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FIFA World Cup 2026 is the most anticipated game of the year.
Fans are gearing up to see who scores the most goals, who is the best performer in football’s biggest competition, and who wins the coveted trophy.
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But the competition has also brought many shocks throughout its history as defenders have been kicked out of leagues and players have toppled giants of the sport – such as time Saudi Arabia upset eventual winners Argentina in Qatar 2022.
Here are some of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
USA 1-0 England (1950)
England’s post-war squad, which included Alf Ramsey, Tom Finney and Billy Wright, were among the favorites to lift the trophy when they competed in the World Cup. The Americans, meanwhile, assembled a group of part-time workers, including a dishwasher, a mail carrier and a teacher. The mixed team trained together for a day and left on a boat to Brazil.
Joe Gaetjens scored a header in the 38th minute to put the USA ahead. In the second half, England’s attacks were relentless, but United States goalkeeper Frank Borghi kept them from conceding a single goal and put his team’s name in the history books.
West Germany 3-2 Hungary (1954)
A German team looking to get back to winning ways at the World Cup cannot be considered a problem today.
However, this was a lesser-known West German side of the 1950s facing the mighty Magyars of Hungary, led by the great Ferenc Puskas.
Hungary entered the World Cup in Switzerland as favourites, and lived up to their expectations by thrashing South Korea 9-0 and crushing West Germany 8-3 in the opening round.
The two sides met again in the final. Hungary scored two goals in the first half and seemed to be following the script until the opposition scored two.
The game was tied until the 84th minute when Helmut Rahn scored his second goal and broke the hearts of the Hungarians. The return to Germany against one of the best teams in the history of football was called the “Miracle of Bern”.
North Korea 1-0 Italy (1966)
The fact that North Korea was able to go to England in the World Cup was a huge surprise.
The English FA decided to refuse visas to the North Korean team in its Cold War against Western-backed South Korean allies.
Italy was created together with Giacomo Bulgarelli at the stadium. The midfielder was injured in the match, which reduced the Italian side to 10 men as substitutions were not allowed at that time.
Seven minutes later, Pak Doo Ik scored a goal that not only won for his team but also knocked off the two-time world champions.
The game is considered one of the most difficult in the history of the World Cup, and its starting ticket is placed in the FIFA football database.
The spot where the goal was scored was marked with metal markers when 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, two-time winners and one of the favourites.
The famous German team consisted of Hansi Mueller, Wolfgang Dremmler, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Lothar Matthaus.
Algeria, on the other hand, was a team made up of unknown names but was doing well before the World Cup.
The indifference shown by the Germans turned into indifference. Rabah Madjer scored in the 54th minute to give the Germans their first surprise.
Rummenigge’s first strike brought Germany level, a goal that would stun West Germany and the world from former Algerian striker Lakhdar Belloumi.
Cameroon 1-0 Argentina (1990)
Hosted, loved and led by the greatest player in the world at the time, Diego Maradona, Argentina had a seemingly effortless opening game at the 1990 World Cup.
Cameroon participated in the World Cup and was the only sub-Saharan African country to participate in the tournament.
The opening match of the World Cup was played at the famous San Siro stadium.
Although Argentina got off to a good start, the Cameroonians grew in confidence as the game went on unbeaten.
In the middle of the second half, Francois Omam-Biyik scored on a free kick and guided his side to the final whistle.
France 0-1 Senegal (2002)
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The opening match of the 2002 World Cup had all the ingredients to make for an exciting match. But what the experts and the French team failed to expect was the good preparation of Senegal to prevent the attack of France.
Add El Hadji Diouf’s run and a 30th minute goal from Papa Bouba Diop, Senegal found themselves on top of the group at the end of the 90th minute.
The tour of France ended after another defeat and a draw. Senegal became the second country in Africa to reach the quarterfinals.
Germany 7-1 Brazil (2014)
The 2014 World Cup looks like a good chance for Brazil to right the wrongs of the 1950s when they lost the final against Uruguay at home despite being good favourites.
The time has been set for the biggest party in football to illuminate the world of samba and crown Brazil as champions for the sixth time.
It was just a matter of two more matches. Or so the Brazilians think.
They battled Germany, not to be overlooked for the knockout stages of the World Cup. Both teams had the same path to the semifinals: Advancing their teams and close encounters with the knockouts.
However, Brazil lost star player Neymar Jr to injury in the quarterfinals and captain Thiago Silva to a yellow card.
In the semifinal, Germany opened the scoring in the 11th minute and never looked back. Between the 23rd and 29th minutes, the Germans scored four more goals to shock the Brazilians on the pitch, in the stands and around the country.
It didn’t get any better after half-time, as Brazil’s defense was breached twice, before the home side scored a last-minute consolation goal.
The final score of 7-1 was Brazil’s biggest victory since 1920, and it brought titles like “Agony of Mineirao” and was called a national insult in a football-crazy world.
Germany won the final against Argentina for their fourth title.
Netherlands 5-1 Spain (2014)
The opening match of Group B in the 2014 World Cup pitted the two finalists of the previous World Cup.
Spain entered the tournament as the reigning European and international champions and one of the favourites.
When Xabi Alonso opened the scoring in the 27th minute, everything seemed to be going well for the star-studded Spanish side. But one minute before half time, the goal that became the highlight of the tournament.
Robin van Persie was 15 yards from goal when he latched onto a diving header that stunned Iker Casillas and other Spanish players.
The Dutch scored four more goals to give Spain their second biggest World Cup victory. It was also the biggest margin of defeat for a defender in a FIFA World Cup.
Spain were eliminated from the group after another defeat, while the Netherlands finished the tournament in third place.
South Korea 2-0 Germany (2018)
Some of the biggest challenges in the World Cup have always involved defending champions losing for the first time, and the 2018 tournament was no different.
It was the third consecutive World Cup where the hosts were eliminated in the first round.
Germany entered their group stage needing a win to progress. South Korea played with pride as they all went out of the tournament.
The game seemed to be close to one goal, so the Germans worked hard to find the winning goal that would help them.
However, two minutes into injury time, South Korea’s Kim Young-gwon fired in a corner kick.
Then Manuel Neuer, Germany’s captain and goalscorer, came out to Korea’s half to support the attack.
South Korea took the ball from Neuer’s pass, slotting it into an empty net to seal Germany’s fate.
It was the first time since 1938 that Germany had failed to progress past the first round, and their first loss to an Asian nation in World Cup competition.
Saudi Arabia 2-1 Argentina (2022)
Argentina went into the tournament on a 36-game unbeaten run and were among the favourites.
Everything seemed to be going in Argentina’s favor when Lionel Messi converted a 10th minute penalty to give them the lead. Argentina were denied a few more goals, and it looked like it was only a matter of time before they extended their lead as the half-time whistle blew.
However, it was supposed to be a two-part game.
Saleh Al-Shehri stunned the Argentines in the 48th minute when he latched on to a long ball and fired through the legs of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Five minutes later, winger Salem al-Dawsari cut in from the left and curled a shot into the top corner to give Saudi Arabia the lead.
The Saudis fought off an inevitable late fightback in Argentina to see out the win.
In the end, Argentina went on to lift the trophy while Saudi Arabia crashed out, following defeats to Poland and Mexico, but their win over La Albiceleste sent Saudi fans into raptures and went down as one of the World Cup’s biggest upsets.
