Some scorelines are so unlikely they become folklore. The World Cup has produced more than its share.
- USA 1-0 England, 1950 — amateurs against the inventors of the game.
- North Korea 1-0 Italy, 1966 — one of the tournament's earliest great shocks.
- Senegal 1-0 France, 2002 — the debutants beating the reigning champions in the opening game.
- Saudi Arabia 2-1 Argentina, 2022 — against the eventual champions, no less.
Defending champions have repeatedly fallen early, too. The lesson every favourite re-learns the hard way: on the day, in a one-off match, anyone can beat anyone. That fragility is what makes the group stage so watchable.