The biggest World Cup upsets ever: Shocks that rewrote football history

Last Updated on 31 May 2026

Football has produced many great stories. But nothing quite matches the electric disbelief of a true World Cup upset. Underdogs have repeatedly humbled giants on the biggest stage in sport.

These moments are not accidents. They are the result of tactical brilliance, collective courage, and the raw unpredictability that makes the World Cup so irresistible.

Here are the upsets that still define what the tournament can be.

Saudi Arabia 2–1 Argentina (2022): The statistically greatest shock

Argentina arrived in Qatar as one of the most formidable sides in tournament history. They had gone 36 matches unbeaten. Lionel Messi was chasing his final shot at glory. Their odds of losing? Around 18-to-1, the longest for any World Cup match winner on record.

Lionel Messi, for many the greatest player of all time, even put his side 1-0 up in the 10th minute. Then Saudi Arabia, ranked 51st in the world, tore up the script completely. Two minutes into the second half, Saleh Al-Shehri equalised.

Five minutes later, Salem Al-Dawsari cut inside and unleashed a strike that left the Lusail Stadium stunned. Argentina pressed hard. But goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais held firm. As per football data, this is the biggest upset in World Cup history.

United States 1–0 England (1950): Result so shocking, it was called a typo

England entered the 1950 World Cup in Brazil as one of the most respected footballing nations on earth. It was their first appearance at the tournament. Their second group game was against the USA: a side full of part-timers, including a dishwasher, and a letter carrier.

A first-half goal from Joe Gaetjens produced a stunning shock that remains one of the biggest World Cup upsets to this day. Goalkeeper Frank Borghi was brilliant throughout, repeatedly denying England as disbelief grew around the ground.

The result was so unbelievable that British newspapers assumed it was a typo, reporting the score as 10-1 to England. England went home without reaching the final stage. The United States pulled off what many still consider the most improbable in the tournament’s history.

North Korea 1-0 Italy (1966): The unbelievable upset

Long before data analytics and viral moments, there was Ayresome Park in Middlesbrough. North Korea arrived at the 1966 World Cup as outsiders. Italy were two-time world champions but lost captain Giacomo Bulgarelli to injury, and with no subs then, had to play with ten men.

Cheered on by the locals, North Korea created a massive upset thanks to a Pak Doo-Ik winner after 42 minutes. The match is considered one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, and its original match ticket is placed in the FIFA Football Museum.

North Korea went on to lead Portugal 3-0 in the quarter-final before Eusebio inspired a comeback. But the Italy result alone secured their place in World Cup folklore. It proved that no team is untouchable: a lesson the tournament has reinforced ever since.

Cameroon 1–0 Argentina (1990): African debutants dethrone the champions

Argentina arrived at Italia ’90 as defending champions, with Diego Maradona captaining a side widely expected to retain their title. Their opening opponents, Cameroon, were making their debut at a major World Cup finals. Few gave the African nation any chance at the San Siro.

Cameroon had other ideas entirely. Francois Omam-biyik scored with a second-half header, which was also down to 10 men at the time after a red card. Cameroon eventually finished the game with nine men after another sending off but kept Argentina and Maradona out.

The result sent shockwaves through world football. A 9-man debutant side had beaten the holders. Argentina recovered to reach the final, but the damage to their aura was done. Cameroon reached the quarters and opened the door for every African underdog that followed.