The FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of international football, where the best teams from around the globe compete for the sport’s most prestigious trophy. Over the decades, the tournament has produced moments of brilliance, heartbreak, and, occasionally, stunning upsets that have shocked fans and pundits alike. These upsets are a reminder that in football, anything can happen. This article explores some of the most memorable upsets in World Cup history, where underdogs defied the odds and giants were brought to their knees.
- USA vs. England (1950) – The Miracle on Grass
One of the earliest and most famous upsets in World Cup history occurred in 1950 when the United States faced England in a group stage match. England, one of the pioneers of modern football, was expected to steamroll over the relatively unknown American side. The English team, often referred to as “The Kings of Football,” was filled with top-class players and was widely considered one of the best teams in the world at the time.
On the other hand, the United States team was a group of semi-professional players who had little international experience. The match, played in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, was supposed to be a formality for England. However, what transpired on June 29, 1950, became one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history.
The United States won the match 1-0, with Joe Gaetjens scoring the only goal in the 37th minute. The English press initially thought the result was a mistake when they received the scoreline. It was inconceivable to them that England could lose to such a lowly-ranked team. This match is still referred to as “The Miracle on Grass” and remains one of the most significant upsets in World Cup history.
- North Korea vs. Italy (1966) – The Asian Sensation
In the 1966 World Cup, hosted by England, North Korea made their debut on the global stage. Drawn in a group with the Soviet Union, Chile, and Italy, not much was expected from the Asian team. Italy, a two-time World Cup winner by that point, was the overwhelming favorite to advance from the group stages.
However, the North Koreans had different plans. After losing to the Soviet Union and drawing with Chile, they faced Italy in their final group match needing a win to advance to the knockout stages. The match, played at Ayresome Park in Middlesbrough, saw one of the most shocking results in World Cup history.
North Korea scored the only goal of the game in the 42nd minute through Pak Doo-Ik. The Italian team, despite their best efforts, couldn’t find an equalizer, and the match ended 1-0 in favor of North Korea. This victory sent shockwaves through the football world, with Italy eliminated from the tournament, while North Korea advanced to the quarter-finals. The victory is still celebrated in North Korea and remains one of the most significant underdog stories in World Cup history.
- Cameroon vs. Argentina (1990) – The Indomitable Lions Roar
The 1990 World Cup in Italy was memorable for many reasons, one of which was the remarkable performance of Cameroon. The African nation, making only their second World Cup appearance, was drawn against defending champions Argentina in the opening match. Argentina, led by the legendary Diego Maradona, was expected to brush aside Cameroon with ease.
The match, played on June 8, 1990, in Milan, saw a determined and physically imposing Cameroon side take on the mighty Argentinians. Despite having two players sent off, Cameroon held their ground and stunned the football world by defeating Argentina 1-0, thanks to a header from François Omam-Biyik in the 67th minute.
This victory was not only significant because it was an upset, but it also signaled the arrival of African football on the global stage. Cameroon went on to reach the quarter-finals, the first African team to do so, and their success inspired future generations of African footballers. The 1990 World Cup remains a landmark tournament for Cameroon and African football as a whole.
- Senegal vs. France (2002) – The Reigning Champions Fall
The opening match of the 2002 World Cup, co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, featured reigning champions France against debutants Senegal. France, winners of the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship, were one of the favorites to win the tournament again. Their squad was packed with world-class talent, including Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, and Patrick Vieira.
In contrast, Senegal was making their first-ever appearance in the World Cup. Most of their players were relatively unknown on the global stage, with many playing in the French league. However, Senegal was not intimidated by their illustrious opponents and played with determination and flair.
On May 31, 2002, in Seoul, Senegal shocked the world by defeating France 1-0, with the only goal coming from Papa Bouba Diop in the 30th minute. The victory sent the Senegalese fans into a frenzy and left the French team in disarray. France, who failed to score a single goal in the tournament, were eliminated in the group stages, while Senegal went on to reach the quarter-finals. The victory over France is still one of the most iconic moments in World Cup history and remains a source of pride for Senegal.
- South Korea vs. Italy (2002) – The Hosts’ Controversial Triumph
The 2002 World Cup was full of surprises, and one of the most controversial upsets occurred in the round of 16 when co-hosts South Korea faced Italy. Italy, a traditional powerhouse in world football, was expected to progress deep into the tournament. However, South Korea, buoyed by passionate home support, had other ideas.
The match, played on June 18, 2002, in Daejeon, was marred by contentious refereeing decisions that went against Italy. Despite taking the lead through Christian Vieri, Italy was pegged back by an equalizer from Seol Ki-Hyeon. The match went into extra time, and with just a few minutes remaining, South Korea’s Ahn Jung-Hwan scored a golden goal to secure a 2-1 victory.
The result sent shockwaves through the football world, with many accusing the referee of bias towards the host nation. Despite the controversy, South Korea’s victory remains one of the most remarkable upsets in World Cup history, and they went on to reach the semi-finals, the best-ever performance by an Asian team.
- Greece vs. Portugal (2004) – The Miracle of Lisbon
While not a World Cup, the 2004 UEFA European Championship witnessed one of the biggest upsets in international football history. Greece, a team with little pedigree in European football, defied all odds to win the tournament, defeating host nation Portugal in the final.
Greece, under the management of Otto Rehhagel, employed a disciplined, defensive style of play throughout the tournament. They were given little chance of progressing beyond the group stages, let alone winning the tournament. However, they shocked the football world by defeating defending champions France in the quarter-finals and the Czech Republic in the semi-finals.
In the final, played on July 4, 2004, in Lisbon, Greece faced Portugal, who were led by the young Cristiano Ronaldo and playing in front of their home fans. Greece secured a 1-0 victory, with Angelos Charisteas scoring the only goal of the match. The victory was a fairy-tale ending for Greece and remains one of the greatest underdog stories in football history.
- Algeria vs. West Germany (1982) – The Desert Foxes’ Stunning Debut
In the 1982 World Cup held in Spain, Algeria made their first appearance on the world stage. Drawn in a tough group with West Germany, Austria, and Chile, few expected the North African team to make much of an impact. West Germany, a footballing powerhouse and one of the favorites to win the tournament, was expected to make quick work of Algeria.
However, on June 16, 1982, in Gijón, Algeria pulled off one of the biggest surprises in World Cup history. The Desert Foxes took the lead in the 54th minute through Rabah Madjer, and although West Germany equalized shortly after, Algeria responded immediately with a goal from Lakhdar Belloumi to secure a 2-1 victory.
This victory was a massive shock to the football world and demonstrated that African teams could compete at the highest level. Unfortunately, Algeria was controversially eliminated in the group stage due to the infamous “Disgrace of Gijón,” where West Germany and Austria played out a mutually beneficial 1-0 result that sent both European teams through at Algeria’s expense.
- Costa Rica vs. Italy (2014) – The Group of Death Shocker
The 2014 World Cup in Brazil featured a group widely dubbed as the “Group of Death,” with three former World Cup champions—Italy, England, and Uruguay—drawn alongside Costa Rica. Costa Rica was given little chance of advancing, with many expecting them to be the group’s whipping boys.
However, Costa Rica had other ideas. They began their campaign with a stunning 3-1 victory over Uruguay, sending a strong message to their group rivals. Their next match, against Italy on June 20, 2014, in Recife, would further cement their place in World Cup folklore.
In a match where Italy was expected to dominate, Costa Rica played with discipline and flair. Bryan Ruiz scored the only goal of the game in the 44th minute, securing a 1-0 victory for Costa Rica and ensuring their place in the knockout stages. The result sent shockwaves through the tournament and led to the elimination of both Italy and England from the group stages. Costa Rica went on to reach the quarter-finals, their best-ever performance in a World Cup.
- Croatia vs. Germany (1998) – The Birth of a New Football Power
In the 1998 World Cup held in France, Croatia made their World Cup debut as an independent nation. Despite being a relatively new team, they had a squad filled with talented players and were considered dark horses in the tournament. In the quarter-finals, they faced Germany, one of the most successful teams in World Cup history.
The match, played on July 4, 1998, in Lyon, saw Croatia produce a stunning performance to defeat Germany 3-0. Goals from Robert Jarni, Goran Vlaović, and Davor Šuker secured the victory, sending Croatia into the semi-finals. The result was a massive shock, as Germany was expected to advance, but Croatia’s disciplined and clinical display proved too much for the Germans.
Croatia’s victory over Germany announced their arrival on the global stage, and they went on to finish third in the tournament, with Davor Šuker winning the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer. This upset marked the beginning of Croatia’s rise as a footballing power, a status they have maintained ever since.
- South Africa vs. France (2010) – The Host Nation’s Pride
The 2010 World Cup, held in South Africa, was the first time the tournament was hosted on African soil. South Africa, as the host nation, was drawn into a challenging group with France, Mexico, and Uruguay. France, the 1998 World Cup champions and 2006 finalists, were expected to progress easily from the group stages.
However, the French team was in turmoil, with internal conflicts and poor performances leading to a disastrous campaign. On June 22, 2010, in Bloemfontein, South Africa faced France in their final group match. Despite being the underdogs, South Africa played with pride and determination, knowing that a win could give them a chance to advance.
South Africa stunned France by winning the match 2-1, with goals from Bongani Khumalo and Katlego Mphela. Although the victory was not enough to see South Africa progress to the knockout stages, it was a moment of immense pride for the host nation and marked the end of a disastrous tournament for France, who finished bottom of the group.
The World Cup is a stage where dreams are realized, and sometimes, those dreams belong to the underdogs. The upsets listed above are just a few examples of how unpredictable and thrilling the tournament can be. These matches remind us that in football, no result is ever guaranteed, and even the smallest teams can achieve greatness. As the World Cup continues to grow in stature, we can only anticipate more unforgettable moments where the giants of football are brought to their knees by unlikely heroes
