Answers: Football in the Middle East and North Africa
1) Which country was the first from the Middle East and Africa to take part in the World Cup (1934)? They lost to Hungary 4-2 in a clash marred by controversial refereeing decisions that favoured Hungary.
Egypt. More here and here. Egypt returned to the World Cup stage only in 1990.
2) It was only in 1970 that a country from Africa and the Arab world made it to the World Cup after 1934. They gave West Germany a scare in their first match, scoring first before finally losing 2-1. The country could not make it past the first round after a 3-0 loss to Peru and 1-1 draw with Bulgaria. Nevertheless fans hailed the team’s performance. Which country?
Morocco. More here.
3) Two players selected for a colonial power’s World Cup team in 1958 stealthily crossed the border a few months before the tournament. Along with some other footballers who left undetected they announced the formation of a new national team representing their colony. The football team toured the world amplifying the voice of the colony’s independence movement. Name the two countries (the colony gained independence in the 1960s)
Algeria and France. Rachid Mekhloufi and Mustapha Zitouni had been selected to play in the French squad for the 1958 World Cup. They chose to leave France and play for the Algerian independence movement FLN’s team. More here and here. Algeria’s first president Ahmed Ben Bella briefly played for the French club Olympique de Marseille. More here.
4) In 1978 which country became the first African or Arab nation to win a World Cup match, stunning Mexico 3-1?
Tunisia. More here.
5) Country A shocked country B 2-1 in 1982 in one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. But country B and country C, both European neighbors, played a notorious match known as the ‘Disgrace of Gijon’. After B struck in the first few minutes both sides did not make any attempt to score. The referee said later most of the game was spent around the centre circle. B’s 1-0 win over C meant that B and C made it to the next stage while A was eliminated. Name A, B and C. (The uproar around this match forced FIFA to change its rules)
A is Algeria, B West Germany and C Austria. More about Algeria’s upset win over West Germany here. West Germany subsequently beat Austria 1-0 in the match known as the ‘Disgrace of Gijon’. More here and here. As the referee for the game said, “It changed football forever.” While FIFA rejected Algeria’s appeals, it changed the rules to ensure that the last set of matches in each group took place simultaneously.
6) The first goal in the 2-1 upset win in 1982 in the previous question was scored by Rabah Madjer. He went on to become the first Arab player to win the UEFA Champions League (then known as European Cup) in 1987. Madjer scored one of the goals in a 2-1 victory for his club. Which club?
FC Porto. More here.
7) This country’s football team qualified for the Olympics for the first time in 1984. They drew 2-2 with eventual gold medallist France in their opening game. They crashed out after losing hard-fought clashes to Chile and Norway. Which country?
8) In 1986, which country became the first from the Middle East/Africa to top a group and qualify for the next round? In the round of 16 they lost to West Germany 1-0 in a close contest.
Morocco. More here.
9) This country made their only World Cup appearance in 1990. They were coached by Brazilians Mario Zagalo (1970 Brazil winning coach) during the qualifying stages and Carlos Alberto Parreira (1994 Brazil winning coach) during the tournament itself. Which country?
United Arab Emirates. More here
10) This country made it to the round of 16 in their first World Cup appearance in 1994. Their most memorable moment was Saeed Al Owairan’s goal in an upset win over Belgium, which is considered one of the best-ever goals in World Cup history. Which country?
Saudi Arabia. More here, here and here
11) In 1998 A defeated B 2-1 in what headlines called the most politically charged match in World Cup history. Team A was coached by Jalal Talebi, who had earlier played for A only to immigrate to country B. Name A and B.
Iran defeated USA. More on the tensions that surrounded the 1998 game here, here and here. More about Iran’s football friendly with USA in Los Angeles in 2000 that ended in a 1-1 draw here.
12) Club Deportivo Palestino was founded by Palestinian immigrants in 1920. This country has the largest number of Palestinian immigrants outside the Middle East. The first-division club’s colours match those of the Palestinian flag. Which country?
Chile. More here and here. In 2014 Chile’s football federation banned the club from using a new shirt that had the number one in the shape of Palestine’s map before the creation of Israel. More here and here.
13) This Iranian player held the record for the largest number of international goals before Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed him in 2021. He has supported the recent nationwide protests in Iran and refused an invitation from FIFA to attend the World Cup. Who?
Ali Daei. More about his career here and here. More about Ali Daei’s support for the ongoing protests in Iran here and here.
14) How did Munira Ramadan from Sudan become a pioneer in the Arab world/Africa through football in the 1970s?
The first female football referee in the Arab world and Africa. More here and here.
15) Some players in this country’s football team were detained during anti-government protests in 2011. Hakeem Al Araibi, a player who had received refugee status in Australia was at the centre of a diplomatic tug-of-war in 2018, when he was arrested in Thailand. He was allowed to return to Australia after a few months. Which country attempted to extradite him?
Bahrain. More about the diplomatic tussle surrounding Hakeem Al Araibi here, here and here.
16) Gulf entities with state ties have acquired European clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain (Qatar), Newcastle United (Saudi Arabia) and Manchester City (UAE). Qatar Sports Investment, which owns PSG acquired a minority stake in the club Sporting Braga in October, expanding its European presence. Which country?
Portugal. More here, here and here. Another Qatari entity, Aspire Zone Foundation bought the second-division Belgian club KAS Eupen in 2012. More here and here.
17) Which country unexpectedly won the Asian Cup in 2007 defeating Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the final. This was the country’s first major football title.
Iraq. More here, here and here.
18) Majid Beshkar was part of the Iranian team in the 1978 World Cup (Iran’s first appearance) but did not play a single game. Amid the upheaval surrounding the 1979 Islamic revolution he enrolled in a university in another country. He excelled in football at the university and was signed up by a leading club. Beshkar made a huge impact and many fans from the time consider him the best foreign footballer to play in the country. Which country?
India. Majid Beskhar (not Baskar as his name was mostly spelt in India) was signed up by East Bengal in Calcutta and later played for Mohammedan Sporting. More here, here, here and here.