Top 5 Biggest Upsets in FIFA World Cup History

The FIFA World Cup has offered countless memorable moments, from incredible players to goals that have defined a generation, to moments that have shocked the footballing world. An upset occurs when a significant underdog defeats a team that is expected to win.

These matches have changed the course of history, broken countless predictions, and proved that the World Cup is full of surprises.

Here are the top 5 biggest upsets in FIFA World Cup history.

5 Biggest Upsets in FIFA World Cup History

World Cup	Match	Final Score	Why It Shocked Everyone
1966	North Korea vs Italy	1–0	Italy were former champions
1990	Cameroon vs Argentina	1–0	Defending champions lost
2002	Senegal vs France	1–0	Tournament favorites collapsed
2018	South Korea vs Germany	2–0	Champions eliminated early
2022	Saudi Arabia vs Argentina	2–1	Record unbeaten run ended

1. North Korea vs Italy -1966 World Cup

The two-time World Cup champions, Italy, who won the tournament in 1934 and 1938, should have advanced easily through their group matches. North Korea brought a completely unknown team to the tournament because its players lacked international competition experience.

North Korea stunned the world by winning 1–0, scoring late in the match. The defeat led to Italy’s immediate elimination from the tournament, while it became one of the most embarrassing World Cup exits in history. The match showed you that players who have distinctive reputations do not guarantee success during actual games.

2. Cameroon vs Argentina -1990 World Cup

Diego Maradona led Argentina into the 1990 World Cup as defending champions because they won the previous tournament. Cameroon was making its first appearance at the tournament.

Cameroon achieved a 1-0 victory despite playing most of the match with ten active players. The African footballing community gained international recognition through this single result. The present-day footballing world considers this match from the past to be a reason why underdogs receive more serious evaluation today.

3. Senegal vs France -2002 World Cup

In 2002, France held both the World Cup and the European Championship titles. Senegal faced their first World Cup match against the world’s strongest team, which they considered their most challenging opponent.

Senegal achieved a 1-0 victory through their disciplined defense combined with their bold attacking strategy. France failed to score a single goal in the entire tournament. The upset demonstrated to you that pressure would destroy even the most gifted teams.

4. South Korea vs Germany -2018 World Cup

The defending champions, Germany, needed to win their match against South Korea which had already been eliminated from the tournament.

South Korea scored two goals during stoppage time, which led to a 2-0 victory that eliminated Germany from the tournament for their first time. The live broadcast showed how football operations failed during a brief time period.

5. Saudi Arabia vs Argentina -2022 World Cup

Argentina who played without losing one match for 36 games, was led by Lionel Messi. Saudi Arabia planned to play defense while staying alive throughout the match instead of attempting to control the game.

Saudi Arabia achieved a 2-1 victory through their intense forward defense, which forced their opponents into making errors.

The World Cup champion later won the tournament but this match remains one of the most surprising results from group play. Your experience showed you that even future champions can experience significant failures.

Final Thoughts

Upsets are not accidents. The game of football awards victories to teams that demonstrate discipline and belief, along with disciplined match preparation. The World Cup matches demonstrate that any team can lose and any nation can achieve its biggest dreams.

The FIFA World Cup stands as football’s most thrilling tournament because of its unpredictable nature.

                                               

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