Since it began in 1930, the World Cup's most memorable moments are rarely the ones that end with a team lifting a trophy. And the 2026 FIFA World Cup is no exception. So far, this tournament has been defined by its underdog celebrations: Curaçao fans erupting after their team walked away with a draw, Cape Verde exploding into a global fan favorite team in just two games, and lesser soccer powers like DR Congo, Haiti, Uzbekistan, and Egypt hitting milestones they've awaited for decades.To bring you up to speed, here are our picks of the best underdog moments from this World Cup so far.
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Curaçao celebrates its first World Cup point like a win
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In Willemstad, Curaçao’s capital city, fans gathered to watch their national team play Ecuador in its first-ever World Cup. The match ended 0-0 — but for Curaçao, a draw still meant history. The team had earned its first point in the tournament standings.That point mattered even more because of how the match played out. Curaçao had opened the tournament six days earlier with a 7-1 loss to Germany. Ecuador controlled most of the team's second game, finishing with nearly 30 shots and more than three expected goals. But goalkeeper Eloy Room kept Curaçao in it, making 15 saves and helping the team hold on for the draw.By the final whistle, Curaçao had not scored, but it had done enough to give fans something to celebrate. The country has a population of about 156,000, making it the smallest nation ever to play at a World Cup, so its presence at the tournament was already historic. Its first ever point made the moment feel even bigger.Cape Verde becomes everyone’s favorite debut story
