The opening round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 has completely rewritten the script, producing several massive surprises that have heavily altered the early group stage dynamics. Fans expecting the traditional global heavyweights to effortlessly cruise through their opening fixtures were instead treated to a masterclass in underdog resilience.
From historic debut performances to tactical masterclasses that caught pundits entirely off guard, the first week of the tournament has proven that the expanded 48-team format is brimming with unpredictability. Here is a comprehensive look at the three most notable upsets and shocking results from Round 1 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Cape Verde Miracle: Holding the European Champions
In what is already being hailed as one of the biggest shocks in tournament
history, World Cup debutants Cape Verde managed a spectacular 0-0 draw against reigning European champions Spain in Group H.
Heading into the fixture, Spain was widely expected to dismantle the tiny island nation. Unsurprisingly, the Spanish side dominated possession and created numerous high-quality chances throughout the 90 minutes. However, Cape Verde held firm, displaying incredible defensive organisation and sheer willpower to record a historic, hard-fought point in their first-ever World Cup match.
DR Congo Frustrates Ronaldo's Portugal
Portugal, another heavy pre-tournament favourite, was forced to settle for a highly frustrating 1-1 draw against a deeply resilient DR Congo side.
The match carried immense historical weight, with legendary forward Cristiano Ronaldo captaining the Portuguese squad in his record-equalling sixth World Cup. Despite the star-studded attacking talent at Portugal's disposal, DR Congo managed to silence their frontline. Through intense physicality and disciplined counter-attacking, the African nation secured a highly valuable point in their opening week, blowing their group wide open.
Australia Shocks Turkiye With Clinical Display
In a Group G matchup that caught many football pundits completely off guard, Australia comfortably defeated TÜrkiye 2-0.
Rather than a scrappy victory, the Socceroos delivered a highly clinical performance that handed TÜrkiye a major early setback. This decisive 2-0 win immediately positioned Australia as the unexpected front-runners in their group, shifting the pressure entirely onto the European side for their remaining fixtures.
Other Heavyweights Stumble Out of the Gates
The wave of opening-round upsets extended beyond Spain and Portugal. Other notable Round 1 struggles for heavyweights included Brazil and Switzerland, who both failed to secure opening victories.
Brazil, the five-time world champions, were held to an unexpected draw by a fiercely competitive Morocco side. Switzerland faced a similar fate, battling to a surprise draw against Qatar. The opening round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has sent a clear message to the traditional footballing powers: reputation alone will not win matches.
With debutants like Cape Verde proving they belong on the global stage and teams like DR Congo and Australia pulling off brilliant tactical results, the group stage is officially wide open. As teams head into Round 2, the pressure on the tournament favourites is at an all-time high, guaranteeing even more drama and must-watch football in the days ahead.
