---
title: The World Cup's Greatest Upsets
description: A look back at nearly a century of shock results reveals four recurring patterns behind football's greatest upsets. As Spain and Argentina meet in today's 20...
date: 2026-07-19T07:00:00.000Z
updated: 2026-07-20T08:37:04.112Z
canonical: https://richdadmagazine.com/article/the-world-cup-s-greatest-upsets
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/pexels-a-person-holds-a-sign-welcoming-the-2026-fifa-world-cup-in-s-38259394.jpg
categories: Sport
region: Global
publication: Rich Dad Magazine
access: members
schema_type: Article
---

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Spain and Argentina meet later today to decide the 2026 World Cup, the culmination of a tournament that expanded to 48 teams and more than 100 matches across three host countries. Whatever happens on the pitch, it is worth remembering that both finalists have, at different points, stood on the wrong side of football's most famous shocks. Look closely enough at ninety six years of World Cup upsets and a strange thing becomes clear. They are not really random at all. They cluster into four recognisable patterns, and knowing them changes how the next one, whenever it arrives, actually reads.

## The curse that follows the reigning champion

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