Every World Cup throws up a team that no one expected to go far. Whether it is a debutant making its mark or an underdog knocking out a favourite, these runs are part of what makes the tournament so compelling. The last five World Cups have each produced their own surprise package.
These are the nations that defied their standing, often shrugging off long World Cup odds to reach stages few saw coming. Some fell agonisingly short, while others made history.
In this article, we look at the surprise nation from each of the last five World Cups.
Morocco at Qatar 2022
The 2022 World Cup belonged, in many ways, to Morocco. Walid Regragui’s side became the first African and first Arab nation to reach the semi-finals, beating Belgium, Spain and Portugal along the way. They knocked out Spain on penalties and outplayed Portugal in the quarter-final before losing to France in the last four. Backed by huge support inside the stadiums, their run captured the imagination far beyond their own country.
Croatia at Russia 2018
Four years earlier, Croatia went further than any surprise package usually manages, reaching the final itself. Luka Modric inspired them through three straight knockout wins, including a semi-final victory over England. They eventually lost 4-2 to France, but a nation of fewer than four million people had reached the biggest game in football. Modric was named the player of the tournament.
Costa Rica at Brazil 2014
Costa Rica produced one of the great group-stage stories in 2014. Drawn alongside former winners Uruguay, Italy and England, they were widely tipped to finish bottom. Instead, they topped the group, beating both Uruguay and Italy, and went on to reach the quarter-finals before losing to the Netherlands on penalties. Runs like theirs are exactly why fans who follow and bet on football keep a close eye on the so-called smaller nations.
Ghana at South Africa 2010
At the first World Cup held in Africa, Ghana carried the hopes of the host continent. They reached the quarter-finals and came within a missed penalty of becoming the first African side to make the semi-finals. Asamoah Gyan struck the bar from the spot in the last minute of extra time against Uruguay, after Luis Suarez had handled on the line, and Ghana lost the shootout that followed. It remains one of the most painful near misses in World Cup history.
Ukraine at Germany 2006
The oldest of the five surprises came in 2006, when Ukraine reached the quarter-finals on their World Cup debut. Captained by Andriy Shevchenko, they recovered from a 4-0 opening defeat to Spain to win their remaining group games and beat Switzerland in a last-16 shootout. Italy, the eventual champions, ended their run with a 3-0 win in the quarter-final. It remains Ukraine’s only World Cup appearance to date.
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From Ukraine’s debut run to Morocco’s history-making campaign, every World Cup finds room for the unexpected. These teams are a reminder that the tournament is rarely just about the favourites. The 2026 World Cup, with 48 teams for the first time, may well throw up the biggest surprise yet.
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