   • Player Govou
   Display Solution

9. Question 9. The only men FIFA World Cup the Argentine team have tried and not managed to qualify for was in 1970. What team took their berth?

   • Brazil
   • Colombia
   • Peru
   • The Uruguayan team
   Display Result

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

    • The Honduran team
    • Mexico
    • Panama
    • The Uruguayan team
    Reveal Solution

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

    • Famous as a serial prankster, Hore went onto the field and damaged a goalpost net with Australia leading 3-1 on aggregate. The break in the game allowed the Iranian team to recover into the match and score two last-minute goals.
    • Socceroos defender Hore scored own goal that sent the Iranian team through the finals at Australia' expense.
    • Being Australia foreign minister, Hore stopped the team from going to Tehran, resulting in a 3-0 defeat they could not reverse in Melbourne.
    • Peter Hore was a ex Australian assistant who moved to the Iranian team's coaching team prior to the play-off matches.
    Show Solution

12. 12. The Australian team finally ended their long drought for a second FIFA World Cup appearance by beating what nation on penalty kicks in 2005?

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

13. Question 13. The Dutch team whose 'total football' shook the football world in 1974 nearly did not make it, saved by a disputed linesman flag against ...

    • Belgium
    • The Czechoslovak team
    • England
    • Yugoslavia
    Display Answer

14. 14. Returning in 2009, who scored a final minute winner for the Argentine team against Peru in pouring rain to save their qualifying campaign?

    • Gonzalo Higuaín
    • Javier Mascherano
    • Lionel Messi
    • Martín Palermo
    Show Solution

15. Question 15. In the famous 'San Marino game' in 1993, what number of goals did the English team require to defeat San Marino by to have a hope of qualifying for the World Cup?

    • 3
    • Five
    • Seven
    • Ten
    Show Result

Challenge your own recall of these historic World Cup qualifying events and discover the number you got right.