FIFA World Cup 2026 - Miscellaneous Minutia Quiz

Answer: 27

The 2026 tournament got off to a spectacular start with the red mist descending on three players in the opening match! Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio gave two reds to the South Africans Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane, and late in the match the Mexican captain Cesar Montes also saw his least favourite colour. There had never been a sending off in a tournament opening match until this one.

Then in match 26, Bosnia and Herzegovina's Tarik Muharemovic was shown a straight red card for a DOGSO (denial of goal scoring opportunity) when he scythed down Switzerland's Breel Embolo. Muharemovic became the fourth player to be red carded at the 2026 Finals. As a side note, Embolo got himself sent off later in the tournament.

In match 27, Qatar ensured they would break that number from the previous two tournaments. In the 31st minute of the match against Canada, the referee awarded a penalty for a push on Tajon Buchanan. After VAR intervention the decision was changed to a free kick, but as a consequence, as the offence took place outside the area, it became a DOGSO and the Qatari defender, Homan Ahmed, was sent off. Then, in the 51st minute, Assim Madibo kicked through the back of Ismael Kone's leg, and was given a yellow card. It quickly became obvious that Kone's injury was very serious. After some minutes of Kone being treated, the referee presented Madibo with a straight red card, without any indication that he was rescinding the yellow. After this, the television graphic indicated that a VAR review was considering whether the card should be upgraded. Very confusing.

So, it took 30 matches to get past four, after there were three red cards in the tournament's first match. In the final count for the tournament, the total was 17 red.

The record for most red cards in a World Cup tournament is 28 at the 2006 tournament in Germany. The record for most in a single match is four, in Portugal vs Netherlands, also at Germany 2006 - this match was dubbed "The Battle of Nuremberg".

Answer: DR Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo competed at the 1974 finals in West Germany, under their country's previous name of Zaire. After (the Republic of) Zaire, the country was subsequently known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (the first time), the Republic of the Congo-Léopoldville, Belgian Congo and the Congo Free State. Cape Verde, Jordan and Uzbekistan all made their debuts in 2026 - the other debutant missing from the list is Curaçao.

Answer: Sead Kolasinac (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Early in the second half of his country's opening match against Canada, Sead Kolasinac did not release the ball before the referee's countdown had expired, and just like that, he earned himself a cheap place in history!

Author's note: What a great idea - admittedly, maybe 20 years too late... As rule changes go, it's right up there with three points for a win, and no back passes to the goalkeeper. Now, if we could only do something about diving/acting, that would clear up the biggest blight on the game.

Answer: No

Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0, Canada drew 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and USA defeated Paraguay 4-1. The only host country to lose their opening match at a World Cup Finals was Qatar in 2018 when they were defeated 2-0 by Ecuador.

Answer: Damian Bobadilla (Paraguay)

In his country's opening match, the unfortunate Paraguayan Bobadilla deflected a USA cross into his own net after seven minutes. The USA went on to win 4-1.

In the second Group B match, the Swiss defender Muheim powered an unstoppable header past his own keeper four minutes into second half stoppage time, to earn Qatar their first ever Finals point. In Iraq's opening match against Norway, Aymen Hussein scored a quality equaliser in the first half, but undid his earlier good work by putting through his own net in stoppage time.

In the first Group F match, Egyptian defender Mohamed Hany unwittingly equalised for Belgium as he attempted to stop Romelu Lukaku from converting a low crossed ball. Not finished yet, he also scored for Australia in their Round of 32 match, a beautiful glancing header that any striker would have been proud of.

There was a total of 14 own goals scored in the tournament.

Answer: Argentina

Argentina were the tournament's bad boys with 13 yellows, followed closely by Egypt on twelve. Next was co-host Canada, on ten. Tunisia, along with the Czech Republic, only attracted one yellow each.

Answer: Scoring a goal within 20 seconds after coming on as a substitute

At 83 minutes and 12 seconds, Sweden's Jesper Karlstrom was replaced by Mattias Svanberg. At 83 minutes and 30 seconds Svanberg side-footed the ball home after the slightest back-heel touch from Alexander Isak following a free kick. That's 18 seconds from coming on to scoring. The goal was originally ruled out for offside, but after a VAR check, the decision was overruled.

However! This was only the second-fastest goal after coming on as a substitute at a World Cup Finals. Richard Morales of Uruguay scored against Senegal after 16 seconds in the 2002 tournament. Svanberg's goal makes him the fourth substitute to achieve the feat in under one minute.

Answer: Dick Advocaat (Curaçao)

Advocaat was 78 years young at the start of the tournament. Koubek was 74, Broos was 74 and Queiroz was 73.

Answer: Kerim Alajbegovic (Bosnia & Herzegovina)

Alajbegovic was 18 years and 276 days when he scored against Qatar. Not far behind was Yamal at 18 years and 342 days against Saudi Arabia. Compared to that pair, the next two were positively veterans of the game! Irankunda was 20 years and 126 days when he scored against Turkey, and Yirenki was 20 years and 154 days when netting against Panama.

Answer: True

It's true! The Desert Foxes goalkeeper is the second oldest of four sons of the French legend, Zinedine Zidane. Research showed that of the four sons, he's the only goalie.

Answer: Manchester City

Manchester City had 19 players representing their various countries. Bayern Munich had 18, Arsenal 16 and Paris Saint‑Germain 16. Surprisingly, Crystal Palace had 12 players at the World Cup. It may not be a surprise to Eagles fans, but I think most other people would not have realised this.

Answer: Canada, Mexico, USA

Canada were the first to go, soundly defeated 3-0 by Morocco. The Mexicans were next to suffer, going down 3-2 to England in a thriller. The USA then got clobbered 4-1 by Belgium.

Answer: Craig Gordon (Scotland)

Craig Gordon of Scotland topped the list at 43 years and 162 days at the start of the tournament. Next was Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) at 41 years and 126 days, Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico) at 40 years and 333 days and Luka Modric (Croatia) at 40 years and 275 days. Of those listed, only Gordon played no minutes at all during the tournament. On a side note, five of the eight oldest players were goalkeepers.

Answer: Uruguay

Uruguay were ranked 12th of the 12 third-placed teams.

Uruguay and South Korea (ranked #10) performed way below expectations, their coaches, players and supports would have been devastated. Scotland (ranked #11) underperformed as they do, as they always do, but this was only a shock to them. Iran's inability to win a match ultimately cost them progression (they ranked #9).

Answer: Julian Nagelsmann (Germany)

Julian Nagelsmann was but a young fellow compared to many of his peers, at 38 years of age at the start of the tournament. He was followed by Ouahbi at 39, Faé at 42 and Thiaw at 45.

Answer: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

Roanldo was 41 years and 149 days when he scored against Croatia in the Round of 32. Messi may well look older than Ronaldo but looks can be deceiving, he was 39 years and 12 days of age when netting against Egypt. Perisic was 37 years and 152 days when scoring against Portugal, and Arnautovic was the baby of the group, scoring against Algeria at the tender age of 37 years and 69 days.

Answer: Australia

Australia's first match versus Turkey saw them field an eleven with an average age of 25 years and 232 days. Next was Ivory Coast against Germany (26 days and 195 days), Sweden versus France (26 years and 300 days) and France against England (26 years and 314 days).

Answer: Iran

Luckless Iran - not only did they not lose a match in Group G - they had three draws, emulating New Zealand's accomplishment in the 2010 South Africa finals. In a further hammer blow, Iran ended up as the 9th best 3rd place country, missing out on qualification via that route by one place. To further add to the tale of woe, their 9th place in that table was being influenced by one of the last matches in the Group stage between Austria and Algeria.

At regulation full time those two countries were locked at 2-2, and Iran were in 9th place and going home. Algeria then scored in stoppage time to lead 3-2 and this meant that Iran would qualify at Austria's expense.

Then two minutes later Austria equalised, deep into stoppage time, and Iran were out again.

Answer: Iran

Iran fielded a team against Belgium that had an average age of 32 years and 189 days. Qatar's age for their match against Bosnia and Herzegovina was 32 days and 189 days. Cape Verde went for experience against Argentina with 32 years and 205 days, and Colombia versed Portugal with a side that averaged 31 years and 76 days.

Answer: Panama

The unfortunate Panamanians lost 1-0 to Ghana, 1-0 to Croatia and 2-0 to England. They would consider themselves very unfortunate, as their overall play deserved better than the end result. Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Curaçao only managed one each. Oh, can't forget Scotland - also one, against the might of Haiti. At least Curaçao put theirs past Germany.

Answer: 4

Maybe surprisingly, there were only four hat tricks scored. Ousmane Dembele of France scored three times versus Norway, Lionel Messi got three for Argentina against Algeria, Canada's Jonthan David went 1-2-3 against Qatar, and Bukayo Saka scored a hat trick for England versus France..

Answer: Gilberto Mora (Mexico)

Gilberto Mora of Mexico was 17 years and 240 days at the time the tournament started. He was closely followed by Hugo Sochurek of the Czech Republic (18 years, 4 days), Lennart Karl of Germany (18 years, 109 days) and Ibrahim Mbaye of Senegal (18 years, 138 days).

Answer: 6

The biggest goal difference in all matches in the tournament occurred twice: Germany defeated Curacao 7-1, and Canada beat Qatar 6-0.

Answer: Aymen Hussein (Iraq)

In Iraq's first Group I game against Norway, he scored a quality equaliser to cancel out Erling Haaland's opener. However, by the time stoppage time at the end of the game came around with Norway leading 3-1, Hussein undid his earlier good work by putting through his own net. No other player managed this feat during the tournament.
Okay, own up! Who chose Cesar Blackman? Cesar couldn't possibly have been the answer, as poor Panama didn't manage to score any goals at all.

Answer: 22

A total of 22 penalties were awarded during the tournament. Of that total, 3 were saved and 1 was missed. Argentina and England were awarded 3 penalties, whilst Switzerland, France and Brazil received 2 each.