The top 10 biggest World Cup shocks of all time, just ahead of the 2026 edition

The beauty of the World Cup is that no result is ever quite certain; with so many football cultures from across the globe coming together, nobody can prepare perfectly for what lies ahead.

Whether it is a big nation underestimating a smaller nation, or a team full of superstars completely imploding, every tournament brings results that shock the world - that is part of what makes the World Cup so iconic.

Not a World Cup goes by where a minnow does not come out of the shadows, whether that be by defeating one of the elite nations, or by going deep in the competition against all odds - and it will surely happen again in 2026.

Saudi Arabia caused the biggest upset of the last World Cup, stunning eventual-champions Argentina in the group stage, and they join a long list of underdogs who have upset the apple cart on football's biggest stage.

Here, Sports Mole dives back through the years to pick out the 10 biggest World Cup shocks to date, with this list featuring many nations who progressed far further than expected, as well as some scorelines which still seem scarcely believable years or even decades later.

10. Argentina 2-3 Romania (Last 16, USA 1994)

Argentina had already suffered a shock defeat at the previous World Cup, when Cameroon beat them in the opener of Italia '90, but that did not derail their tournament as they still reached the final.

Four years later in the United States, another nation had their moment in the spotlight, Romania, and Argentina would face the Eastern European outfit in the last 16. With the legendary Gheorghe Hagi in their ranks, alongside other notable figures such as Dan Petrescu, Ilie Dumitrescu, Miodrag Belodedici and Florin Raducioiu, the Tricolorii topped their group, defeating hosts USA on the way.

That would result in their sternest test yet, and the two sides played out an all-time classic, as Romania defeated an Argentina side without Diego Maradona but still featuring Gabriel Batistuta, Fernando Redondo, Abel Balbo and Diego Simeone.

Hagi and Dumitrescu put on a masterclass, as both had involvements in all three goals; after reaching three of the previous four World Cup finals, Argentina were heading home early.

9. Spain 1-5 Netherlands (Group stage, Brazil 2014)

At a World Cup which provided an endless list of shock outcomes, eliminations and scorelines, this ranks near the very top, proving a nadir for reigning champions Spain.

It was arguably the most eye-catching fixture of the group stage, pitting two European heavyweights together, but the gulf in class on the night was a huge shock to the watching world, and it sparked the downfall of a Spanish side that had dominated international football for six years.

After Robin van Persie's famous 'Flying Dutchman' header pulled the Oranje level before half time, Louis van Gaal's side ran riot; in particular, Arjen Robben put on one of the best individual performances by any player at the tournament. His blistering pace for the fifth and final goal - and composure to put almost every Spanish player on their backside - was a piece of true artistry from the Bayern Munich winger.

However, despite destroying La Roja and cruising through the group before finishing third in Brazil, it would be seven more years before the Netherlands played at another major finals, which again highlights the beauty of international football - nothing is ever guaranteed.

8. West Germany 3-2 Hungary (Final, Switzerland 1954)

The 'Wunder von Bern' (Miracle of Bern) may not seem like a hugely surprising scoreline, but considering the backdrop to which this World Cup final was played back in 1954, it is well worthy of a spot as one of the most surprising results in the competition's history.

Just nine years after the end of the Second World War, and with their country split in two, both halves of Germany were still rebuilding from the catastrophic damage and loss of life during the conflict.

Hungary meanwhile, were unquestionably the best team in the world during the 1950s, as the Mighty Magyars revolutionised football, with Ferenc Puskas, Sandor Kocsis and Nandor Hidegkuti among their leading lights. Their early brand of 'Total Football' saw them beat the West Germans 8-3 earlier in the tournament, before seeing off Brazil and Uruguay en route to the final, scoring 25 goals in just four games.

After going 2-0 up inside eight minutes of the final, Hungary's name was virtually already on the trophy, but West Germany were level at 2-2 just 10 minutes later, and an 84th-minute winner Helmut Rahn sealed victory for the underdogs, as they claimed a first-ever World Cup.

The reaction in Hungary sparked demonstrations against the communist government, an event which is believed to have laid the seeds behind the 1956 uprising. That all but finished off the Mighty Magyars as a unit, with many players and coaches emigrating, and Hungary have never reached those heady heights since.

7. Italy 0-1 North Korea (Group stage, England 1966)

The 1966 World Cup is widely remembered on British shores for being the only time England have won a major tournament; however, for Italy and North Korea this tournament represents something very different.

The Asian confederation was seen as so weak that North Korea would need to play one of three sides from Africa after winning their own continental section to qualify. Then, withdrawals cleared a path for them to be the only non-European or American nation at the finals, but with political difficulties surrounding the recognition of their country following the Korean War, the UK only allowed them to enter following pressure from FIFA.

Italy were not in a great place either, as the 1949 Superga air disaster, which killed much of their team, still weighed heavily, and they failed to progress past the group in any of their appearances after winning the trophy in 1938.

Even so, North Korea were decades behind the Italians in terms of football stature and quality, but at Ayresome Park in Middlesbrough, Pak Doo-Ik's solitary goal saw the Asian outfit win 1-0 and progress to the knockouts at Italy's expense.

Despite incredibly going 3-0 up against Portugal in the quarter-finals, North Korea ultimately lost 5-3 and did not feature again until 2010. Rising from the ashes of their most infamous defeat, the Azzurri were European champions two years later and then finalists at the following World Cup.

6. Slovakia 3-2 Italy (Group stage, South Africa 2010)

The 1966 World Cup was not the only time that Italy have made a shock exit in the group stage - they repeated that unwanted feat in South Africa 12 years ago.

The curse of the holders - which has become so apparent in recent iterations of the tournament - certainly struck the Azzurri. After they became world champions in 2006, they would then finish bottom of a group featuring Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia.

In a group littered with draws, all four sides could still qualify going into the final matches, and with Paraguay and New Zealand drawing 0-0, Italy only needed one point to progress.

However, they struggled to get going and found themselves 2-0 down with time running out, due to Robert Vittek's brace. Antonio Di Natale then gave Marcello Lippi's side a lifeline, before the little-known Kamil Kopunek came on to help Slovakia retain their lead.

Instead, the defender raced through on goal to score with his first touch, notching his only ever competitive goal for the national team. A late Fabio Quagliarella wonder strike was not enough, as Italy made one of the most humiliating group-stage exits of any elite nation.

5. Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia (Group stage, Qatar 2022)

In the first World Cup hosted by an Arab country, it was fitting that one of the most notable results in the entire tournament went in favour of a country from the region.

Nobody gave Saudi Arabia a chance heading into their group opener, as opponents Argentina were in the midst of a 36-game unbeaten run, and even at half time there only appeared to be one winner. Lionel Messi's penalty had put the favourites ahead, while Lautaro Martinez saw two goals disallowed.

Most expected Argentina to cruise to a comfortable victory, but a staggering five-minute spell early in the second half shook the world. A clever finish from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al Dawsari's spectacular strike turned the game on its head, and a stunned Argentina were unable to respond, ending their long streak without defeat.

However, the result had little significance on the final standings in Group C, or on the competition as a whole, considering Argentina went on to win the World Cup just three weeks later and Saudi Arabia were eliminated after losing their other two group games.

4. England 0-1 USA (Group stage, Brazil 1950)

Before England's first-ever World Cup finals appearance, self-belief was not in short supply, as they were the most dominant national side post-World War II.

England's sense of assumed superiority was prominent before the war, as they did not enter any of the first three World Cups under the belief that it was not worth their time to join FIFA and play against other 'lesser nations' halfway around the world.

With the likes of Tom Finney and Stan Mortensen in the side, England expected to comfortably dismantle a US team comprised purely of part-time footballers and some players who were not even US citizens. Among them was Joe Gaetjens, who had previously played for Haiti, with his only USA appearances coming at the 1950 World Cup.

Inking his name into football history, Gaetjens would score the sole goal in what was arguably the biggest shock ever at that point, as almighty England were eliminated.

Unfortunately, given the lack of interest of football in America and limited media coverage in the UK, the magnitude of this result was never realised until decades later; by that time, Gaetjens had been murdered by government forces in his native Haiti.

3. Bulgaria 2-1 Germany (Quarter-final, USA 1994)

Before 1994, Germany had reached four of the previous five World Cup finals, winning two, and reached four of the previous six European Championship finals, again winning two. They were an absolute machine who took some stopping, and they travelled to the States as holders following success at Italia '90.

Bulgaria meanwhile, stunned the world just to make the tournament, beating France in the last minute of their final qualifier in Paris to leapfrog Les Bleus into the second qualification spot.

Furthermore, Germany had made light work of their group in the United States, while Bulgaria needed to beat Argentina in their final fixture to ensure progression; they memorably did so, and victory in the last 16 then set up a quarter-final tie with the reigning world champions.

A second-half penalty from Lothar Matthaus looked to have given Germany safe passage to the semis, but the job was not done: a quickfire double from Hristo Stoichkov and Yordan Letchkov stunned the Germans and sent them home.

Though Bulgaria would fall one hurdle short of the final, losing to Italy in the next round, Stoichkov claimed the Golden Boot and secured his status as one of the all-time great Eastern European footballers.

2. France 0-1 Senegal (Group stage, South Korea & Japan 2002)

In the last World Cup where the reigning champions played in the opening fixture - as opposed to the host nation - France and Senegal kicked off the first-ever Asia-hosted finals with a scoreline that lingers long in the memory.

The 1998 winners followed up that success by becoming European champions in 2000, and with Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Zinedine Zidane in their squad, it was hard to see past them retaining their crown in South Korea and Japan.

The opening game pitted them against debutants Senegal, whose squad contained many French players plying their trade in Ligue 1 but deemed not good enough for Les Bleus, who had opted to represent the nation of their family.

France laid the foundations of how the rest of their group stage would unfold, as they were truly woeful and deserved to finish on the losing side: Papa Bouba Diop's strike on the half-hour mark sent all of Senegal and their respective diaspora into absolute delirium.

It was the perfect introduction for a World Cup full of shocks, such as France and Argentina going out in the group stage, plus Turkey and South Korea reaching the semi-finals.

1. Brazil 1-7 Germany (Semi-final, Brazil 2014)

There can be no doubting the number one spot in this list, as it could lay claim to being the most shocking result in the history of professional football - given the stage, the location and the stakes.

Brazil were increasingly confident of winning a sixth World Cup once they saw off neighbours Colombia in the quarter-final, while Germany went under the radar, as they often do, with narrow, unspectacular wins over Algeria and France in the knockouts.

The ultimate tournament team ('Turniermannschaft') Germany generally find a way, but nobody quite expected them to tear Brazil apart on their own turf.

An early Thomas Muller opener silenced the Mineirao in Belo Horizonte, setting up a crazy five-minute spell midway through the first half that will live forever in footballing folklore: Klose 23', Kroos 24', Kroos 26', Khedira 29' = 0-5.

No matter where the camera panned, there were Brazilians in floods of tears, seeing their dream of lifting the World Cup on home soil crushed right in front of their eyes. Inevitably, comparisons were made to the 'Maracanazo', when Brazil were beaten at home in the 1950 World Cup final by underdogs Uruguay.

With Brazil's confidence shot to bits, Andre Schurrle added another two in the second half to make it 7-0, before Oscar netted a so-called consolation. With that, the most shocking World Cup scoreline ever was written, and it is unlikely it will ever be topped.