In the FIFA World Cup, the best teams usually win. Usually, but not necessarily always. Since the earlier World Cups, minnows have emerged with some notable results against some of the best teams in the world. Some of the biggest FIFA World Cup upsets can be remembered here.
The 1950 game between the USA and England was one of England’s first in the World Cup. At any rate, in the end, England probably wished they had stayed at home again. The USA was not a professional team at the time. Yet, in this game, the Americans were still able to run out 1–0 winners over an England team that still felt it was the best in the game. The result was no misprint, and after this World Cup, the England myth evaporated.
While West Germany was not exactly a minnow in this 1954 World Cup final, they had yet to win the Jules Rimet Trophy. Equally, against Hungary in the final, they were playing a team that everyone expected to win the 1954 World Cup. This Hungarian team had players such as Puskas and Kocsis and had beaten Germany 8–3 in an earlier group game. The team scored many goals in this World Cup, with records set.
For the final against West Germany, Hungary established a 2–0 lead in the game. In a great comeback, with some superb goal-keeping from Turek, Germany was able to turn the tables and score three goals to win their first World Cup 3–2.
In this 1982 World Cup game, Northern Ireland probably got their best-ever win in a World Cup. Against Spain, they were playing the host nation and a team of genuine quality. With a one-goal lead established, they also went into the final third of the game with a player sent off. This was not enough for Spain, as Northern Ireland held out to win the game 1–0 and top their group.
When Cameroon went into the 1990 World Cup, they played against the defending World Champions, Argentina, in the group stages. African teams had done little in World Cups, so Argentina was the clear favorite. In the game, Cameroon was able to gain a 1–0 lead against the champions. Argentina could not find an equalizer, so Cameroon defeated the holders 1–0. It was not a fluke either, as they were able to progress to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
The 2002 World Cup had a few surprises. However, the second round game between hosts Korea and European Championship runners-up Italy was one of the most notable. In the game, it took a late Korean equalizer to level the game at 1–1. Then, in extra time, a second goal would seal a 2–1 win for Korea to make the quarter-finals of the World Cup. The fairy tale lasted two more games before the hosts bowed out.
Those games are some of the biggest FIFA World Cup upsets ever. Such games as when the US beat England and Cameroon’s seemingly unlikely win against the holders. So, of course, upsets can and have happened in the FIFA World Cup, and maybe we might see a few more surprises in this tournament during the summer of 2026.
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