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FourFourTwo revisits the 26 greatest shocks in World Cup history as Cape Verde earn their place on that list.
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With 48 teams and a larger number of underdogs than ever before, anything might happen this summer β as these past surprises demonstrate.
Cape Verde proved it in their debut World Cup 2026 match, keeping reigning European champions Spain to a goalless draw in a thrilling, high-energy World Cup 2026 shock in Atlanta.
As one of four first-time participants in the tournament, hardly anyone gave the Blue Sharks any chance of claiming even a single point against Spain. Why stop making history after qualifying?
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26. Spain 0-0 Cape Verde (2026)
Cape Verde are the third-smallest nation by population ever to feature in a World Cup, and their draw with 2010 winners Spain was a stunning tournament debut.
The Blue Sharks earned a point in their opening World Cup 2026 group match and almost turned it into three with a late goal. That didn't materialise, but it barely seemed to matter.
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In full view of the global football audience, the tiny island country off Africa's coast pulled off one of football's biggest surprises, and the performance of 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha will be remembered for ages.
Spain paid the price for their lack of precision in attack, but Vozinha and Cape Verde delivered a remarkable display and a famous result.
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25. United States 1-2 Iran (1998)
When the two adversaries met at the 2022 World Cup, things went reasonably smoothly β well, except for the USA altering Iran's flag on social media, removing the Islamic Republic emblem to show "support for the women in Iran fighting for basic human rights".
Iranian media responded by calling for their expulsion from the tournament β that didn't happen, and the US won 1-0. Their most tense World Cup encounter was their first, in the group stage in 1998 β amid a heavy police presence in Lyon, Iran stunned the USA with goals from Hamid Estili and Mehdi Mahdavikia, securing their first ever tournament victory and eliminating their opponents.
"Tonight, again, the strong and arrogant opponent felt the bitter taste of defeat," declared Ayatollah Khamenei. The USA and Iran have never met in a knockout match β mere months after Khamenei's assassination, if both teams finish as runners-up in their respective groups this summer, they'll face each other in the last 32β¦
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24. Brazil 1-2 Norway (1998)
Weeks before Brazil's 1998 World Cup fell apart in the final, worsened by Ronaldo's pre-match seizures, the reigning champions were stunned by Norway, with the Scandinavians booking a spot in the last 16.
Up against an attacking line of Ronaldo, Bebeto, Rivaldo and Denilson, Tore Andre Flo equalised late for Egil Olsen's side, before Kjetil Rekdal won the match with a controversial penalty. Norway remain the only nation to have played Brazil and never lost to them.
23. Costa Rica 1-0 Scotland (1990)
Scotland were playing their fifth consecutive World Cup when they opened against debutants Costa Rica at Italia 90, fully anticipating victory. Instead, Bora Milutinovic's side defended stoutly, then struck through Juan Cayasso.
It helped Costa Rica advance from the group β Scotland are still waiting to do the same after eight World Cups, and will be cautious of a similar upset in this summer's opening game against Haiti.
22. France 1-2 South Africa (2010)
France's preparations for their final group match in 2010 were far from ideal β after a draw with Uruguay and loss to Mexico, Nicolas Anelka was sent home for an outburst at manager Raymond Domenech, internal conflict continued, and they eventually refused to train.
South Africa were the first World Cup hosts ever to fail to advance from the group stage, but still beat Domenech's increasingly helpless side. He was sacked shortly afterwards.
21. South Korea 2-0 Germany (2018)
Only four years earlier, Germany had become the first European side ever to win a World Cup in the Americas, so a tournament in Europe would be straightforward, right? Wrong.
In Russia, they lost to Mexico in their opener, but then beat Sweden thanks to a goal from Robbie Williams superfan Toni Kroos.
They only needed to beat South Korea to progress, but conceded twice in second-half injury time β the latter to Son Heung-min, after Manuel Neuer took the sweeper-keeper concept way too far and lost possession just outside the opposition's penalty area. Mein Freund , get back in your goal!
20. Spain 0-1 Switzerland (2010)
Just like this year, Spain were reigning European champions and favourites to win the World Cup β only for their campaign to start disastrously against Switzerland.
This summer's opening opponents, Cape Verde, take note⦠Vicente del Bosque's side had lost once in their previous 48 matches, but missed chance after chance, before Gelson Fernandes scored the game's only goal.
How did Spain respond? By winning every match thereafter and lifting the trophy. The Swiss drew with Honduras and were eliminated in the group.
19. Scotland 3-2 Netherlands (1978)
The Dutch reached consecutive World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978 β on the way to the latter, they fell victim to some Archie Gemmill magic.
Despite Ally MacLeod's optimistic pre-tournament promises, Scotland lost to Peru and drew with Iran, but went 3-1 up against the Netherlands thanks to Kenny Dalglish, Gemmill's penalty, then the latter's wonder goal, beating three defenders and chipping in his finish.
Yet Peru's win in the other match meant they needed a three-goal victory β Johnny Rep scored for the Dutch to dash all hopes, but it's still remembered as Scotland's greatest and most unexpected win of their four World Cup triumphs.
18. Romania 3-2 Argentina (1994)
USA 94 started very well for Argentina when they thrashed Greece 4-0 and a hyped-up Diego Maradona nearly headbutted a TV camera β calm down, Diego, it's the first gameβ¦
They also beat Nigeria 2-1, but things went downhill from there β Maradona failed a drugs test and was expelled from the tournament, Bulgaria beat them in their last group match to push them down to third, then they faced Romania.
With Maradona now gone, another little left-footed maestro ran the show β Gheorghe Hagi provided the ammunition for Ilie Dumitrescu's brace and scored the third himself. It remains Romania's greatest ever victory.
17. Italy 0-1 Republic of Ireland (1994)
Italy had beaten Jack Charlton's men in the quarter-finals in 1990, but Ireland got some unexpected revenge in their opening match four years later.
In front of 75,000 fans, many of them Irish, in New Jersey, Ray Houghton's early 25-yard effort sailed over Gianluca Pagliuca, before a 79-minute defensive effort snuffed out Roberto Baggio, who was generally quite effective that summer.
Defeat against Mexico followed for the Irish, when an irate John Aldridge introduced young TV viewers to several swear words they'd never heard before after not being allowed to come on as a substitute, before a draw with Norway saw Ireland through.
Bizarrely, all four teams finished the group on four points and with a goal difference of zero.
16. Morocco 1-0 Portugal (2022)
Morocco weren't the team on everyone's minds heading into the 2022 World Cup β they were history-makers by the time the tournament was done.
Backed by huge numbers of travelling supporters, they drew with Croatia and beat Belgium to top their group, then edged out Spain on penalties in the last 16. The latter had 77 per cent possession over the 120 minutes (which, given it was Spain, equated to roughly three million passes), but couldn't score, then missed all three of their spot-kicks.
The Atlas Lions weren't finished there β defeating Cristiano Ronaldo & Co to become the first African nation ever to reach the World Cup semi-finals. Cue CR7 being followed by a TV camera all the way to the dressing room while he cried his eyes out, which he tends to do at the end of tournaments, win or lose.
When the final whistle blows on Portugal this summer, expect a drone cam within half an inch of his face to capture those tears in all their Ultra HD glory.
15. Slovakia 3-2 Italy (2010)
Looking back, Italy had it good when they lost to Slovakia in 2010 β they were actually at the tournament, at least. Admittedly, they seemed less happy at the time β the holders disappointingly drew their first two group matches with Paraguay and New Zealand, but still only needed a point against Slovakia to progress.
They couldn't even manage that β since lifting the World Cup in 2006, they've won just one World Cup match. Yes, against England.
14. Bulgaria 2-1 Germany (1994)
Romania weren't the only team from Eastern Europe to thrive at USA 94 β follically challenged Bulgaria did too, helped by another wizard left-footer: Hristo Stoichkov.
A newly-unified German team were the holders, but all was not well β Berti Vogts sent Stefan Effenberg home for flipping the bird at fans, although Lothar Matthaus beat wig-wearing goalkeeper Borislav Mihaylov to put them in front in the quarters.
Stoichkov's free-kick levelled, three minutes before balding midfielder Yordan Letchkov (was 27, looked 47) directed a header off his hair island for a dramatic winner.
13. Uruguay 2-1 Brazil (1950)
This one is sometimes listed as the 1950 World Cup final β it actually wasn't, with the winner of that tournament being whoever topped the last group stage.
Sweden were playing Spain at exactly the same time, but results earlier in that four-team group ensured that only one of Uruguay and hosts Brazil could win the World Cup, with the latter needing just a draw.
Officially, 173,850 people were inside the Maracana β the highest attendance in football history β although it was probably more than 200,000. Brazil took the lead, but Uruguay hit back via Juan Alberto Schiaffino and Alcides Ghiggia β the home team's loss was so shocking that the game became infamously known as the Maracanazo .
12. Spain 1-5 Netherlands (2014)
When a team has won their last three major tournaments in a row, they don't expect to lose the opening match 5-1 at their next β Spain hadn't conceded so many goals in a match since 1963.
The Dutch, however, were out for revenge after a bad-tempered defeat in the 2010 final β this time, instead of attempting to decapitate Spain's Golden Generation mid-match, they simply played them off the park in Brazil.
Before the Dutch chalked up their rout, Spain had actually taken the lead through Xabi Alonso β head still very much on shoulders. But a flying Robin van Persie launched himself headlong at a diagonal ball to level the game, triggering a second-half masterclass from Arjen Robben.
Unlike 2010, when Spain lost their opener but still won the World Cup, this time they were beaten by Chile in their next fixture and were done after two matches. That went wellβ¦
11. South Korea 2-1 Italy (2002)
Even before their recent era of World Cup horrors, Italy have long been adept at messing things up β in 2002, they took it particularly badly.
Despite boasting Alessandro Del Piero, Francesco Totti, Christian Vieri, Pippo Inzaghi and Vincenzo Montella, they crashed out to co-hosts South Korea in the last 16 β Vieri missed a sitter after Seol Ki-hyeon's 88th-minute leveller, so the contest went to golden-goal extra-time.
Totti was then sent off for an alleged dive and Italy had a winner controversially ruled out for offside, before Ahn Jung-hwan sensationally headed in for South Korea.
Awkwardly, Ahn was playing for Perugia at the time and immediately had his contract cancelled β the club's angry owner eventually reversed the decision, but the forward left anyway. Ecuadorian ref Byron Moreno, who was later imprisoned for drug smuggling, became Italy's enemy number one.
10. West Germany 1-2 Algeria (1982)
Algeria made their World Cup debut in 1982 β one match in, they became the first African or Arab side ever to beat a European team at the tournament. Lakhdar Belloumi bagged the winner before they also beat Chile, but their World Cup ended in acrimony.
Back then, the final group matches weren't played simultaneously β Austria beat Algeria and Chile, so a narrow loss to West Germany would take the two European neighbours through on goal difference.
That's what happened in a match known as the Disgrace of Gijon, when neither side attacked in the final minutes. As a result, Algeria were out.
9. Spain 0-1 Northern Ireland (1982)
In the final group match of the 1982 tournament, Northern Ireland's narrow win over Spain also ensured both sides went through β although the latter were less happy, given they were the hosts and missed out on topping the group.
Playing at a first World Cup since 1958, Northern Ireland had already drawn with Yugoslavia and Honduras when Gerry Armstrong stunned the Spanish β Billy Bingham's side even held out with only 10 men after Mal Donaghy was sent off.
8. West Germany 3-2 Hungary (1954)
A victory for the Germans wouldn't normally be considered an upset, but this is one of two that does make our list β and for good reason.
Ferenc Puskas' Hungary had thrashed England 6-3 at Wembley the previous November (a match dubbed Match of the Century), opened their 1954 World Cup with a 9-0 mauling of South Korea, then trounced the West Germans 8-3 in their second group match.
The final was a different story. Despite going 2-0 up within just eight minutes, Hungary lost 3-2 in an upset that became known as The Miracle of Bern β overshadowing most sniggering about the match being played at the Wankdorf Stadiumβ¦
7. Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia (2022)
βWhere is Messi?β a Saudi Arabian fan asked in a viral post-match video, as he looked around quizzically for the Argentine great.
Lionel Messi had put his country ahead from the penalty spot in their opening match of the tournament, as the Copa America holders looked certainties to extend their 36-match unbeaten run β they'd also had three first-half goals disallowed for offside.
The Flea was nowhere to be seen after the interval, though, as Saudi Arabia β ranked 51st in the world β amazingly came roaring back to win thanks to Salem Al Dawsari's spectacular angled effort.
Green Falcons manager Herve Renard insisted that Argentina could still win the World Cup, however, and he was right. Where is Messi? Right over there, lifting the trophy, pal.
6. France 0-1 Senegal (2002)
Les Bleus had won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 β in 2002, they also had the top scorers in the Premier League (Thierry Henry), Serie A (David Trezeguet) and Ligue 1 (Djibril Cisse).
Losing Zinedine Zidane to injury didn't help, though β this was the final time the holders played the opening match rather than the hosts, and it produced an almighty upset, as Senegal were victorious on their World Cup debut.
Having already agreed to join Liverpool in a move that would definitely go well, spitting sensation El Hadji Diouf ran the show and set up the only goal for Papa Bouba Diop, who sadly died in 2020, at age 42.
Zidane would be rushed back for France's third match, but Roger Lemerre's side went out in the group stage without scoring a single goal.
5. United States 1-0 England (1950)
England didn't even bother to enter the first three World Cups, then many assumed they would just turn up and win the fourth tournament, held in Brazil. How good could these other countries possibly be?
The Three Lions had some very good players, to be fair β Stan Mortensen, Tom Finney, Billy Wright and Wilf Mannion among them β but lost to a USA team full of part-time players, and didn't even make it out of their group.
4. East Germany 1-0 West Germany (1974)
The Berlin Wall had been up for 13 years when West Germany hosted the 1974 tournament β they would be drawn into the same group as their East German neighbours, who were making their one and only World Cup appearance.
West Germany were reigning European champions, but were stunned in their final group match in Hamburg as Jurgen Sparwasser netted with 13 minutes left on the clock.
Hundreds of members of the Stasi β the East German secret police β were among the crowd, instructed to cheer on their side with the less than intimidating chant of β7, 8, 9, 10, Klasse [great].β
Less great was the next round β topping the group somehow gave East Germany a tougher draw; they went out and West Germany won the World Cup.
3. Argentina 0-1 Cameroon (1990)
Argentina were the holders, had Diego Maradona and ended the tournament's opening match playing against nine men. Their opponents had never won a World Cup match before β despite all of that, the Albiceleste still lost.
Shortly after Andre Kana-Biyik had been sent off, Francois Omam-Biyik took advantage of a goalkeeping blunder to head the match's only goal β Benjamin Massing was later dismissed for nearly cutting Claudio Caniggia in