Ghana and Cape Verde, ranked 73rd and 67th in the world respectively, have defied expectations by advancing to the last 32 of the World Cup in North America. Both teams secured wins and draws against opponents with significantly higher FIFA rankings, marking some of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
Biggest Ranking Gaps
A chart of the tournament's biggest upsets shows results with a ranking difference greater than 30. Notable matches include Ghana's victory over a higher-ranked team and Cape Verde's draw against a top-tier opponent. Australia's win against Turkey did not make the cut as the ranking gap was under 30.
Cape Verde's Historic Achievement
Cape Verde head coach Bubista said his team had “shown that nothing is impossible” after securing a historic meeting with Argentina in the last 32. The team's performance highlights the unpredictable nature of the World Cup and the potential for lower-ranked teams to compete at the highest level.
