Below you will find a list of the 32 nations competing in the 2022 World Cup. The answer to each question in the quiz will contain either the name of one of these countries, its nationality, its capital city or a native of that city. So, in the case of England the answers to questions might be:  

Q : What was the 31 flag signal hoisted on the Victory before the battle of Trafalgar?
A : “England expects that every man will do his duty.”

Q : What was the name of the movie character played by Rowan Atkinson based on his incompetent spy from a series of Barclaycard commercials?
A : Johnny English.

Q : Which pale ale brewed by Fullers of Chiswick was described by one critic “to cause a sensation of Angels dancing on your tongue”?
A : London Pride.

Q : Which song written by Hubert Gregg in 1944 was popularised by Bud Flannagan?
A : Maybe It’s because I’m a Londoner.

Each competing country is represented by the answer to at least one question in the quiz. Questions score two points each.

THE WORLD CUP 2022 : COMPETING COUNTRIES

Argentina Australia Belgium Brazil Cameroon Canada Costa Rica Croatia Denmark Ecuador England France Germany Ghana Iran Japan Mexico Morocco Netherlands Poland Portugal Qatar Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia South Korea Switzerland Spain Tunisia USA Uruguay Wales

ROUND ONE

1. The Middle Eastern state of Qatar, which is the host of the 2022 World Cup, sounds the same as a medical condition involving a build up of mucus in the throat. For your first two points, spell the name of this illness.
2. Like many other MPs Matt Hancock has recently revealed that he has a second job, for which he is allegedly being paid £400,000 for possibly just a few weeks’ work. In which country is he working?
3. Which capital city was originally named: City of the Most Holy Trinity and Port of Our Lady the Virgin Mary of the Fair Winds? Only a part of that name remains in its modern name.
4. Sometimes known as a Bluebottle, with the Latin name Physalia physalis it is generally assumed to be a single organism but is actually a colony of symbiotic hermaphrodite animals, contact with which can be hazardous to humans.
5. Which is the only competing country mentioned by name in the title of a play by Shakespeare?
6. K-Pop is a hybrid musical genre, with girl groups including Twice, Blackpink and Momoland and Boy Bands such as BTS, EXO and TVXQ. Which country does it come from?
7. The biggest company in the world, outside the USA and China, is Aramco, which made profits of $42 billion in the third quarter of this year. In which country is it based?
8. What is the most common pub name in Greater London with 29 boozers in the capital (as of 2018) bearing this name?
9. Which country has the oldest head of state in the world, Paul Biya, aged 89, who has held the presidency since 1982 (in the seven years preceding that he was Prime Minister)?

10. It is the oldest active trophy in international sports, having first been contested in 1851. The current holders are New Zealand and the competition will be hosted by Barcelona in 2024.

ROUND TWO

1. Emily Blunt stars as Lady Cornelia Locke, a robust blueblood from London who travels to the American West to avenge her son’s death in which new six-part BBC series?
2. In which country are Panama hats made?
3. Queen Elizabeth II visited 117 countries during her reign, but which one did she visit the most times (22 in all)?
4. The Beatles’ 1969 single The Ballad of John and Yoko is their most geographical song, containing mentions of three competing countries and three capital cities. Name any two of them, for a point each.
5. Which two countries are landlocked?
6. On March 29th 2017 Brexit was triggered by Britain invoking Article 50 of which agreement?
7. It was designed by Karl Elsener – a manufacturer of surgical instruments - in 1896 for military use, though 90% of its production is these days for the export leisure market. It is standard issue to NASA astronauts.
8. Butter, egg yolks, lemon juice, water, salt and a pinch of cayenne pepper are the ingredients of what?
9. What breed of dog is Scooby Doo?

10. Three countries have names that are made up entirely of one-point-scoring letters in Scrabble. Give two of them for a point each.

ROUND THREE

Identify the ten movies from the film posters.

ROUND FOUR

Identify the songs from these lyrics.

1. L.A. is a great big freeway. Put a hundred down and buy a car. In a week, maybe two, they'll make you a star. Weeks turn into years - how quick they pass - and all the stars that never were are parking cars and pumping gas.
2. I had to let it happen. I had to change. Couldn't stay all my life down at heel. Looking out of the window, staying out of the sun.
3. Brother Johnny, he caught a plane and he got on it. Now he's a razor in the wind and he got a pistol in his pocket. They say the man is crazy on the West Coast. Lord, there ain't no doubt about it! Well, allright.
4. In the fields the birds were singing and the day was just beginning. As I stood there in the morning rain, I had a feeling I can't explain.
5. I’ve got your picture, I've got your picture. I'd like a million of you all 'round my cell. I want the doctor to take your picture, so I can look at you from inside as well.
6. All over the world high school girls take to the ropes and turn them slow. Starts a beat and a loop. They skip and jump through the hoop.
7. I walked along the avenue. I never thought I'd meet a girl like you, meet a girl like you with auburn hair and tawny eyes. The kind of eyes that hypnotise me through, hypnotise me through.
8. Praying for the wave to come now.It must be for the fifteenth time. I've been here for much too long. This is the past that's mine. I want to fly and run till it hurts. Sleep for a while and speak no words.
9. Take me on a trip, I'd like to go someday. Take me to New York, I'd love to see L.A. I really want to come kick it with you.

10. Bass high, middle night, ceilin' low, sweat brow drippin' down, when in Rome. No town does it quite like my home.

ROUND FIVE

1. What is the name for the technique which involves treating wood by applying many thin coats of shellac, dissolved in denatured alcohol, using a lubricated rubbing pad? (It contains two country references).
2. It’s a bird of the genus Branta and a luxury goods brand much criticised for its use of fur.
3. Hvar, Rab, Korcula & Brac are all holiday islands off the coast of which country?
4. Which country was called the Gold Coast when under colonial rule?
5. In which country did Napoleon suffer his final defeat in battle?
6. A famous road race started in 1978 and used to race from Paris to which African capital city? For security reasons the race is now held in Saudi Arabia.
7. Which city has the most Michelin stars in the world - 304 in total in 229 restaurants, more than twice as many as its nearest rival?
8. This country was the original home of the vampire (the word “vampire” comes from its language) and in 2007 became the only country ever to win the Eurovision song contest on its first appearance. Which country?
9. This country was part of the British empire for just over six months between February and September 1807 and produced the world’s most famous tango La Cumparsita (“The Little Parade”) written by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez in 1917.

10. In which country were Mel Gibson and Nicole Kidman born?

If you wish to play this quiz for material rewards (Alex would approve) send in your answers to [email protected]. The first three senders of correct answers will receive a signed copy of The Best of Alex 2022.