What are the biggest FIFA World Cup upsets in history?
The FIFA World Cup has a history of surprising upsets, where lower-ranked teams have defeated favorites. Notable examples include the USA's victory over England in 1950 and North Korea's win against Italy in 1966. As the 2026 tournament approaches, fans are reminded of these shocking moments that have defined the competition.
- ▪The USA defeated England 1-0 in the 1950 World Cup, marking a historic upset.
- ▪North Korea shocked the football world by beating Italy 1-0 in 1966, eliminating the two-time champions.
- ▪Algeria's 2-1 victory over West Germany in 1982 is another significant upset in World Cup history.
9 outlets in our directory ran this story, first to last over 21 hours. Coverage spans 2 points on the political spectrum — 2 lean left, 6 centre.
- ▪ FIFA World Cup 2026: Spain announces 26-man squad; zero Real Madrid players make the cut — The Hindu — Top
- ▪ Spain leaves out Real Madrid players as Barcelona dominates World Cup squad — Japan Times
- ▪ Spain set World Cup history with Real Madrid decision — Yahoo Sports
- ▪ No Real Madrid player in Spain's FIFA World Cup squad; Yamal makes cut — Times of India — Top
- ▪ Zero Real Madrid players make Spain World Cup squad as injured Lamine Yamal makes cut — The Guardian — US
- ▪ FIFA World Cup rosters: No Real Madrid players make Spain squad for first time ever — CBS Sports
- ▪ Lamine Yamal in Spain squad but no Real Madrid players — BBC Sport
- ▪ Yamal in Spain World Cup squad, no Madrid players — ESPN — Soccer
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| Original publisher | Al Jazeera English |
| Canonical URL | https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/5/25/what-are-the-biggest-fifa-world-cup-upsets-in-history?traffic_source=rss |
| Publication time | Mon, 25 May 2026 11:57:24 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-25T12:17:36.953Z |
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Sport|World Cup 2026What are the biggest FIFA World Cup upsets in history?Nothing makes the news like an unfancied or low-ranked team pulling off a shock result at the football World Cup.ListenListen (10 mins)SaveClick here to share on social mediashare-nodesSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoArgentina's Lionel Messi is just one of the all-time greats to be on the losing side of a huge upset at the FIFA World Cup [File: Hannah Mckay/Reuters]By Al Jazeera StaffPublished On 25 May 202625 May 2026The FIFA World Cup 2026 is the most eagerly awaited sports event of the year.Fans are gearing up to see who scores the most goals, who are the biggest performers on football’s grandest stage, and who wins the coveted trophy.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist…
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