Soccer World Cup Quiz: Relive the Greatest Moments

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first edition to feature 48 teams, expanding from the 32-team format used in the seven previous tournaments since 1998. The 48 teams will be split into twelve groups of four, with the top two from each group and the eight best third-placed teams progressing to a new round of 32. The total number of matches will increase from 64 to 104, and the tournament will last 39 days across 16 host cities.

The answer is False. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will actually be the third time Mexico has hosted or co-hosted the men's World Cup, making Mexico the first country in history to achieve this. Mexico previously hosted the tournament in 1970, when Brazil won the title, and again in 1986, when Argentina lifted the trophy under Diego Maradona. Canada, by contrast, will be hosting or co-hosting the men's World Cup for the very first time in 2026.

Guillermo Stabile of Argentina scored eight goals at the inaugural 1930 FIFA World Cup in Uruguay, finishing as the tournament's top scorer and becoming the first ever Golden Boot winner, though the formal prize was established later. Argentina reached the final of the tournament but lost to hosts Uruguay 4-2. Stabile's eight goals in just four matches remains one of the most prolific individual scoring rates in World Cup history.

Of the 16 host cities selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, eleven are located in the United States, three are in Mexico, and two are in Canada. The United States hosting the most cities reflects their role as the primary host nation and the largest country involved. This will be the second time the United States has hosted the men's World Cup, having previously staged the tournament in 1994 where record average attendances were set that still stand today.

The answer is True. Argentina is the defending FIFA World Cup champion for the 2026 tournament, having won their third World Cup title at the 2022 edition in Qatar. They defeated France on penalties in the final, with Lionel Messi winning the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. Argentina automatically qualified for the 2026 tournament as defending champions along with the three co-host nations of the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

England won the FIFA World Cup on home soil in 1966, defeating West Germany 4-2 after extra time in the final at Wembley Stadium. Captain Bobby Moore lifted the trophy in a moment that has become one of the most iconic images in English sporting history. Geoff Hurst scored a hat-trick in the final, while Roger Hunt added another. The victory remains England's only World Cup title and is the defining moment in the history of English football.

The four nations making their FIFA World Cup debut at the 2026 tournament are Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. Their qualification represents the growth of football across different confederations and regions of the world. The expanded 48-team format has created more opportunities for nations that have never previously reached the World Cup finals to compete on the global stage for the first time in their football history.

The answer is True. The 1994 FIFA World Cup final between Brazil and Italy at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, ended 0-0 after extra time and was decided by a penalty shootout, making it the first World Cup final in history to be settled this way. Brazil won the shootout 3-2 after Roberto Baggio, Italy's captain and star player, famously struck his penalty over the crossbar to hand Brazil their fourth World Cup title.

The 1998 FIFA World Cup in France was the first edition to feature 32 teams, expanding from the 24-team format used since 1982. France won the tournament on home soil, defeating Brazil 3-0 in the final at the Stade de France in Paris. Zinedine Zidane scored twice with headers in the final to propel France to their first World Cup title. The 32-team format was used for seven consecutive tournaments until the expansion to 48 teams for the 2026 edition.

Uruguay won the inaugural World Cup in 1930 as hosts, England won the tournament in 1966 at Wembley Stadium, and France won on home soil in 1998. Germany hosted the 2006 World Cup but did not win it, finishing third behind Italy who claimed the title that year. Other nations to have won as hosts include Italy in 1934 and Argentina in 1978, but of the four options listed only Uruguay, England, and France qualify.

Gordon Banks of England produced what is almost universally described as the greatest save in football history during the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, stopping a powerful downward header from Pele that appeared certain to go into the net. Pele himself later said he thought it was a goal the moment he headed it. Banks was voted the best goalkeeper of the 1970 tournament. The save, made in a group match that Brazil won 1-0, remains one of the most replayed and celebrated individual moments in World Cup history.

The answer is True. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the 23rd edition of the tournament, having been held every four years since 1930 with the exception of 1942 and 1946 when the competition was suspended due to World War II. The tournament has grown from 13 teams in 1930 to 48 teams in 2026, reflecting the global growth of football and FIFA's ambition to include more nations from every confederation in the world's biggest sporting event.

Argentina reached the inaugural World Cup final in 1930, losing to hosts Uruguay 4-2 in Montevideo. They had to wait 48 years before claiming their first World Cup title, winning the 1978 tournament on home soil in Buenos Aires under manager Cesar Luis Menotti. Mario Kempes was the star of the tournament, finishing as the Golden Boot winner. Argentina went on to win the World Cup again in 1986 under Diego Maradona and a third time in 2022 under Lionel Messi.

The 1978 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and the Netherlands in Buenos Aires produced one of the most tense and controversial moments in the tournament's history when Dutch forward Robbie Rensenbrink struck the post with the last kick of normal time. Had the ball gone in, the Netherlands would have won the title. Instead, Argentina won the match 3-1 in extra time to claim their first World Cup on home soil in front of a passionate Buenos Aires crowd.

At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 48 teams will be divided into 12 groups of four. The top two from each group and the eight best third-placed teams will advance to a new round of 32, creating a 32-team knockout stage. The total number of matches will be 104, up from 64 at the 2022 tournament. Each team will play three group stage matches, not four, making option D incorrect. The tournament will last 39 days from June 11 to July 19, 2026.