Relive the 10 most shocking World Cup upsets of the 21st century, culminating in Cape Verde’s historic 2026 masterclass against Spain.
The true magic of the FIFA World Cup does not lie solely in watching legendary nations lift the golden trophy; it lives in those impossible moments when logic dies on the pitch.
In the 21st century, the tactical gap between powerhouses and underdogs has rapidly closed, creating a modern era defined by spectacular giant-killings and unbreakable defensive walls.
Here are the top 10 greatest World Cup upsets of the 21st century.
1. Senegal 1-0 France (2002)
There is no stage more terrifying than the opening match of a World Cup, especially when making your absolute tournament debut against the defending World and European champions.
France arrived in South Korea boasting the top scorers of the English, Italian, and French leagues. Yet, Senegal played with fearless joy.
After Papa Bouba Diop scored in the 30th minute, the spotlight shifted to Senegalese goalkeeper Tony Sylva. He delivered a masterclass, making 5 crucial saves to deny Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet, ensuring a clean sheet and triggering a catastrophic collapse for France, who crashed out without scoring a single goal.
2. Trinidad & Tobago 0-0 Sweden (2006)
Trinidad & Tobago entered the 2006 World Cup as the smallest nation in tournament history. Facing a terrifying Swedish attacking trio of Zlatan Ibrahimović, Freddie Ljungberg, and Henrik Larsson, and forced to play with 10 men for the entire second half, a massacre seemed inevitable.
Instead, the world witnessed a miracle orchestrated by 37-year-old backup goalkeeper Shaka Hislop. Called into the starting lineup just minutes before kickoff due to an injury to the first-choice keeper, Hislop played the game of his life. He recorded 6 stunning saves against Sweden’s 18 total shots, single-handedly securing the greatest 0-0 draw in Caribbean football history.
3. South Africa 2-1 France (2010)
While host nations usually rely on momentum, South Africa entered their final group match in 2010 needing a miracle. France, despite dealing with an infamous internal player strike, was still a squad overflowing with elite Champions League talent.
Fuelled by the deafening roar of the vuvuzelas, Bafana Bafana tore the former world champions to shreds. Bongani Khumalo and Katlego Mphela scored two electric first-half goals, overwhelming a completely broken French side.
South Africa generated 10 shots on target, exposing the fragility of the 2006 runners-up and handing France one of their most humiliating World Cup exits ever.
4. New Zealand 1-1 Italy (2010)
Italy stepped onto the pitch in South Africa as the defending World Champions. New Zealand, ranked 78th in the world, fielded a squad featuring several semi-professional players, including a banker.
After Shane Smeltz gave the All Whites a shock lead, the match turned into a brutal siege. Italy unleashed 23 shots and forced 15 corners, but New Zealand goalkeeper Mark Paston was an absolute titan.
Paston made 4 breathtaking saves, conceding only to a controversial penalty. This monumental 1-1 draw contributed to Italy finishing dead last in the group, while New Zealand left the tournament as the only undefeated team.
5. Costa Rica 1-0 Italy (2014)
When Costa Rica was drawn into the ultimate “Group of Death” alongside three former World Cup champions (Italy, England, and Uruguay), global pundits immediately wrote their obituary.
However, Los Ticos played with supreme technical confidence. After Bryan Ruiz scored a magical header just before halftime, the spotlight turned to goalkeeper Keylor Navas. Navas flawlessly commanded his penalty area, neutralizing Mario Balotelli and Andrea Pirlo to secure his second consecutive clean sheet.
This 1-0 earthquake officially eliminated England and guaranteed Costa Rica a miraculous path to the top of the group.
6. Iceland 1-1 Argentina (2018)
How does a tiny Nordic island with a population of 330,000 stop Lionel Messi? By constructing an unbreakable wall of ice. In their very first World Cup match, Iceland faced an Argentine squad that controlled 72% possession and launched 26 shots.
The ultimate hero was Icelandic goalkeeper Hannes Þór Halldórsson – a man who worked as a professional film director outside of football.
Halldórsson recorded 6 massive saves, but his cinematic masterpiece occurred in the 64th minute when he perfectly dove to save a penalty kick from Lionel Messi. The 1-1 draw echoed like a thunderous Viking clap across the globe.
7. South Korea 2-0 Germany (2018)
The defending champions crashing out in the group stages has become a modern World Cup curse, but Germany’s demise in Russia was exceptionally traumatic.
Needing a win to survive, Die Mannschaft besieged the Asian penalty box with 26 shots (6 on target) and 70% possession.
They were denied by the superhuman reflexes of South Korean goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo. Earning the Man of the Match award with 6 spectacular saves, Cho broke the German spirit.
In stoppage time, South Korea delivered two fatal counter-attacks through Kim Young-gwon and Son Heung-min, sending the defending champions home in absolute disgrace.
8. Saudi Arabia 2-1 Argentina (2022)
Argentina arrived in Qatar riding a spectacular 36-match unbeaten streak. When Messi calmly converted an early penalty, a routine blowout seemed inevitable.
The second half, however, birthed a statistical anomaly. After Saudi Arabia scored two mind-bending goals in five minutes, goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais put on a legendary display of bravery. Al-Owais made 5 heroic saves, flying off his line to punch away crosses and throwing his body in front of point-blank Argentine strikes.
His fearless performance protected the 2-1 lead, snapping Argentina’s streak and creating the biggest mathematical upset in World Cup history.
9. Japan Shocks Germany & Spain (2022)
Japan did not just cause one upset in Qatar; they completely hijacked the “Group of Death” by executing the exact same script twice.
Against Germany, they fell behind 1-0, only for goalkeeper Shūichi Gonda to make 8 incredible saves (including a sequence of 4 saves in barely 10 seconds), keeping Japan alive for a late 2-1 comeback.
Days later against Spain, Japan again trailed 1-0. Boasting a mere 17% possession – the lowest winning possession in World Cup history, the Samurai Blue struck twice in three minutes.
Kaoru Mitoma’s miraculous, millimeter-perfect assist kept the ball in play just long enough for Ao Tanaka to score the winner. Japan topped the group, leaving two European giants battered in their wake.
10. Cape Verde 0-0 Spain (2026)
The 2026 World Cup’s expanded 48-team format promised unprecedented chaos, and it delivered an absolute masterclass in defensive resilience when the tiny island nation of Cape Verde (ranked 69th) collided with the mighty Spanish armada.
Spain dominated with 75% possession, 22 total shots, and 12 corners, fielding generational talents like Lamine Yamal and Pedri. Yet, they ran straight into a brick wall. The Cape Verdean goalkeeper was possessed, recording 9 spectacular saves, including a fingertip stop in the 94th minute.
Securing a 0-0 draw against a billion-euro squad without conceding a single goal instantly became the defining David vs. Goliath story of the 2026 tournament.
FAQ
Q: Why are South Korea’s 2002 victories over Italy and Spain excluded from this list?
A: While South Korea’s historic run to the 2002 semi-finals was statistically a monumental upset, their knockout victories against Italy and Spain are deeply overshadowed by severe refereeing controversies.
Because those matches were marred by highly questionable officiation and scandals that directly influenced the final results, they lack the “pure” underdog spirit and tactical brilliance that define the other celebrated giant-killings on this list.
To maintain the integrity of a true footballing “upset”, those specific matches were intentionally excluded.
Q: Are draws really considered “upsets” in football?
A: Absolutely. In sports betting and international media, an “upset” refers to any outcome that wildly defies the odds and expectations.
When a massive underdog like Cape Verde or Trinidad & Tobago tactically neutralizes a world-class team and forces a 0-0 draw, it is widely celebrated as a monumental upset.
Q: Which World Cup goalkeeper holds the record for the most saves in a single match?
A: In the modern era, USA’s Tim Howard holds the record with 16 saves against Belgium in the 2014 World Cup Round of 16.
However, goalkeepers like Shūichi Gonda (8 saves vs Germany, 2022) and Shaka Hislop (6 saves vs Sweden, 2006) are celebrated for making crucial saves that directly secured historic upsets.
Q: Did any of the heavily favored teams recover from these upsets to win the tournament?
A: Yes! The most famous modern example is Argentina in 2022. Despite suffering the massive 2-1 upset to Saudi Arabia in their opening match, Lionel Messi and his team regrouped, won all their remaining games, and eventually lifted the World Cup trophy.
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