10 Biggest World Cup Upsets Of All Time
2. North Korea 1 - 0 Italy (1966)
When you think about the country of North Korea, the nation's sporting exploits usually aren't the first thing that comes to mind. But that doesn't mean the country hasn't had success, in 1966, the North Korean football team qualified for the World Cup by beating Australia 9-2 on aggregate.
Qualification was one thing. Most expected the outsiders to be completely dominated by the various South American and European teams sporting professional players in the finals.
The Asian side played their games at Ayresome Park, then home to Middlesbrough, and endeared themselves to the locals with their hard-working, technically proficient style of play. The North Korean team were beaten by the Soviet Union in their opening game but managed to grab a late goal to earn a draw with Chile in their second.
With the team needing to beat Italy in their final group game to secure advancement to the knockout stages, it appeared North Korea's unlikely World Cup exploits were over.
Continuing to shock the football world, a North Korean goal just before halftime would be all that separated the two teams, giving the communist country a historic sporting victory. It has been said that the team were so well liked on Teesside that over 3000 locals travelled to Goodison Park to watch the North Koreans bow out in the knockout stage to a Eusébio inspired Portugal.