Cape Verde’s surprising 0-0 draw against Spain in a recent World Cup match has added a new chapter to the tournament’s history of underdog achievements. Despite being ranked 61 places below Spain and facing 27 shots on goal, Cape Verde’s goalkeeper, the 40-year-old Vozinha, managed to keep a clean sheet. Spain dominated possession with 7,555 completed passes compared to Cape Verde’s 2,227, yet the African side maintained a remarkable defensive stand.

This result stands alongside a series of notable World Cup upsets that have punctuated the tournament over the years. One of the earliest occurred in the 1938 World Cup when Cuba, arriving in France with just 15 players, advanced to the quarter-finals. After a dramatic 3-3 draw against Romania, Cuba won the replay 2-1 despite their first-choice goalkeeper opting out to work as a match commentator. Their journey ended with a heavy 8-0 loss to Sweden.

In 1966, North Korea stunned the football world by defeating Italy 1-0 in their group match at Ayresome Park. This victory allowed them to reach the quarter-finals, where they fell 5-3 to Portugal after leading 3-0. North Korea’s qualification was notable as it came after South Africa’s ban and South Korea’s withdrawal.

Morocco made history in 1986 by becoming the first African team to reach the knockout stage. They topped a group including England, Poland, and Portugal by drawing with England and Poland and defeating Portugal 3-1. Their run ended in a narrow 1-0 loss to West Germany, courtesy of a late free-kick by Lothar Matthäus.

Senegal’s 2002 debut was equally memorable, as they defeated reigning world champions France 1-0. Senegal proceeded to the quarter-finals, while France unexpectedly finished bottom of their group, scoring zero goals and receiving more red cards than goals.

Algeria’s 1982 win over West Germany marked the first time an African team beat a European side at the World Cup. Despite this historic victory, Algeria was eliminated after West Germany and Austria produced a controversial result in their final group match, later dubbed the “Disgrace of Gijón.”

Other significant upsets include the United States defeating England 1-0 in 1950, with Joe Gaetjens scoring the lone goal in a largely part-time American squad; Saudi Arabia’s 2-1 victory over Argentina in the 2022 tournament, despite Argentina entering on a 36-match unbeaten run; and Cameroon’s 1-0 win against 1990 defending champions Argentina, even while playing with reduced numbers on the field.

These matches underscore the unpredictable nature of the World Cup, where underdogs can defy expectations against more favoured opponents, creating some of the tournament’s most enduring moments.