World Cup Opening Games Quiz: Test Your Memory of Seven Tournaments

As the FIFA World Cup approaches, a new quiz invites football fans to test their memory of the opening games from the past seven tournaments. Covering the period from 1998 to 2022, the quiz focuses on key moments, goals, and players that defined the start of each World Cup.

Quiz Overview

The quiz includes questions about the opening matches of the 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Cups. Participants are asked to recall details such as the final score, goal scorers, and notable incidents from these games.

1998 World Cup: Brazil vs. Scotland

The 1998 tournament in France began with Brazil facing Scotland. The match ended 2-1 in favor of Brazil, with goals from César Sampaio and Tom Boyd (own goal). Scotland's goal was scored by John Collins from a penalty.

2002 World Cup: France vs. Senegal

The 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan started with a major upset as defending champions France lost 1-0 to Senegal. Papa Bouba Diop scored the only goal, marking one of the biggest surprises in World Cup history.

2006 World Cup: Germany vs. Costa Rica

Host nation Germany opened the 2006 tournament with a 4-2 victory over Costa Rica. Philipp Lahm, Miroslav Klose (2), and Torsten Frings scored for Germany, while Paulo Wanchope netted twice for Costa Rica.

2010 World Cup: South Africa vs. Mexico

The 2010 World Cup in South Africa began with a 1-1 draw between the host nation and Mexico. Siphiwe Tshabalala scored a memorable goal for South Africa, while Rafael Márquez equalized for Mexico.

2014 World Cup: Brazil vs. Croatia

Brazil opened the 2014 tournament with a 3-1 win over Croatia. Neymar scored twice and Oscar added a third, while Marcelo's own goal had given Croatia an early lead.

2018 World Cup: Russia vs. Saudi Arabia

Host nation Russia began the 2018 World Cup with a 5-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia. Goals came from Yuri Gazinsky, Denis Cheryshev (2), Artem Dzyuba, and Aleksandr Golovin.

2022 World Cup: Qatar vs. Ecuador

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar started with a 2-0 victory for Ecuador over the host nation. Enner Valencia scored both goals, becoming the first player to score twice in a World Cup opening match since 2006.

Test Your Knowledge

The quiz is designed to challenge even the most dedicated football fans. It covers not only the results but also specific details such as the minute of goals, player names, and unique facts about each opening game. Whether you remember the shock of Senegal's win or the flair of Brazil's attack, this quiz will put your World Cup memory to the test.