Ten unforgettable group-stage clashes

• The Final Draw for the World Cup 2026 has been made

• There will 72 first-round games at the finals

• FIFA looks back at ten of the best group-stage matches

The FIFA World Cup 2026™ Final Draw took place on Friday 5 December at the iconic John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC, and produced a host mouth-watering first-round battles.

To celebrate, we've taken a look back at ten of the best group-stage clashes from the global finals.

Brazil 1950 : USA 1-0 EnglandBrazil 1950 : USA 1-0 England

This was one of the biggest upsets, and certainly the first great shock, in World Cup history. England’s star-studded squad were clear favourites, but they were beaten by a team of part-time players. The USA fielded a mailman, a dishwasher and a hearse driver, among others. The result was so surprising that many British news outlets even believed the telegrams coming from Belo Horizonte contained a typo, but Joe Gaetjens’ legendary goal was indeed a reality, illustrating the unpredictable nature of the World Cup.

Switzerland 1954: Hungary 8-3 West Germany Switzerland 1954: Hungary 8-3 West Germany

Hungary were a force to be reckoned with in the 1950s, with stars such as Ferenc Puskas and Sandor Kocsis leading the team. This win over West Germany epitomised their talent. As history shows, the Germans learnt a tremendous amount from this hammering. They were far better prepared to bounce back when they met the Magical Magyars again in the final, performing the “Miracle of Bern” to win their first World Cup. Nevertheless, this does not take away from the significance of this drubbing and the astonishing final score.

England 1966: Korea DPR 1-0 ItalyEngland 1966: Korea DPR 1-0 Italy

A housing estate now stands where Ayresome Park – Middlesbrough’s old ground – once stood. A bronze casting of a football boot can be found in the exact spot where Pak Doo-ik scored that winning goal against the Azzurri. This meant that Korea DPR knocked out the two-time world champions on their debut, securing their passage to the quarter-finals. They were subsequently eliminated after losing 5-3 to Portugal in another thrilling match, but they had already gone down in Asian football history.

Mexico 1970: Brazil 1-0 EnglandMexico 1970: Brazil 1-0 England

The group-stage draw pitted the previous two World Cup winners against each other, bringing together a host of legendary players at the Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara. It was a hard-fought contest full of goalscoring opportunities, best remembered for two iconic moments: Gordon Banks’ miraculous save from Pele’s header, and Jairzinho’s goal, which clinched Brazil’s victory with a stunning attacking move. The scoreline was less significant than the spectacular display of skill and passion itself.

West Germany 1974: East Germany 1-0 West GermanyWest Germany 1974: East Germany 1-0 West Germany

This was a historically significant match in Hamburg between the two halves of Germany, once again pitting a football superpower and reigning European champions against a team of semi-professionals. The underdogs emerged victorious thanks to a stellar performance from goalkeeper Jurgen Croy and a goal from Jurgen Sparwasser in the 77th minute. The group was topped by East Germany thanks to that win, which meant they advanced to the second phase. They failed to secure another victory at the tournament, however, while a West Germany outfit led by the likes of Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Muller went on to lift the trophy.

Mexico 1986: Denmark 6-1 Uruguay Mexico 1986: Denmark 6-1 Uruguay

Reigning South American champions Uruguay arrived bearing the weight of expectation that comes with assembling their strongest side in decades. None of that mattered, though, as they were swept aside by Denmark’s dazzling football, featuring a hat-trick from Preben Elkjaer and a brilliant solo goal from Michael Laudrup, where he dribbled through the Uruguayan defence and past the goalkeeper to slot home. FIFA’s technical report ultimately concluded that the Danes played the “most spectacular football of the tournament” before being eliminated by Spain in the Round of 16. They won the admiration of many as a team that played fearlessly and always took the game to their opponents.

Italy 1990: Argentina 0-1 CameroonItaly 1990: Argentina 0-1 Cameroon

One of this edition’s greatest shocks came in its opening match. Although Diego Maradona and six other 1986 world champions graced the pitch, it was Cameroon who emerged victorious. Francois Omam-Biyik broke the deadlock while the African side were already down to ten men, with the San Siro reverberating amid fierce support. Cameroon held on for their first World Cup victory even after going down to nine, kicking off a memorable campaign that would see them reach the quarter-finals.

Korea/Japan 2002: France 0-1 SenegalKorea/Japan 2002: France 0-1 Senegal

A similar situation unfolded 12 years later, which perhaps came as even more of a surprise. France were not only the World Cup holders, but they also arrived in Asia as European champions. Yet World Cup debutants Senegal were anything but intimidated. Quite the opposite, in fact. Thanks to the late Papa Bouba Diop’s tap-in and jubilant celebration – and a team full of character – Senegal came away with three points and captured the hearts of fans the world over. Their journey followed a similar path to Cameroon’s, with both teams being eliminated in the last eight after a historic run.

Brazil 2014: Spain 1-5 NetherlandsBrazil 2014: Spain 1-5 Netherlands

Spain’s hopes of retaining their World Cup title were dealt a devastating blow in their opening match at the Arena Fonte Nova. La Roja even went into a first-half lead, but were no match for the Netherlands overall. Robin van Persie’s stunning diving header from the edge of the box – dubbing him The Flying Dutchman – is what the contest is best remembered for, while Arjen Robben was simply unplayable. The final score heralded the end of the Spanish golden generation’s era of dominance, as they were unable to respond to the questions asked by Louis van Gaal’s side.

Russia 2018: Portugal 3-3 SpainRussia 2018: Portugal 3-3 Spain

This was one of the best World Cup encounters of the modern era, packed with individual brilliance and collective intensity that left fans breathless. The Iberian heavyweights served up a dramatic goalfest for the ages. Despite periods of Spanish dominance and a Diego Costa brace, this turned into one of the most iconic nights of Cristiano Ronaldo’s illustrious career. The Portugal striker scored a hat-trick, capped off by a perfectly executed free kick in the dying minutes, to secure a draw and etch this match into the history books.