The 2026 World Cup has already produced headline-grabbing shocks, from Cape Verde’s draw with Spain to Ecuador’s late winner against Germany and Paraguay eliminating the four-time champions on penalties in the round of 32, according to ESPN.
For some teams, a single match can turn a tournament from disaster to dream. Ecuador coach Sebastián Beccacece said his wife and daughter were confronted by an angry fan after a disappointing draw with Curaçao, and then he celebrated with his family in the stands after the victory over Germany that secured progression, according to ESPN.
Paraguay’s win in Boston produced scenes of elation. Fans were in tears at Boston Stadium after Julio Enciso’s goal and José Canale’s winning penalty, and the result overshadowed the team’s heavy opening loss to the United States. Paraguay declared the following Tuesday a national holiday, ESPN reported.
Veterans of past shocks point to belief and preparation as common threads. Gunnar Halle, a member of the Norway side that beat a Brazil team featuring Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Cafu in 1998, told ESPN that teams must believe an upset is possible: “I think you have to think you can do something… The atmosphere in the group before was that we could do something,” he said.
Players who lived through famous surprises agree that early moments and neutralizing opponents’ stars matter. Andy Townsend, who was in the Republic of Ireland team that beat Italy 1-0 in 1994, cited Ray Houghton’s early goal and an inspired defensive display from Paul McGrath as decisive, saying “when you score first in matches like that it’s big,” according to ESPN. Likewise, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić used insights from Ivan Rakitić to devise a plan for containing Lionel Messi in 2018; Rakitić recalled a detailed analysis and the objective “to get Leo out of the game,” and ESPN reported that the plan succeeded.
