Every 2026 World Cup Upset So Far: Germany, Netherlands, Uruguay
The biggest 2026 World Cup upsets: Paraguay knocking out Germany, Morocco beating the Netherlands, Uruguay's group-stage exit, Cape Verde's near-miss against Argentina.
The 2026 World Cup has produced the biggest concentration of upsets in tournament memory. Germany were knocked out on penalties by Paraguay in the Round of 32. The Netherlands went out on penalties to Morocco on the same day. Uruguay were eliminated in the group stage. Cape Verde came within seconds of dumping Argentina out. Norway reached the knockout stages for the first time in a generation
The biggest 2026 World Cup upsets so far are Paraguay knocking out Germany on penalties in the Round of 32, Morocco eliminating the Netherlands on penalties the same day, Uruguay going out in the group stage after Fernando Muslera's error against Spain, and Cape Verde nearly beating Argentina in extra time
What are the biggest upsets at the 2026 World Cup?
Five stories define the 2026 World Cup upset column so far. Two come from Monday 29 June, when Germany and the Netherlands were both eliminated on penalties within hours of each other. Uruguay were dumped out in the group stage. Cape Verde came within an extra-time own goal of beating Argentina. Norway reached the knockouts for the first time since 1998.
The Germany upset registers as the largest ranking gap defeat of any knockout match at this tournament. Paraguay were FIFA ranked 41; Germany 10. Paraguay won 4-3 on penalties.
Morocco's exit of the Netherlands sits in the same weight class in context. The Atlas Lions reached the Qatar 2022 semi-finals as the first African and Arab nation to do so. Their 2026 run was expected and their win on penalties still felt like a shock.
Uruguay were the group-stage shock. Two-time World Cup champions, ranked among the pre-tournament top ten, and out after a single win.
Group-stage shocks: Uruguay eliminated, Norway's run, South Korea knocked out
Uruguay lost 1-0 to Spain in Guadalajara on 26 June, ending Group H with zero wins. Álex Baena's shot in the 42nd minute slipped through the hands of 40-year-old Fernando Muslera, whose third blunder of the tournament led coach Marcelo Bielsa to substitute him at half-time. Sergio Rochet took over. Uruguay finished third in Group H without enough points to progress.
Norway's group-stage run was the opposite kind of shock. Ståle Solbakken's side reached the knockouts for the first time in a generation. Erling Haaland scored braces in both wins: 4-1 against Iraq and 3-2 against Senegal. France beat Norway 4-1 in the final group game after Solbakken rested Haaland and Martin Ødegaard, but the top-two finish was already secured.
South Korea's exit was a third group-stage story. Bafana Bafana beat South Korea 1-0 in Group A after Hong Myung-Bo took the gamble of benching Son Heung-min. South Korea missed the third-placed cut.
Knockout upsets: Germany, Netherlands and Cape Verde's near-miracle
Paraguay 4-3 Germany on penalties was the shock of the round. Kai Havertz equalised after Julio Enciso's opener. Jonathan Tah headed home in extra time only for VAR to disallow the goal. Tah then blasted the decisive spot-kick over the crossbar for Paraguay to advance through José Canale's winning penalty. It was the first World Cup penalty shootout Germany had ever lost. Signed Germany memorabilia at MVPs carries the tournament-window premium after early exits like this.
Morocco 3-2 Netherlands on penalties finished the same day. Issa Diop's stoppage-time equaliser cancelled Cody Gakpo's opener. Ismaïl Saibari scored the winning penalty. Morocco face Canada in the Round of 16.
Cape Verde's near-miracle deserves its own place. The lowest-ranked nation ever to reach a World Cup knockout took Argentina to extra time. Sidny Lopes Cabral's 103rd-minute strike has been called the goal of the tournament. Only a Diney Borges own goal in the 111th minute sent the reigning champions through.