The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the most awaited sporting event of the year.
Fans are looking forward to seeing who will score the most goals, who will perform the most on football’s biggest stage and who will win the coveted trophy.
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But the tournament has also produced many surprising shocks throughout its history, from defending champions being eliminated in the group stage to small fry taking down giants of the game. For example, when Saudi Arabia defeated eventual champion Argentina in Qatar in 2022.
Here are some of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
USA 1-0 England (1950)
The post-war England squad, made up of Alf Ramsey, Tom Finney and Billy Wright, were among the favorites to lift the trophy in their first World Cup appearance. Meanwhile, the Americans formed a group of part-time workers that included dishwashers, letter carriers, and teachers. The mixed group practiced together for a day and then departed by ship to Brazil.
Joe Gaetjens took the lead with a header in the 38th minute. In the second half, England’s attack was relentless, but American goalkeeper Frank Borghi prevented the equalizing goal and etched his name in the team’s history.
West Germany 3-2 Hungary (1954)
A come-from-behind victory for the German team in a World Cup match would not be considered unusual today.
But this was a little-known West German team from the 1950s, playing against the mighty Magyars of Hungary, whose attack was led by the great Ferenc Puskas.
Hungary entered the World Cup in Switzerland as favorites and lived up to expectations by defeating South Korea 9-0 and West Germany 8-3 in their previous matches.
The two faced off again in the final. Hungary scored two goals in the first half and things seemed to be going according to scenario until their opponents scored twice.
The match remained level until the 84th minute, when Helmut Rahn scored his second goal, breaking the hearts of the Hungarians. Germany’s comeback against one of the greatest teams in soccer history was dubbed the “Miracle of Bern”.
North Korea 1-0 Italy (1966)
The fact that North Korea was able to compete in England for the World Cup was surprising enough.
The English Football Association was considering denying visas to the North Korean team amid a cold war with South Korea, which is backed by Western allies.
Italy was organized on the pitch by Giacomo Bulgarelli. During the match, a midfielder was injured, and as substitutions were not allowed at the time, the Italian side was reduced to ten players.
Seven minutes later, Park Duik scored a goal, and the team not only won the match, but defeated the two-time world champions.
The match is considered one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, and the original match ticket is on display at the FIFA Football Museum.
The spot where the goal was scored is marked by steel studs after the stadium was demolished to make way for housing.
Algeria 2-1 West Germany (1982)
West Germany entered the 1982 World Cup as the reigning European champions, the previous two champions, and one of the favorites to win the tournament.
Germany’s all-star lineup included Hansi Muller, Wolfgang Dremmler, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, and Lothar Matthaus.
On the other hand, Algeria, although an unknown team, had been performing well even before the World Cup.
The insouciance displayed by the Germans turned into complacency. Rava Majer scored in the 54th minute, giving the Germans their first shock.
Shortly after Rummenigge’s goal brought Germany level, a goal that shocked West Germany and the world came from the now legendary Algerian forward Lakhdar Beloumi.
Cameroon 1-0 Argentina (1990)
Argentina, led by Diego Maradona, favorites and perhaps the best soccer player in the world at the time, had a deceptively easy opening game at the 1990 World Cup.
Cameroon was participating in the World Cup for the first time and was the only country from sub-Saharan Africa to participate in the tournament.
The opening match of the World Cup was held at the legendary San Siro Stadium.
Argentina started well, but the Cameroonians grew in confidence as the match progressed without conceding a goal.
Midway through the second half, François Omam-Biik headed a free kick to put his side in the lead, and they held it until the final whistle.
France 0-1 Senegal (2002)
World Cup holders and first-timers: check.
Former colonizers vs. colonies: Check.
Tournament Opener: Check.
And finally, the holder was knocked out in the first round: check.
The opening game of the 2002 World Cup had all the subplots that could have made for an interesting match. However, what the pundits and the French team could not have foreseen was Senegal’s carefully planned suppression of the French attack.
El Hadji Diouf’s pace and Papa Bouba Diop’s 30th-minute goal put Senegal at the top of the group at the end of the 90th minute.
The trip to France ended with another loss and a draw. Senegal became the second African country to reach the quarter-finals.
Germany 7-1 Brazil (2014)
The 2014 World Cup seemed like a perfect opportunity for Brazil to right the wrongs of 1950, when they lost at home to Uruguay in the final despite being clear favorites.
With Brazil crowned champions for the sixth time, the stage is set for soccer’s biggest party to brighten up the nation of samba.
There were only two games left. Or so the Brazilians thought.
They faced Germany and were never to be underestimated in the final round of the World Cup. Both teams had similar paths to the semi-finals, leading their groups and having a close battle in the finals.
However, Brazil lost star forward Neymar Jr. to injury in the quarter-finals and captain Thiago Silva to an accumulation of yellow cards.
In the semi-final, Germany took the lead in the 11th minute and never looked back. Between the 23rd and 29th minute, the German scored four more goals, surprising Brazilians on the pitch, in the stands, and throughout the country.
Things didn’t improve after half-time, with Brazil’s defense being penetrated twice more, but the hosts scored the winning goal in the last minute.
The final score of 7-1 was Brazil’s biggest defeat since 1920, earning titles such as “The Agony of Mineirão” and a national humiliation for soccer-mad Brazil.
Germany won the final against Argentina and won the championship for the fourth time.
Netherlands 5-1 Spain (2014)
The opening match of Group B of the 2014 World Cup pitted the two finalists from the previous World Cup against each other.
Spain are the current European and World Champions and entered the tournament as one of the favorites to win.
Everything seemed to be going well for the star-studded Spanish team when Xabi Alonso scored the opening goal in the 27th minute. But one minute before half-time, the most iconic goal of the tournament was scored.
Robin van Persie caught a looping ball 15 yards from goal and scored a stunning header to the surprise of Iker Casillas and other Spanish players.
The Netherlands scored four more goals, handing Spain their second-heaviest loss of the World Cup. This was also the biggest loss for the defending champions at the FIFA World Cup.
Spain lost again and were eliminated from the group, while the Netherlands finished the tournament in 3rd place.
Korea 2-0 Germany (2018)
Some of the biggest upsets at the World Cup have been the defending champions being eliminated in the first round, and 2018 was no exception.
It was the third consecutive World Cup for Holder to be eliminated at the first hurdle.
Germany were in their final group game and needed a win to advance. Korea was playing for their pride as they were almost eliminated from the tournament.
With the match seemingly headed for a goalless draw, the Germans did everything in their power to score the winning goal.
However, two minutes into stoppage time, South Korea’s Kim Young-kwon scored a goal from a corner kick.
After that, German captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer kept coming into the South Korean half to support the attack.
South Korea picked up the ball from Neuer’s errant pass and poured it into an empty net, sealing Germany’s fate.
It was the first time since 1938 that Germany failed to make it past the first stage, and the first time in history that Germany had lost to an Asian country in a World Cup match.
Saudi Arabia 2-1 Argentina (2022)
Argentina entered this match on a 36-game unbeaten streak, making them one of the top favorites to win the tournament.
Everything seemed to be going to plan for the Argentine as Lionel Messi took the lead with a penalty in the 10th minute. Argentina had a few more goals ruled out and at the half-time whistle it looked like it was only a matter of time before they extended their lead even further.
But it was supposed to be a two-half game.
In the 48th minute, Saleh Alsheli caught a long ball and fired a shot past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, surprising the Argentines.
Five minutes later, Saudi Arabia took the lead when winger Salem Al Dausari cut inside from the left and cracked a shot into the top corner.
Saudi Arabia withstood the inevitable late onslaught from Argentina and won.
In the end, Argentina went on to lift the trophy, but Saudi Arabia were eliminated in the group stage with losses to Poland and Mexico, although their victory over Albiceleste delighted Saudi fans and will go down as one of the biggest upsets of the World Cup.
