FIFA World Cup: The Biggest Upsets

• Over the years, the FIFA World Cup has produced some significant shock outcomes.
• USA, North Korea, Senegal, Costa Rica and Bulgaria have won against some tournament favourites.
• We look at some of those upsets.

The FIFA World Cup has seen shocking results in its nearly 100-year history, with several underdog teams pulling off unlikely victories against prestigious opponents.

SportsLeo looks into some of the biggest disappointments from favourite teams.

USA 1-0 England (1950)

World Cup 1950 Team USA vs ENGLAND|PHOTO: FIFA|

Despite only making their World Cup debut in 1950, England was tipped to upset the established order against an unfancied United States side filled with part-time players.

England had a strong reputation as the game’s creators then, whereas the United States had little or no footballing tradition to speak of, despite finishing third in the inaugural World Cup in 1930.

The US won 1-0 thanks to Joe Gaetjens’ goal, but the story of the game lasted for decades, with The Game of Their Lives book and film dedicated to the significant shock caused by Bill Jeffrey’s side.

North Korea 1-0 Italy (1966)

It was Korea Republic’s first tie in six appearances in Round of 16. Star players from the strongest league in the world at the time made up Italy starting lineup.

Double winners Italy was predicted to breeze through the group stages in England, but they were eliminated before that point after Doo Ik’s winner guaranteed a place in the tournament’s knockout Round at Italy’s expense.

Cameroon 1-0 Argentina (1990)

Maradona battling as they lost to Cameroon.|PHOTO: Goal|

In the opening game in Milan, where Diego Maradona and his teammates were expected to put on a show, the defending champions failed to get going and lost to a team playing in their second World Cup.

La Albiceleste ultimately fell short of West Germany in the final game, but their opening game dealt them a significant shock.

Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia (2022)

Saudi Arabia Celebrate as they beat Argentina in their Group Match.|PHOTO: Eurosport|

When Argentina, led by seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, arrived in Qatar as Copa America champions, they were widely expected to win the tournament.

Lionel Scaloni’s team got off to a great start against a Saudi Arabia team that was ranked 48 spots lower than them in the FIFA rankings when Messi converted a penalty in the 10th minute.

Before Saleh Al-Shehri entered the game with 48 minutes remaining, there were few indications of danger. Five minutes later, Salem Al Dawsari’s strike sent the crowd of green shirts into a delirium, adding to the shock.

To break Italy’s previous record of 37 unbeaten international games, Scaloni’s team needed to win their next game against Mexico to surpass it. Ultimately, their tenacious opponents prevailed to produce one of history’s most notable outcomes.

Senegal 1-0 France (2002)

This surprise occurred in the tournament’s first game. The defending world champions, France, appeared to have an even stronger team than the one that won the championship on home soil four years prior, despite being without the services of injured Zinedine Zidane. In addition, Les Bleus held the title of defending European champions after taking the crown in 2000. Senegal’s match in the World Cup finals was their first ever.

Senegal capitalized on France’s stage fright by making their World Cup debut through Papa Bouba Diop’s iconic goal.

Italy 0-1 Costa Rica (2014)

Costa Rica Celebrate as Italy lose.|PHOTO: Bleacher|

Costa Rica was considered a complete outsider in a group with three former world champions. Contrary to expectations, Costa Rica began their tournament with a victory over Uruguay in their first game and then proved it wasn’t a fluke by defeating Italy in their second game.

Italy was eliminated in the group stage as expected, but Costa Rica won and went on to have their best World Cup ever, surpassing their run to the Round of 16 in Italy in 1990 by making it to the quarterfinal. With a victory in the penalty shootout, the Netherlands ended their heroics.

Bulgaria 2-1 Germany (1994)

In USA ’94, Germany was making its first appearance as a single country since the fall of the Berlin Wall, and they were hoping to defend their world championship.

Before the match, Lothar Matthaus, Jurgen Klinsmann, and Matias Sammer were all on Berti Vogts’ squad as experienced players.

After easily advancing to the quarterfinals, Bulgaria, with the erratic Hristo Stoichkov in outstanding form, presented the holders with a curveball in the last eight.

The pivotal player for Barcelona destroyed Argentina en route to the knockout rounds, but he saved his best display for Germany.