When thinking about the World Cup upsets ranked, there are certain runs that spring into mind.
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Cameroon became the darlings of Italia 90 by reaching the quarterfinals. Twelve years later, fellow African side Senegal finished second in a group featuring two prior World Cup-winning nations.
In a Final, Uruguay defeated Brazil in front of over 170,000 fans in Rio de Janeiro. This result shocked the soccer world, especially the record-high for spectators at a soccer game.
Every World Cup has a team that neutral spectators get behind because it punches above its weight. Often, those nations burst onto the stage with one major result. Or, these sides just have one defining match that their country remembers for generations.
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- South Korea 2-1 Italy (2002): Hosts shock Azzurri
Despite four successive winless group-stage exits between 1986 and 1998, confidence amongst hosts South Korea hinted at a shock in the 2002 tournament. Roared on by fanatical home support, Guus Hiddink’s side topped their group, with impressive wins over Poland and Portugal.
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However, a showdown with Italy in the last 16 looked to be a major test of their capabilities, as Hiddink’s side survived a barrage of Italian pressure.
- Bulgaria 2-1 Germany (1994): Stoichkov thrills in New Jersey
Germany were looking to defend their world title at USA ’94, in their first appearance as a unified nation following the fall of the Berlin Wall. Berti Vogts’ squad was packed with experienced talent including Lothar Matthaus, Jurgen Klinsmann and Matias Sammer ahead of the competition.
After cruising through to the quarter-finals, the holders were thrown a curveball of Bulgaria in the last eight, with the mercurial Hristo Stoichkov in sensational form.
The Barcelona lynchpin had dismantled Argentina on route to the knockout stages but he saved his best performance for Germany.
- Switzerland 1-0 Spain (2010): Spain shocked on route to glory in South Africa
Spain’s Euro 2008 win placed La Roja amongst the favorites in South Africa but Vicente del Bosque’s side struggled on their opening night in Durban. With an unfamiliar lack of cohesion opening the door for the Swiss, Gelson Fernandes scrambled them in front, and Spain simply failed to react.
Ultimately the defeat did not derail Spain, but del Bosque was clear on the impact it had on refocusing his players, as Andres Iniesta went on to clinch their first-ever world title.
- North Korea 1-0 Italy (1966): DPRK breaks new ground for Asian football
Pak Doo Ik’s name remains the most famous in North Korean football history after he secured the most incredible moment in their national team history.
Twice winners Italy were expected to breeze through the group stages in England, but they were dumped out at the group stages, as Doo Ik’s winner secured a knockout spot for the tournament debutants at Italy’s expense.
- USA 1-0 England (1950): England’s first World Cup loss
Despite only making their World Cup bow at the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, England were tipped to upset the established order, against an unfancied United States side filled with part-time players.
Joe Gaetjens’ goal sealed a 1-0 win for the US, but the narrative of the game continued for decades after, with The Game of Their Lives book and film dedicated to the major shock caused by Bill Jeffrey’s side.
- Republic of Ireland 1-0 Italy (1994): Irish eyes smiling in the US
Ireland’s run to the quarter-finals of Italia ’90 put the Boys in Green on the international football map but their defeat to the hosts linger long in the memory.
Jack Charlton had revenge on his mind as they faced a rematch with Italy in the sweltering heat of New Jersey. Ray Houghton’s bolt from the blue put Ireland in front early on, but as Italy laid siege to the Irish goal, they were repelled time and again by a Paul McGrath wall.
- Italy 3-2 Brazil (1982): Rossi at the Camp Nou
Brazil looked destined to end their 12-year wait to win the World Cup as the Samba Boys headed to Spain in 1982.
Socrates and Zico were the inspiration for Telê Santana’s side, but despite a 100% record in their opening four games, they were picked off by Italy in the second round.
Paolo Rossi turned in one of the greatest individual World Cup performances, with a ruthless hat trick, to dump Brazil out and inspire his side on to glory in the final.
- Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia (2022): Messi’s 36-match unbeaten run halted
Argentina were fancied for the title by many when they arrived in Qatar as Copa America winners under the captaincy of seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi.
Against a Saudi Arabia team ranked 48 places below them in the FIFA rankings, Lionel Scaloni’s side made an ideal start when Messi converted a 10th-minute penalty.
2.Cameroon 1-0 Argentina (1990): Holders stunned in Milan
Defending champions Argentina arrived at Italia ’90 looking to win a third title in 12 years and become only the third side to defend the World Cup.
Led by Diego Maradona, La Albiceleste eventually lost out to West Germany in the final, but they were dealt a major shock in their opening fixture.
Cameroon were aiming to build on a poor World Cup debut in 1982, and they sucker-punched an off-form Argentina in Milan, as François Omam-Biyik netted a late winner.
Valery Nepomnyashchy’s side were eventually knocked out by England in the last eight, as they broke new ground for African nations at the World Cup.
- Senegal 1-0 France (2002): Holders Les Bleus stunned
Roger Lemerre’s France were to suffer the curse of the defending champions ahead of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Les Bleus build up was dogged by minor controversies, and despite the talents of Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira, they struggled without Zinedine Zidane in their opener.
Senegal took full advantage of France’s stage fright. to announce themselves on the World Cup stage, through Papa Bouba Diop’s iconic winner.
| Year | Match Result | Stage | Highlights |
| 2002 | Senegal 1-0 France | Group Stage | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ7Cdw-zO0M&t=18s |
| 1990 | Cameroon 1-0 Argentina | Group Stage | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6uIUg9ovP0 |
| 1982 | Italy 3-2 Brazil | Second Group Stage | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBC02hKBTlQ&t=1s |
| 1994 | Republic of Ireland 1-0 Italy | Group Stage | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLKf6spsD-w |
| 1950 | USA 1-0 England | Group Stage | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4ESTvxyqsI |
| 1966 | North Korea 1-0 Italy | Group Stage | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S5BYnzocO0&t=80s |
| 2010 | Switzerland 1-0 Spain | Group Stage | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxiBdX5F2I8 |
| 1994 | Bulgaria 2-1 Germany | Quarter-final | N/A |
| 2002 | South Korea 2-1 Italy | Last 16 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym4fLNvcbX0 |
| 2022 | Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia (2022) | Group Stage | N/A |
