The 2026 World Cup is upon us, and that means over a month of nonstop football action. 48 teams across the globe compete for what is often considered to be ‘the best prize in sport’.
One thing that fans will be looking out for in this tournament is the potential of big upsets. ‘Upsets’ are where a totally unfavoured team, against all odds, triumphs over a team that is far more favoured than they are to win. In international football, this often means smaller nations beating larger ones with a strong sporting pedigree.
Both football fanatics and casual watchers love upsets because they mean unexpected twists and high-stakes drama. It is also great for keen bettors because if you wager on a team with less favoured odds. Those looking to carry on the action outside of match wagering can also explore the Betfair online casino bonus offers, with offers available on football themed games like Football! Gold Trio.
The great thing about football upsets is that you never know when one will occur. There are still plenty of games left to go in this World Cup, so in the meantime, let’s take a look at some of the biggest upsets in recent international tournaments.
Third-place: Germany 1-2 Japan (2022)
The winners of the 2014 World Cup were shocked when they were defeated by Japan, who had never beaten a team to play a World Cup final before this match. This defeat was even more of an upset since Japan was a goal behind with only 15 minutes left to play.
This was also the first time that Japan had won a World Cup match from being a goal behind, and their comeback meant that Germany failed to qualify from the group stages, while Japan finished top of the group (finishing above 2010 winners Spain in the process).
Second-place: Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia (2022)
Argentina’s opening game of the 2022 World Cup came as a complete upset as Saudi Arabia shocked the world with an incredibly impressive comeback victory, with goals from Saleh Al-Sheri and Salem Aldawsari coming after Lionel Messi’s penalty in the first ten minutes.
One of the biggest shocks of this game proved to be later in the tournament, as Argentina went on to lift the trophy, defeating France on penalties in the final. This was only the second time in World Cup history that the winners of the tournament lost their opening match. The first being in 2010 when the winners, Spain, lost to Switzerland in their first game.
First-place: Italy 0-1 Costa Rica (2014)
The winner of our biggest upset in recent World Cup history took place three tournaments ago, when Costa Rica defeated four-time World Cup winners Italy, knocking them out of the group stages in the process.
This was Costa Rica’s second win of the tournament, coming after another very surprising opening win against Uruguay. Costa Rica achieved their best-ever World Cup finish, making it to the quarter-finals, with a narrow defeat against the Netherlands on penalties.
Rachel Collins is the founder and creative voice behind Pun Boom, where words go BOOM! A writer with a sharp wit and a love for wordplay, Rachel turns everyday ideas into clever, laugh-worthy puns that spark joy and creativity. She believes humor connects people one pun at a time and aims to make readers smile with every post. When she’s not crafting puns, she’s exploring new ideas, chasing inspiration, and enjoying the lighter side of life.
