In football, as in life, the script doesn’t always go to plan. Every once in a while, a match defies the odds and leaves fans around the world in awe. These unforgettable upsets are what make the sport so thrilling. Here are the Top 11 Unexpected Upsets in World Football History—where belief triumphed over logic.
Ranking the 11 Biggest and Most Unexpected Upsets in Football History
11. South Korea 2–1 Italy – World Cup 2002
Italy, with Totti, Maldini, and Buffon in their ranks, were expected to coast past South Korea. Prior to 2002, South Korea had never won a single World Cup game across five previous tournaments. But the co-host nation stunned Poland and Portugal in the group stage before Ahn Jung-hwan’s golden goal winner ended Italy’s tournament in the round of 16.
Ahn Jung-hwan’s golden goal sent the Italians crashing out, and with it, sent shockwaves across Europe. The match is still debated for its refereeing decisions, but history remembers it for what it was—an almighty upset of football history hierarchy.
10. Brazil 1–7 Germany – World Cup 2014
Brazil were hosting the FIFA World Cup for the second time (the first being 1950), and had won the tournament on five previous occasions. Germany were three-time winners but had not won the tournament in 24 years.
Brazil, hosts and five-time world champions, collapsed spectacularly. By the 29th minute, it was 5–0. The final score, 7–1, remains the worst defeat in Brazil’s World Cup football history.
It wasn’t just the goals. It was the helplessness. The stunned silence. The broken faces in yellow. An entire footballing nation brought to its knees. Germany were magnificent, but the horror belonged to Brazil.
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9. Saudi Arabia 2–1 Argentina – World Cup 2022
Argentina entered the tournament as Copa América champions and on a 36-game unbeaten run. Saudi Arabia? The lowest-ranked team in their group.
All appeared normal as Lionel Messi put Argentina in front from the penalty spot in their opening game against Saudi Arabia. But the Gulf nation had fire in their boots. Two second-half goals flipped the match on its head. They pressed, they battled, and when the final whistle blew, they had delivered one of the biggest World Cup upsets in football history.
Argentina, stunned, would go on to win the tournament. But they never forgot that opening slap of humility.
8. Cameroon 1–0 Argentina – World Cup 1990
Argentina were reigning world champions, spearheaded by Diego Maradona. Cameroon were making only their second World Cup appearance.
The Diego Maradona-led Argentines were expected to sweep the Cameroonians aside. But a gravity-defying leap from Cameroon forward Francois Omam-Biyick saw the Indomitable Lions stun their South American opponents and the whole world.
They didn’t just beat Argentina—they outwilled them. The image of shirtless Cameroonian players dancing in Milan remains one of football’s most visceral expressions of joy and defiance.
7. North Korea 1–0 Italy – World Cup 1966
In one of the most politically charged matches in World Cup history, tiny, unknown North Korea stunned the two-time champions Italy.
Pak Doo-Ik’s first-half goal became a national legend. Italy’s expulsion from the tournament sparked riots back home. But in Middlesbrough, North Korea became local heroes. They even received a standing ovation in their next match.
A geopolitical underdog story that transcended sport and also one of the biggest upsets in football history.
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6. Senegal 1–0 France – World Cup 2002
France came into the 2002 World Cup as defending champions, having won on home soil in 1998, and were looking for a third consecutive tournament success after victory at Euro 2000. Senegal were World Cup debutants.
Worse was to come for France as Bouba Diop’s goal gave Senegal a famous win. Senegal played with swagger, physicality, and a refreshing disregard for reputation. They went on to reach the quarterfinals only the second African team to do so at the time. indeed a football history upset that cannot be forgotten,
France, meanwhile, went home early. Without scoring a single goal.
5. Iceland 2–1 England – Euro 2016
Iceland had more volcanoes than professional footballers. Their manager was a dentist. And yet, they dismantled England in front of the world.
Wayne Rooney’s early penalty was quickly equalized by Ragnar Sigurðsson. Then Kolbeinn Sigþórsson scored what would become the winner.
England’s attack fizzled. Iceland’s belief intensified. The final whistle brought tears for England, and Viking roars for Iceland.
It wasn’t just a defeat. It was an implosion that we will always look back to when talking about upsets in football history
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4. Greece Win Euro 2004
Before the tournament began, Greece had never won a match at a major competition.
But the Greeks went all the way to the final, knocking out France in the quarterfinals 1-0, and then won the semi-final courtesy of a golden goal against Czech Republic.
The final saw them face hosts Portugal led by Figo and a young Cristiano Ronaldo, who had never won a major trophy and now had the chance to do so on home soil. But was left stunned after Charisteas’ header in the final silenced Lisbon. Greece, against all odds, were champions of Europe.
3. Leicester City Win the Premier League – 2015/16
This wasn’t just an upset, It was a sporting miracle.
Leicester had escaped relegation by a whisker the previous year. They started the season with the league’s third-smallest budget.
But week by week, win by win, they clung to belief. Vardy scored in 11 straight matches. Mahrez dazzled. Kanté swept the midfield like a storm. And Ranieri, calm as ever, guided his misfits to immortality.
The Premier League has never seen and likely will never see anything like it again.
2. Deportivo 4–0 AC Milan – Champions League 2004
Milan won the first leg 4–1. That should have been that. Instead, Deportivo summoned one of the greatest comebacks in Champions League history. First-half goals from Pandiani, Valerón, and Luque brought them level. Fran’s second-half strike completed the miracle.
Milan’s elite midfield—Pirlo, Seedorf, Kaká—had no answer. Deportivo didn’t just beat them. They erased them.
1. Real Madrid 1–4 Ajax – Champions League 2019
Real Madrid were three-time defending European champions. Ajax, a team of precocious talent, had lost the first leg at home 2–1.
But in Madrid, the Dutch giants rediscovered their swagger. Ziyech. Neres. Tadić. They carved Real Madrid apart with intoxicating flair and fearless movement.
By full-time, the Bernabéu stood stunned. Ajax hadn’t just won—they had dismantled an empire. The night marked both an end and a beginning. For Real Madrid’s dominance. And for Ajax’s renaissance.
Wrapping Up Upsets in Football History
Upsets are football’s great equalizers. They don’t just flip scorelines, they dismantle assumptions. They remind the powerful that domination is temporary. They give the underdog hope, a roar, a banner of belief to carry forward.
These eleven moments live on not simply because they shocked us but because they redefined what is possible in a game built on unpredictability, heart, and the ever-glorious element of surprise.
FAQ about Unexpected Upsets in World Football History
What was the biggest FA Cup shock in history?
The biggest FA Cup shock in history remains Hereford United’s legendary 2–1 victory over Newcastle United in 1972. It wasn’t just an upset, it was a cultural moment.
Hereford were a Southern League side amateurs. Meanwhile, Newcastle, were a top-tier power, featuring England international Malcolm Macdonald and a squad brimming with experience. The gap was vast—economically, professionally, and reputationally.
In the third-round replay, Macdonald opened the scoring, seemingly ending the fairytale. But then came Ronnie Radford’s iconic 30-yard thunderous screamer. Then Ricky George, off the bench, wrote the final chapter.
Hereford were through. Newcastle were gone. And English football would never forget the day.
Are upsets common in soccer?
Yes,upsets are not only common in soccer; they are its lifeblood. Unlike many sports that reward consistency over chaos, soccer is uniquely vulnerable to surprise. One goal can overturn 90 minutes of dominance. A moment of brilliance or calamity can shift the entire narrative.
What is the longest ever FA Cup tie?
The longest ever FA Cup tie was between Alvechurch and Oxford City in 1971, spanning six matches. It took 11 hours of football before Alvechurch finally edged a 1–0 win in the sixth replay, played at Villa Park. During the saga, the teams met on November 6, 8, 10, 15, 17, and finally 22, spanning nearly three full weeks.
How often do upsets happen in football?
Upsets in football occur more frequently than most anticipate. They are natural to the sport’s identity. Statistically, upsets occur in around 15–25% of professional matches, depending on the league and competition. In knockout formats like the FA Cup, the rate rise, with non-league and lower-tier teams routinely ambushing top-flight opposition.
What is a major upset?
A major upset in football occurs when a result defies standard wisdom, obliterates betting odds, and leaves spectators stunned. It’s not merely about an underdog winning, it’s about a groundbreaking shift in expectation versus outcome.
What is the longest unbeatable run in football history?
The longest unbeaten run in football history belongs to A.F.C. Ajax, who went unbeaten in 52 consecutive league matches between 1994 and 1996 in the Dutch Eredivisie.
