The is the dream competition to compete in for nearly every single player who turns professional. It's where mere athletes walk onto the pitch, but legends walk off it. Pressure, anticipation and chaos engulf the sport every four years, with only the often being the ones capable of matching it.
However, there are also occasions when the unknown stars perform at a level they have never reached. They shock the world, acting like legends in their own right with a performance full of belief and hope. It's what the World Cup is all about, because there is technically nothing stopping a small country from winning the tournament, even if it's one of the .
With the 2026 World Cup in America, Mexico and Canada getting closer by the day, there will be more room for shocks with 48 teams competing. Due to this, we have ranked the nine biggest upsets in World Cup history so far — and, as is nearly always the case in these types of international lists, England feature with a disappointing defeat. It's unlikely anyone is actually surprised.
Ranking the 9 Biggest Euros Upsets 1. Saudi Arabia 2-1 Argentina Group Stage 2022 2. USA 1-0 England Group Stage 1950 3.
Brazil 1-7 Germany Semi-finals 2014 4. Spain 0-1 Northern Ireland First Group Stage 1982 5. West Germany 3-2 Hungary Final 1954 6.
North Korea 1-0 Italy Group Stage 1966 7. Romania 3-2 Argentina Round of 16 1994 8. Netherlands 5-1 Spain Group Stage 2014 9.
South Africa 2-1 France Group Stage 2010 After Georgia pull off a massive win .