8. North Korea 1-0 Italy (1966)
Unknown debutants knocked two-time champions Italy out of the World Cup at Ayresome Park in Middlesbrough, England.
Pak Doo-ik struck three minutes before half-time, and North Korea held on against an Italian side reduced to 10 men by an injury, as substitutions were not yet allowed, according to FIFA.
No Asian team had ever passed the first round before. The match ticket now sits in the FIFA football museum.
7. Algeria 2-1 West Germany (1982)
African debutants Algeria stunned the reigning European champions in Gijón, Spain.
Rabah Madjer put Algeria ahead, and after West Germany equalised, Lakhdar Belloumi scored the winner, per Al Jazeera.
The result is now overshadowed by what followed: West Germany and Austria played out a mutually convenient 1-0 result that knocked Algeria out, prompting FIFA to make final group games kick off simultaneously ever since.
6. South Korea 2-0 Germany (2018)
Defending champions Germany were dumped out in the group stage by South Korea, who were already eliminated and playing only for pride.
Both Korean goals came in stoppage time. Kim Young-gwon scored from a corner before Son Heung-min rolled into an empty net.
It was the first time since 1938 that Germany failed to clear the first round, and their first-ever World Cup loss to an Asian side.
5. France 0-1 Senegal (2002)
World champions France lost the opening match of the 2002 tournament to debutants Senegal, their former colony.
Papa Bouba Diop scored in the 30th minute, and France never recovered, going out in the group stage without scoring a single goal, FIFA notes.
4. Cameroon 1-0 Argentina (1990)
Holders Argentina, led by Diego Maradona, lost the opening game of the 1990 World Cup to debutants Cameroon at the San Siro in Milan — finishing the match with nine men.
François Omam-Biyik headed the only goal midway through the second half, according to FIFA.
Cameroon became the first team to beat the reigning champions in a World Cup opener. They went on to reach the quarter-finals, a first for an African nation.
3. Germany 7-1 Brazil (2014)
This is the rare giant-on-giant humiliation that ranks among the all-time shocks — hosts and five-time champions Brazil were dismantled 7-1 by Germany in the semi-final.
Germany scored four times between the 23rd and 29th minutes, Al Jazeera reports. Brazil were missing the injured Neymar and suspended captain Thiago Silva.
It was Brazil’s heaviest defeat since 1920 and is still mourned at home as the “Mineirazo”. Germany went on to lift the trophy.
2. USA 1-0 England (1950)
A team of American part-timers beat the so-called “Kings of Football” in what is widely called the greatest upset in football history.
England arrived in Brazil as title favourites; the US squad included a dishwasher, a postman and a teacher who had trained together for a single day, per Al Jazeera.
Haitian-born Joe Gaetjens scored a diving header in the 38th minute in Belo Horizonte, as FIFA records.
The result was so unexpected that the scoreline was reportedly mistaken for a misprint back in England.
1. Saudi Arabia 2-1 Argentina (2022)
By the numbers, this is the biggest shock in World Cup history. Data firm Gracenote rated it the most surprising result the tournament has produced.
Argentina arrived at Doha on a 36-match unbeaten run and as one of the favourites, and led through a Lionel Messi penalty.
Saleh Al-Shehri equalised in the 48th minute and Salem Al-Dawsari curled in the winner five minutes later, Sky Sports reports.
The twist that cements its place at number one: Argentina recovered to win the entire tournament. No team has ever beaten the eventual champions and caused a bigger statistical surprise in the same game.
It is still happening in 2026
The current World Cup has already delivered its own shock.
Tournament debutants Cape Verde — a small nation of around 530,000 people — held reigning European champions Spain to a 0-0 draw in Atlanta.
The expanded 48-team format has made early surprises more common than ever.
If you are planning to catch a match in person, you can compare flights to the host cities and browse hotels near the stadiums on Wego, and track live schedules with the Wego flight tracker.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is considered the single biggest World Cup upset ever?
Saudi Arabia’s 2-1 win over Argentina in 2022 was rated by data firm Gracenote as the most surprising result in World Cup history. The USA’s 1-0 win over England in 1950 is the most commonly cited historic example.
Has a defending champion ever lost in the group stage?
Yes, and it has happened repeatedly. France went out after losing to Senegal in 2002, and Germany were eliminated after losing to South Korea in 2018.
What is the biggest upset of the 2026 World Cup so far?
Debutants Cape Verde holding European champions Spain to a 0-0 draw in Atlanta is widely regarded as the biggest shock of the tournament to date.
Sources
- FIFA — Saudi script flip stuns Argentina (2022)
- FIFA — Glorious Gaetjens upsets old order (USA v England, 1950)
- FIFA — Korea DPR’s stunning victory over Italy (1966)
- FIFA — Senegal defeat France (2002)
- FIFA — Cameroon’s nine-man San Siro stunner (1990)
- Al Jazeera — What are the biggest FIFA World Cup upsets in history?
- Sky Sports — Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia match report
- CNN — When the US beat England in the greatest sporting upset of all time
- FOX Sports — Biggest upsets in World Cup history: where does Spain v Cape Verde rank?
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