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List of nicknamed FIFA World Cup matches

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The following article contains a list of FIFA World Cup association football matches that have been given names that are widely used or recalled in reference to the match, a famous play during the match, or as part of the legacy of an associated national team. This list does not include matches named for being a final, semi-final, or quarter-final match unless they are referred to by a separate nickname besides their official yearly name (i.e. the Miracle of Bern for the 1954 FIFA World Cup final).

List

Name Date First team Score Second team Notes
Battle of Bordeaux 12 June 1938 Brazil Brazil 1–1 Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia 1938 FIFA World Cup Quarter-final match: Nicknamed due to a number of brutal fouls and injuries by both sides, due to the lax officiating of Hungarian referee Pál von Hertzka.[1][2]
Miracle of Belo Horizonte 29 June 1950 United States United States 1–0 England England Considered as one of the greatest upsets in the history of association football due to a goal by Haitian-born U.S. center forward Joe Gaetjens.[3]
Maracanaço 16 July 1950 Uruguay 2–1 Brazil 1950 FIFA World Cup final: Notorious as one of the biggest upsets in the sport's history against Brazil in its World Cup stadium, the Maracanã Stadium.[4][5]
Hitzeschlacht von Lausanne 26 June 1954 Austria Austria 7–5 Switzerland Switzerland 1954 FIFA World Cup Quarter-final match: Known for setting the current World Cup record of 12 goals scored in a match in 40 °C (104 °F) weather.[6][7]
Battle of Berne 27 June 1954 Hungary Hungary 4–2 Brazil Brazil 1954 FIFA World Cup Quarter-final match: Infamous for violent conduct and fighting during and following the match, prompting English referee Arthur Ellis to send off three players during the match.[8][9]
Miracle of Bern 4 July 1954 West Germany 3–2 Hungary Hungary 1954 FIFA World Cup final: Considered one of the greatest matches in World Cup history, and also one of its most unexpected upsets due to West Germany beating the unbeaten Hungarian Golden Team, after having been beaten by them 8–3 in the group stage.[10][11][12]
Disaster of Sweden 15 June 1958 Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia 6–1 Argentina Argentina The heaviest defeat of the Albiceleste team in a FIFA World Cup, resulting in its early elimination from the 1958 FIFA World Cup.[13][14]
Battle of Santiago 2 June 1962 Chile Chile 2–0 Italy Italy Match infamous for its level of violence between players, requiring police intervention four times. The referee of the game, Ken Aston, later went on to invent yellow and red cards.[15][16][17]
Game of the Century 17 June 1970 Italy Italy 4–3 West Germany 1970 FIFA World Cup Semi-final match: Involved five of seven goals being scored in extra time, the record for most goals scored during extra time in a FIFA World Cup game.[18][19]
The Miracle / Disgrace of Córdoba 21 June 1978 Austria Austria 3–2 West Germany Represented the first time in 47 years that Austria had defeated a team from either the Western or Eastern side of the then-partitioned Germany.[20][21][22]
The 6 to 0 at Peru 21 June 1978 Argentina Argentina 6–0 Peru Peru Regarded as one of the most controversial matches in World Cup history due to speculation of collusion in favor of Argentina amid the military dictatorship of the National Reorganization Process under Jorge Rafael Videla.[23][24]
Disgrace of Gijón 25 June 1982 West Germany 1–0 Austria Austria Controversial match due to both teams coming to a virtual standstill in the second half after one score by West Germany, allowing both to advance to the next round while Algeria was eliminated.[25][26]
Sarrià Tragedy 5 July 1982 Italy Italy 3–2 Brazil Brazil Described as one of the greatest matches in the history of association football, as a result of a hat-trick by Italian striker Paolo Rossi, resulting in the elimination of Brazil and Italy eventually winning the tournament.[27][28][29]
Night of Seville 8 July 1982 West Germany 3–3

(5–4 West German victory on penalties)

France France 1982 FIFA World Cup Semi-final match: Regarded as one of the best football matches of all time, due to it featuring back-and-forth scoring, four goals in extra time, and a dramatic penalty shoot-out.[30][31]
19 May Incident 19 May 1985 China China PR 1–2 Hong Kong Hong Kong Significant upset by Hong Kong to eliminate the favored and rival Chinese team, resulting in angered home fans rioting in the Workers' Stadium, requiring the People's Armed Police to restore order.[32][33]
Goal of the Century 22 June 1986 Argentina Argentina 2–1 England England 1986 FIFA World Cup Quarter-final match: Held four years after the Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom, involving the "Hand of God goal" and leading Argentina to winning the 1986 World Cup.
El Maracanazo 3 September 1989 Brazil Brazil 2–0 Chile Chile Qualifying game involving Chilean goalkeeper Roberto Rojas pretended to be injured by a flare thrown by Brazilian fans and the Chilean team leaving the game in protest. The incident is considered by many to be one of the most shameful events in world football, resulting in a life ban for Rojas, the end of his career, and a ban against the Chilean team from qualifying for the 1994 World Cup.[34][35][36]
Shot heard 'round the world 19 November 1989 Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad & Tobago 0–1 United States United States Match involving one of the most historic goals in U.S. soccer history, allowing it to qualify for the 1990 FIFA World Cup after 40 years.[37]
Agony of Doha 28 October 1993 Japan Japan 2–2 Iraq Iraq Match preventing the qualification of Japan to the 1994 World Cup, and allowing their arch-rivals South Korea to qualify instead.[38]
One team in Tallinn 9 October 1996 Estonia Estonia N/A Scotland Scotland Qualifying match abandoned after three seconds because the Estonian team were absent from the Kadrioru Stadium due to a dispute over its floodlights.[39][40]
The Mother of All Games 21 June 1998 United States United States 1–2 Iran Iran Described as the most politically charged game in World Cup history due to Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh's nationalization of Iran's oil industry, American support for Iraq during the Iran–Iraq War, and the US killing of all 290 Iranian passengers on Iran Air Flight 655. Resulted in an Iranian upset, granting the team its first ever victory in the history of the FIFA World Cup.[41][42][43]
The last game at the old Wembley 7 October 2000 England England 0–1 Germany Germany Last game played at the original Wembley Stadium before its demolition.[44]
31-0 11 April 2001 Australia Australia 31–0 American Samoa American Samoa World record for the largest victory in an international football match, with Australia winning the game 31–0.[45][46]
Aztecazo 16 June 2001 Mexico 1–2 Costa Rica Marked the first loss suffered by Mexico in the Azteca Stadium in a FIFA World Cup qualification match.[47][48]
Battle of Nuremberg 25 June 2006 Portugal Portugal 1–0 Netherlands Netherlands Match that set the new record for cards shown at any FIFA-administered international tournament, with Russian referee Valentin Ivanov issuing four red cards and 16 yellow cards.[49][50]
The Zidane Headbutt 9 July 2006 Italy 1–1

(5–3 Italian victory on penalties)

France 2006 FIFA World Cup final: Regarded as a key match in the France–Italy football rivalry, leading to Italy's first world title in 24 years. Also notable for French player Zinedine Zidane being sent off for head-butting Marco Materazzi in the chest.[51][52][53]
Hand of Frog 18 November 2009 France France 2–1 Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland Known for a controversial William Gallas goal enabled by captain Thierry Henry handling the ball twice without being reviewed, allowing France to progress to the World Cup at the Irish team's expense.[54][55]
Battle of Johannesburg 11 July 2010 Netherlands 0–1 Spain 2010 FIFA World Cup final: First world cup title of Spain, with the match including numerous bookings throughout the first half.[56][57]
Snow Clasico 22 March 2013 United States 1–0 Costa Rica Qualification match played in heavy snowfall, leading to outrage in Costa Rica.[58][59]
Haztecazo 6 September 2013 Mexico 1–2 Honduras Second loss of the Mexican team at the Estadio Azteca during a FIFA World Cup qualification match, losing against Honduras.[60][61]
7–1 / Mineiraço 8 July 2014 Brazil Brazil 1–7 Germany Germany 2014 FIFA World Cup Semi-final: Historic loss of the Brazilian team in their home stadium to Germany, who led 5–0 within 29 minutes, with four goals being scored inside a six-minute span, before bringing the score up to 7–0 in the second half. The match marked the largest margin of victory in a FIFA World Cup semi-final, the breaking of Brazil's 62-match unbeaten streak at home in competitive matches back to 1975, and equalled their biggest margin of defeat in a match alongside a 6–0 loss to Uruguay in 1920.[62][63][64][65][66]

The match's outcome was described as a national humiliation, evoking the previous "spirit of national shame" of the Maracanaço in 1950.[67][68]

Agony of Couva October 10, 2017 Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad & Tobago 2–1 United States Qualification match resulting in the United States missing their first World Cup since 1986, as well as Trinidad and Tobago's team achieving their first win over the United States since 2008.[69][70] The loss was the USMNT's worst up to that point based on the Elo rating system.[71]
Battle of the "Iceteca" 16 November 2021 Canada 2–1 Mexico Known for the temperature at kickoff being recorded as −9° Celsius, making it the coldest match ever played by the Mexico national team.[72] Resulted in a Canadian victory, ending Mexico's eleven match unbeaten streak against Canada dating back to August 15, 2000.[73][74]
Battle of Lusail 9 December 2022 Netherlands Netherlands 2–2

(3–4 Argentine victory on penalties)

Argentina Argentina 2022 FIFA World Cup Quarter-finals match: Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz issued a FIFA World Cup record 18 yellow cards and one red card, setting a new record for cautions at any FIFA-administered international tournament.

See also

References

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