The World Cup has produced some of the most shocking results in football history. Teams that had no right to win have beaten some of the best sides ever assembled, and those moments have stayed with fans for decades. The World Cup 2026 odds point to the usual contenders this summer, but as the tournament has proven time and again, form and reputation only go so far.
USA 1-0 England, 1950
England arrived at the 1950 World Cup in Brazil as one of the most respected footballing nations on earth. It was their first appearance at the tournament, and they were expected to make a statement. Their second group game was against the United States, a side made up largely of part-time players and amateurs. For anyone who likes to bet on football, England would have looked like a certainty on paper.
Joe Gaetjens scored the only goal in the 38th minute with a header, and the USA held on despite having just a 9.5% chance of winning going into the match. England went home without making the final stage. It remains one of the most embarrassing results in the history of English football.
West Germany 0-1 East Germany, 1974
The 1974 World Cup was held in West Germany, and the hosts were European champions heading into the tournament. Their group stage opponents included their ideological rivals from the other side of the Berlin Wall, and nobody seriously expected the result to go against the hosts.
East Germany won 1-0 through a Jurgen Sparwasser goal late in the second half. It was the only ever meeting between the two nations, who had been separated since the end of the Second World War. West Germany recovered to win the whole tournament, but the defeat to their neighbors stands as one of the most politically charged upsets in the competition’s history.
Cameroon 1-0 Argentina, 1990
Argentina arrived at Italia ’90 as defending world champions. Cameroon had lost all three of their warm-up matches and had two players sent off during the game itself. Francois Omam-Biyik’s header somehow crept beyond goalkeeper Nery Pumpido to give the African side a win that shocked the watching world. Cameroon went on to reach the quarter-finals, becoming the first African nation to do so.
Senegal 1-0 France, 2002
France went into the 2002 World Cup as both world champions and European champions. Senegal were ranked 42nd in the world and had never played at a World Cup before. Papa Bouba Diop scored the only goal of the game, and the defending champions finished bottom of their group without scoring a single goal. Senegal, meanwhile, reached the quarter-finals on their tournament debut.
Saudi Arabia 2-1 Argentina, 2022
It was calculated that Saudi Arabia had just an 8.7% chance of beating Argentina, who had not lost in 36 international matches. Lionel Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot. Two goals in five second-half minutes from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari turned the game completely on its head.
Argentina, who would go on to win the entire tournament, lost their opening match to a side ranked 51st in the world. It is now considered the statistically greatest upset in World Cup history.
