When Cape Verde held Spain to a scoreless draw in Atlanta on Monday night, the football world collectively raised an eyebrow. A nation with barely 600,000 citizens — the third-smallest ever to qualify for a World Cup — stood toe-to-toe with the reigning European champions. Their 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha turned in a performance that will be remembered for decades. But as stunning as that result was, it barely cracks the top five of the most jaw-dropping moments in World Cup history.
The tournament has always had a soft spot for chaos. Every four years, at least one team tears up the script and delivers a result that leaves pundits speechless. Here are five that still feel impossible, even years later.
Cameroon vs. Argentina (1990)
In their very first World Cup match, Cameroon did something no one expected: they beat the defending champions. Argentina arrived in Italy with Diego Maradona, the world’s most famous player, and a roster full of talent. Cameroon arrived with a game plan that boiled down to pure intimidation. They fouled relentlessly. Claudio Caniggia was the primary target, and by the second half, Andre Kana-Biyik had already been sent off for a trip from behind.
Then, in the 68th minute, Francois Omam-Biyik rose for a cross. His header was soft — barely enough to trouble a keeper — but Sergio Goycochea let it slip through his hands. Cameroon held on, even after a second red card, and secured one of the most violent, improbable upsets in soccer history.
Senegal vs. France (2002)
France arrived in South Korea as the reigning world and European champions. Their squad included Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, and Marcel Desailly. Senegal had finished second at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier that year, but they were still massive underdogs. Then Papa Bouba Diop slid in to score from close range in the 30th minute, and the Lions of Teranga held on for a 1-0 win. France never recovered — they crashed out in the group stage without scoring a single goal. Senegal rode that momentum all the way to the quarterfinals, beating Sweden along the way. Many of those players, including El Hadji Diouf and Salif Diao, earned moves to the Premier League that summer.
Republic of Ireland vs. Italy (1994)
Jack Charlton’s Ireland had a respectable squad — Roy Keane, Paul McGrath, Denis Irwin — but they were heavy underdogs against Italy, one of the tournament favorites. The game was barely 10 minutes old when Ray Houghton collected a bouncing ball, took aim from distance, and lobbed the Italian goalkeeper with a half-volley that seemed to hang in the air forever. What followed was 80 minutes of desperate, heroic defending, led by a man-of-the-match display from McGrath. Ireland held on for a 1-0 win in New Jersey, a result that remains one of the proudest moments in the nation’s soccer history.
Saudi Arabia vs. Argentina (2022)
Lionel Messi converted a penalty in the 10th minute. The rest of the first half felt like a formality — Argentina was going to roll. But Saudi Arabia had other plans. Saleh Al-Shehri equalized just after the break, and then Salem Al-Dawsari curled in a stunning winner. Argentina looked stunned. The Saudis celebrated like they had won the tournament itself. And in a strange twist, Argentina recovered from that loss to beat France in the final — becoming just the second team ever to lose an opening match and still win the World Cup.
USA vs. England (1950)
This one might never be topped. England entered the 1950 World Cup with genuine belief they were the best team on the planet. They had skipped the first three editions, partly out of fear that losing would damage their reputation. So when they finally showed up, they expected to dominate. Instead, they ran into a United States team made up of part-time players and amateurs. Joe Gaetjens scored the only goal in the 38th minute, and the U.S. held on for a 1-0 win. The result was so shocking that many British newspapers initially refused to believe it, running the score as 10-1 in England’s favor before correcting it. To this day, it remains the upset against which all other World Cup shocks are measured.
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