Top 5 Best Underdog Performances in FIFA World Cup History

The FIFA World Cup is the most prestigious tournament in world football, and it has always been a stage for stunning moments of glory and heartbreak. While powerhouses like Brazil, Germany, and Argentina often dominate headlines, the tournament has also seen remarkable stories of underdog teams defying the odds.

In each tournament version, a rank outsider always rises to the top and shocks the world and the tournament’s favorites. While there haven’t been any huge shockers that have gone to win the entire tournament, plenty have left their mark in the history books for their memorable performances.

In this blog post, I will be going over five of the best of them.

5 Best Underdog Performances in FIFA World Cup History

Croatia – 2018

Croatia’s performance at the 2018 World Cup in Russia was extraordinary. Coming from a nation of just 4 million people, the team had always punched above its weight. With Davor Šuker firing on all cylinders, they made it to the semifinals in 1998 before ultimately finishing in third place in their debut on the international stage. Twenty years later, they would go one better.

Led by the mercurial Luka Modrić — who would go on to win the Ballon d’Or that year — the Croatians shined on the grandest stage. They kicked things off with a resounding 2-0 victory over Nigeria, but their second group game against Lionel Messi’s Argentina made the world sit up and take notice. A second-half masterclass brought goals from Ante Rebic, and Ivan Rakitic, and a rocket from captain Modric sealed a stunning 3-0 win.

That sent Croatia onto the knockout stage where their relentlessness came to the fore. Penalty shootout victories against Denmark and hosts Russia punched their ticket to the semifinals, where they met an England side determined to bring football home. Unfortunately for the Three Lions, Mario Mandžukić had other ideas, bagging a 116th-minute winner to break English hearts.

That was as good as it would get, and the Croatians were defeated 4-2 after a brave final showing against eventual champions France in Moscow. But they indeed bowed out with their heads held high. Four years later, they were up to their old tricks again, eliminating favorites Brazil en route to a third-place finish.

While Croatia has performed heroics in its last two forays onto the global stage, don’t expect them to deliver yet another underdog story in 2026. Their recent Euro 2024 campaign was a massive disappointment as they suffered a group-stage exit.

Morocco – 2022

Morocco’s fairy-tale run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar rewrote history. The Atlas Lions became the first African team to reach the semifinals — a feat that inspired their fans and an entire continent. Under the guidance of Walid Regragui, who had only stepped into the role as manager barely three months prior, the North African side were set to take the world by storm.

With a solid core built around Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, and Hakim Ziyech, the underdogs splashed on the group stage. They began with a gritty 0-0 draw against Croatia, before bursting onto the scene with a 2-0 victory against heavyweights Belgium. Another win against Canada sealed the top spot in the tough-looking group, setting up a problematic last-16 tie with Northern neighbors Spain.

La Roja reached the semifinals of Euro 2020 just 18 months prior, but they couldn’t find a way past the brave Atlas Lions. The tie eventually finished goalless, allowing goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to take center stage. He saved all three Spanish spot-kicks from Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler, and Sergio Busquets to seal his side’s spot in the quarterfinals.

There, another shock against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal was on the horizon. Youssef En-Nesyri’s towering header was enough to seal a 1-0 victory and secure Africa’s first-ever semifinalist, but unfortunately, that is where the run came to an end. Reigning champions France ultimately emerged as a comfortable 2-0 victor, before ultimately losing a thrilling final to Argentina.

Uruguay – 2010

Uruguay has a rich footballing history. It won two of the first four FIFA World Cups, including the inaugural installment, which it hosted in 1930. Seventy years after that triumph, Uruguay headed to South Africa with a menacing strike force consisting of Diego Forlan, Luis Suarez, and Edinson Cavani. And it was determined to do damage.

They breezed through the group stage, with the highlight being a 3-0 victory against the hosts South Africa, setting up a round of 16 clash with South Korea. Suarez would ultimately be the hero, netting an 80th-minute winner. But it was in the quarterfinals where he would cement himself in football folklore.

Ghana aimed to become the first African semifinalist in a tournament that their continent was hosting. Deep into extra time, they thought they had found the winner, only for Suarez to clear the ball with his hands on the goalline. He was sent off, and Asamoah Gyan missed the resulting penalty with the last kick of the game. His side would ultimately lose on penalties.

With Suarez missing for the final, Uruguay bravely bowed out with a 3-2 defeat to the Netherlands. Forlan was named as the player of the tournament, while Suarez became football’s biggest villain.

Costa Rica – 2014

Costa Rica shocked the football world at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, topping a group that included three former champions—Italy, Uruguay, and England. Dubbed the “Group of Death,” few gave the tiny nation much of a chance, but it thrived under coach Jorge Luis Pinto and goalkeeper Keylor Navas’s towering performances.

Their opening 3-1 victory over Uruguay set the tone, leaving the other teams scrambling for points. A disciplined defensive performance helped secure a shocking 1-0 win against Italy, which secured the top spot in the group and eliminated England in the process. Those two would draw their dead rubber game, and the Costa Ricans could focus on the knockout round.

They held their nerve in the second round, finishing goalless after 120 minutes against Euro 2004 winners Greece before ultimately winning a penalty shootout. In the quarters, they more than held their own against the Netherlands, but spot kicks weren’t their friend this time. Substitute Tim Krul saved from Bryan Ruiz and Michael Umaña to seal the Oranje’s place in a second straight semifinal.

South Korea – 2002

Co-hosting the 2002 World Cup alongside Japan, South Korea defied all odds to reach the semifinals. Managed by the legendary Guus Hiddink, they became the first – and still the only – Asian side to go this far in a World Cup. But their run wasn’t without its controversies.

The group stage saw South Korea finish at the top, with wins over Poland and Luis Figo’s Portugal. In the Round of 16, they met heavyweights Italy, and many controversial calls left the Azzurri dismayed. While they were enraged, Ahn Jung-hwan netted a golden goal in extra time to seal progression to the quarterfinals.

There, even more questionable refereeing decisions were displayed for 120 minutes, with South Korea ultimately winning a penalty shootout. Whether it was a fairytale or a fix is up for debate, but the run did indeed come to an end in the semifinals. Germany was the team that punched their tickets to a date with Brazil, winning 1-0 through Michael Ballack’s winner deep into the second half.

Summary

While heavyweights such as the reigning champions Argentina and two-time winners France usually end up with the trophy, there is always a darkhorse team that shine at the World Cup even though no one else expected them to. In this list I covered five teams that demonstrated heart, passion, and determination in the World Cup and were able to stand out even as underdogs.

For fans interested in predicting the next big underdog story or exploring betting opportunities on football outcomes, options like football bet in NZ offer a great way to engage with the game. As the 2026 tournament approaches, the potential for surprises remains high, making it an exciting time for football enthusiasts worldwide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Was South Korea’s Run So Controversial?

In the Round of 16 against Italy, South Korea won 2-1 in extra time, but contentious decisions, including a disallowed Italian goal and a red card for Francesco Totti marred the match. In the quarterfinals against Spain, two more goals for La Roja were questionably ruled out, allowing the hosts to progress via a penalty shootout.

Who Has the Potential to Be a Surprise Package in 2026?

With the tournament hosted primarily in the USA, don’t be surprised to see the Stars and Stripes make a deep run. With a strong core based around AC Milan attacker Christian Pulisic, they have the potential to secure a best ever finish.