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World Cup History Test | Soccer

This is a World Cup history quiz. It mostly covers the period 1930 to 1990. It is not easy! However get through all of it and uncover more interesting trivia in my additional info about the answer. Good luck!

A multiple-choice quiz by chelman. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
chelman

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
7,919

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Very Difficult

Avg Score
8 / 20

Plays
2273

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. In which city was the FIFA Congress held which decided to organize a football World Cup? Hint

Paris

London

Amsterdam

Geneva

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Question 2 of 20

2. Which player was the first to kick a ball during the 1930 World Cup In Uruguay? Hint

Hellemans (BEL)

Patenaude (USA)

Maschinot (FRA)

Carreno (MEX)

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Question 3 of 20

3. Which team was defeated in the 1934 World Cup final by Italy? Hint

Czechoslovakia

France

Germany

Hungary

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Question 4 of 20

4. What is USA's best result in a World Cup tournament to date? Hint

Quarter Final

Group Stage

Second Round

Semi Final

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Question 5 of 20

5. Which player was the first to score four goals in a single game during a World Cup finals? Hint

Alonso (CUB)

Wilimowski (POL)

Leonidas (BRA)

Meazza (ITA)

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Question 6 of 20

6. In the 1938 World Cup which team fielded the oldest and the youngest player of the entire World Cup? Hint

Brazil

Holland

Italy

Switzerland

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Question 7 of 20

7. Which World Cup final set a record for the largest attendance for a sporting event of any kind? Hint

1946

1950

1934

1962

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Question 8 of 20

8. Which two teams made their World Cup debuts in 1954 although they have previously qualified for the 1950 World Cup but failed to appear? Hint

Switzerland and Korea

Austria and Scotland

Switzerland and Turkey

Scotland and Korea

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Question 9 of 20

9. Which side won the 100th match in World Cup history? Hint

Uruguay

Austria

West Germany

Hungary

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Question 10 of 20

10. Which World Cup finals edition saw the 500th goal being scored? Hint

1962 Chile

1958 Sweden

1966 England

1954 Switzerland

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Question 11 of 20

11. What was peculiar about the quarter-finals during the 1958 World Cup? Hint

All the winning teams scored at least three goals

All the winning teams had at least one player receive a red card

All the losing teams conceded decisive penalties

All the losing teams scored no goals

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Question 12 of 20

12. Who was the first to score a goal in 20 seconds in the World Cup finals? Hint

Bobby Charlton (ENG)

Vaclav Masek (CZE)

Gary Lineker (ENG)

Pele (BRA)

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Question 13 of 20

13. Which player has managed to score 4 consecutive goals in one game and in the shortest possible time? Hint

Eusebio (POR)

Garrincha (BRA)

Muller (GER)

Haller (GER)

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Question 14 of 20

14. Which player other than Lothar Mathaeus has participated in five World Cup final tournaments? Hint

Ferenc Puskas (HUN)

Djalma Santos (BRA)

Carbajal (MEX)

Lev Yashin (USSR)

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Question 15 of 20

15. Which team was the first losing finalist of the World Cup to fail to qualify for the next World Cup? Hint

Argentina

Holland

Hungary

Czechoslovakia

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Question 16 of 20

16. Which team caused the biggest upset at the 1974 World Cup in Germany? Hint

Holland

DDR

Sweden

Poland

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Question 17 of 20

17. What caused a certain amount of controversy prior to the 1978 World Cup final? Hint

Supposed threats aimed at the Dutch players by the military junta

Equipment sabotage of the Dutch squad

Short-term kidnapping of some Dutch players by the military junta

Police arrests on some of the key players of the Dutch national squad

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Question 18 of 20

18. Which team enjoyed the longest span between victories in a World Cup Final?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 19 of 20

19. Who is the first coach to have received a red card during a World Cup finals tournament? Hint

Czakarov (BUL)

Czeisler (ITA)

Herberger (GER)

Re (PAR)

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Question 20 of 20

20. Which African team was the first to reach a World Cup quarter-final? Hint

Morocco

Ghana

Cameroon

Nigeria

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In which city was the FIFA Congress held which decided to organize a football World Cup?

Answer: Amsterdam

This memorable decision was taken on the 29th of May in 1928.

2. Which player was the first to kick a ball during the 1930 World Cup In Uruguay?

Answer: Maschinot (FRA)

Actually the games FRA-MEX and BEL-USA both took place at the same time. However FIFA statistics quote the FRA-MEX as the 'first' game. It is not exactly certain whether Maschinot actually played the first ball since the media coverage wasn't as extensive then.

However back then the center striker kicked the game off and therefore Maschinot has the honor of having played the first ball during a World Cup.

3. Which team was defeated in the 1934 World Cup final by Italy?

Answer: Czechoslovakia

The first final decided in extra-time with a first minute goal by Schiavio. Italian success was well exploited by Benito Mussolini for his propaganda.

4. What is USA's best result in a World Cup tournament to date?

Answer: Semi Final

They reached the semi-final of the first World Cup in Uruguay 1930. It is still not decided whether USA or Yugoslavia can lay claim to third place as the 3rd-4th place playoff was only introduced for the 1934 World Cup in Italy.

5. Which player was the first to score four goals in a single game during a World Cup finals?

Answer: Leonidas (BRA)

Ernest Wilimowski has scored four goals in an amazing 6-5 defeat of Poland by Brazil in the 1938 World Cup, but Leonidas DaSiva also scored four and he scored his first.

6. In the 1938 World Cup which team fielded the oldest and the youngest player of the entire World Cup?

Answer: Holland

de Harder and Andriessen were the youngest and oldest players respectively at 18 years 142 days and 34 years 190 days.

7. Which World Cup final set a record for the largest attendance for a sporting event of any kind?

Answer: 1950

In the 1950 final, Uruguay defeated Brazil 2-1 at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro with an estimated attendance of approximately 205,000 people.

8. Which two teams made their World Cup debuts in 1954 although they have previously qualified for the 1950 World Cup but failed to appear?

Answer: Scotland and Korea

Turkey also debuted during the 1954 World Cup but it was the first time they succeeded in qualifying.

9. Which side won the 100th match in World Cup history?

Answer: Austria

Austria defeated Uruguay in the 3rd place play-off in 1954, 3-1. Incidentally the final between West-Germany and Hungary is probably the greatest final of all time, IMHO.

10. Which World Cup finals edition saw the 500th goal being scored?

Answer: 1958 Sweden

Robert Collins scored the second goal for Scotland in a 2-3 loss to Paraguay in the 76th minute during their first round match. That was the 500th goal.

11. What was peculiar about the quarter-finals during the 1958 World Cup?

Answer: All the losing teams scored no goals

12. Who was the first to score a goal in 20 seconds in the World Cup finals?

Answer: Vaclav Masek (CZE)

Masek scored his goal against Mexico in 20 seconds. It took place during a first round game in the 1962 World Cup which later was won by Mexico anyway. Incidentally this was the first match won by Mexico in a World Cup in five appearances! (some sources credit this goal as being scored after 16 {seconds;} Bobby Robson scored against France after 27 seconds in {1982;} please do not send any more correction notes, as Robson is not one of the choices in the question -ed.)

13. Which player has managed to score 4 consecutive goals in one game and in the shortest possible time?

Answer: Eusebio (POR)

Eusebio scored his goals in a quarter final game against People's Democratic Republic of Korea to come back from 0-3 down to 4-3 up, it took him 32 minutes! The final goal of the game was scored by Augusto to settle the score in Portugal's favour at 5-3.

14. Which player other than Lothar Mathaeus has participated in five World Cup final tournaments?

Answer: Carbajal (MEX)

The Mexican goalie appeared in five consecutive World Cup finals.

15. Which team was the first losing finalist of the World Cup to fail to qualify for the next World Cup?

Answer: Hungary

Hungary were the losing finalist in 1938, and failed to qualify for the 1950 world cup finals. Holland failed to qualify for Spain in 1982 after their 1978 final defeat.

16. Which team caused the biggest upset at the 1974 World Cup in Germany?

Answer: Poland

Poland defeated Brazil 1-0 in a third place play off. Of course Holland raised an eyebrow or two by reaching the final and introducing the world to a certain fellow called Johan Cruyff!

17. What caused a certain amount of controversy prior to the 1978 World Cup final?

Answer: Supposed threats aimed at the Dutch players by the military junta

Supposedly some high ranking members of the junta have subtly expressed their wish that Argentina become world champions. This was in the time when Argentina was being boycotted by many European countries due to their brutal military regime.

18. Which team enjoyed the longest span between victories in a World Cup Final?

Answer: Italy

They won in 1934, 1938 and 1982 giving them a 44 year span between victories. Incidentally Poland reached a consecutive 3rd place by defeating France 3-2.

19. Who is the first coach to have received a red card during a World Cup finals tournament?

Answer: Re (PAR)

He received it during the 3-0 defeat of Paraguay by England in the 1986 World Cup. Incidentally the 3rd goal was scored by Lineker who by doing so scored the 1300th goal of the World Cup.

20. Which African team was the first to reach a World Cup quarter-final?

Answer: Cameroon

They did so during Italy '90 (the poorest World Cup to date). They were defeated in extra time by the English.

Source: Author chelman

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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