Giant Killers and Shock Results: The Biggest Upsets of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is barely underway, yet it has already delivered the kind of drama, giant-killings and unexpected twists that make football the world’s favourite sport. And for South African football fans, every surprise result offers fresh hope for Bafana Bafana’s own World Cup journey.

The FIFA World Cup has always been football’s biggest stage for upsets. From North Korea shocking Italy in 1966 to Saudi Arabia stunning eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 tournament. History is full of moments where the script gets ripped up and thrown into the stands.

With the tournament expanding to 48 teams for the first time, everyone expected more surprises in 2026. So far, the football gods have certainly not disappointed.

For South Africans, however, this World Cup feels different. Bafana Bafana are back on the biggest stage for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010, and supporters from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Durban to Polokwane have once again dusted off the national jerseys and started believing.

After qualifying for the tournament, South Africa landed in Group A alongside hosts Mexico, South Korea and the Czech Republic. A group that looked challenging on paper but far from impossible.

The opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup saw South Africa take on hosts Mexico at the legendary Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. In a nice piece of football history, it was another meeting between the two nations that also marked the opening of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg. Millions of South Africans tuned in with plenty of hope and probably a few nervous snacks, as Bafana stepped onto football’s biggest stage once again.

Mexico eventually secured a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Julián Quiñones and veteran striker Raúl Jiménez. The scoreline was disappointing for South African supporters, but the performance itself showed that Bafana Bafana belong at this level. Against one of the tournament hosts and a higher-ranked side, South Africa competed with determination and discipline.

Let’s be honest nobody enjoys losing, but there were enough positives to suggest this campaign is far from over. As every football fan knows, one result doesn’t win or lose a World Cup. (Just ask anyone who has confidently predicted a last-minute winner only to watch VAR ruin their afternoon.)

With crucial matches against the Czech Republic and South Korea still to come. South Africa remains firmly focused on reaching the knockout stages. Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams will once again be one of the country’s biggest assets after his outstanding performances during qualification and recent international tournaments.

While South Africa’s opener provided plenty of encouragement despite the defeat. One of the tournament’s first genuine upsets came courtesy of Australia.

The Socceroos defeated Türkiye 2-0 in a result that few predicted before kick-off. Türkiye entered the competition with high expectations, but Australia’s disciplined defending and clinical finishing proved decisive. Goals from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe stunned the Turkish side and immediately reminded everyone that rankings and reputations count for very little once the whistle blows.

For South African football supporters, it was another reminder that underdogs can upset even the strongest teams on football’s biggest stage.

Another surprise arrived when Qatar earned a 1-1 draw against Switzerland. The Swiss controlled large portions of the match and looked on course for victory before Qatar struck a late equaliser through Boualem Khoukhi to secure a valuable point.

These are exactly the kinds of moments that make the FIFA World Cup so unpredictable. One lapse in concentration, one set piece or one brilliant finish can change everything in an instant.

Perhaps the most impressive result of the opening round came when Morocco held five-time world champions Brazil to a 1-1 draw.

After becoming the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final in 2022, Morocco proved that achievement was no fluke. They once again demonstrated tactical discipline, technical quality and enormous belief against one of football’s traditional giants.

For South African fans, Morocco’s performance is encouraging for African football as a whole. Every strong display by an African nation helps reinforce the continent’s growing reputation on the world stage.

Few expected Japan to take points from their opening clash against the Netherlands. The Samurai Blue delivered one of the tournament’s first major surprises by battling to a thrilling 2-2 draw. The Dutch entered the match as clear favourites and twice took the lead, only for Japan to respond with determination and attacking quality.

The new 48-team format naturally creates more opportunities for surprise results.

More nations means more different styles of football, more passionate underdogs and more occasions where favourites underestimate their opponents. While statistics and FIFA rankings provide useful talking points, they don’t score goals.

As Bafana Bafana continue their own campaign, South African supporters know better than most that football is decided on the pitch, not on paper.

The spirit of the 2010 FIFA World Cup still lives on through the vuvuzelas, the memories of Waka Waka and the pride of hosting Africa’s first World Cup. That same spirit is now driving a new generation of South African football fans as they follow Bafana Bafana in North America.

The tournament has only just begun, and if the opening matches have taught us anything, it’s this: expect the unexpected. Because at the FIFA World Cup, today’s underdog can become tomorrow’s headline and hopefully. Somewhere along the way, Bafana Bafana can write one of those stories too.