No tournament generates more shock results than the FIFA World Cup. The pressure, the compressed schedule, and the gap in resources between nations create fertile conditions for upsets that will be talked about for generations. With the expanded 48-team format at the 2026 edition, the conditions for David vs Goliath moments have never been more favourable.
The original great upset came in 1950 when the United States — a team of amateurs and part-timers — defeated England 1-0 in the group stage. More recently, Saudi Arabia's 2-1 defeat of Argentina in the 2022 group stage sent shockwaves around the world. Messi had put Argentina ahead from the penalty spot before a breathtaking second-half display from the Saudis turned the match on its head.
In 2026, first-time qualifiers like Haiti, Curaçao, Cape Verde and Jordan will look to write their own chapters. The expanded format means more matches, more variety, and more opportunities for the unheralded to stun the giants. History tells us that at least one major favourite will fall in the group stage — the only question is who.
