The 10 Biggest World Cup Shockers, From Bern to Qatar

The article counts down the 10 greatest World Cup upsets in history, arguing that the tournament is defined not only by giants and stars, but also by tears, stunned crowds, and underdogs who wreck the script. It ranges from the 1950s to Qatar 2022, and repeatedly highlights how heavy favorites collapsed against teams with less pedigree, smaller resources, or both.

At No. 10, the Netherlands beat reigning champions Spain 5-1 in Brazil in 2014, with Robin van Persie’s diving header and Arjen Robben’s torment of Iker Casillas symbolizing Spain’s decline. At No. 9, Cameroon beat Argentina 1-0 at Italia 1990 through François Omam-Biyik, leaving Diego Maradona and the world champions shocked. No. 8 is North Korea’s 1-0 win over Italy at England 1966, decided by Pak Doo-ik and followed by chaos for the Italians and severe punishment for the Koreans at home after their later collapse against Portugal.

The list also includes Senegal’s 1-0 win over France in 2002, when Papa Bouba Diop scored against the reigning world and European champions, who finished the tournament without a single goal. At No. 6, Algeria stunned West Germany 2-1 in Spain 1982 after Rabah Madjer and Lakhdar Belloumi overturned Karl-Heinz Rummenigge’s equalizer. No. 5 is South Korea’s 2-1 extra-time win over Italy in 2002, remembered for Byron Moreno’s controversial refereeing, Francesco Totti’s red card, and Ahn Jung-hwan’s golden goal, which cost him his club contract at Perugia the next day.

The top four feature Saudi Arabia’s 2-1 comeback over Argentina in Qatar 2022 after Messi’s early penalty, with goals by Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari and a Saudi national holiday declared in celebration. At No. 3, the United States beat England 1-0 at Brazil 1950 with a Joe Gaetjens header, to such disbelief that London papers initially printed a mistaken 10-1 England win. No. 2 is the Maracanazo, Uruguay’s 2-1 comeback over Brazil in the 1950 final before 200,000 stunned fans, triggering national mourning and Brazil’s later switch to the yellow shirt. The greatest upset, No. 1, is West Germany’s 3-2 win over Hungary in the 1954 final, after falling behind 2-0 and ending Hungary’s 31-match unbeaten run.