Saudi Arabia’s win over Argentina early Tuesday morning isn’t just one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, it might actually be the biggest.
That’s according to several sportsbooks, many of whom had Saudi Arabia’s odds to win the match at 18-1 or longer.
To demonstrate just how big of an upset it was, Argentina entered the World Cup on a 36-match unbeaten streak, one short of tying the longest streak in men’s international soccer history. At BetMGM, they had the second-shortest odds to win the World Cup at +550. Even after the loss, their odds are tied for fourth-shortest at +850.
Saudi Arabia’s odds were at the very bottom of the 32-team field and remain in the bottom five even after the massive upset. Their odds to beat Argentina were 18-1 at BetMGM.
Saudi Arabia were +1800 on the moneyline @BetMGM today vs. Argentina…
Their win is the biggest upset in World Cup history 🤯pic.twitter.com/1C2gxS8I6w
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) November 22, 2022
This will go down as the biggest upset in World Cup history. Saudi Arabia were +1800 to win the game before it started! #ARGKSA
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) November 22, 2022
Those odds grew to 125-1 at PointsBet once Lionel Messi’s penalty kick put Argentina ahead 1-0.
A bet for $100 on Saudi Arabia at that point would have won $12,500.
Saudi Arabia was 125/1 live when they were down 1-0 to Argentina😳
Biggest upset in World Cup History. pic.twitter.com/ZBoTJisaAC
— PointsBet Sportsbook (@PointsBetUSA) November 22, 2022
But I’m no soccer historian. If those numbers aren’t enough to convince you this was the biggest upset in World Cup history, others made the argument too.
Biggest upset since at least 2006 at Caesars Sportsbook
Saudi Arabia #KSA closed as a +2500 underdog to win vs Argentina #ARG at @CaesarsSports.
Per OddsPortal, it is the biggest upset at the #FIFAWorldCup since at least 2006 (their data set). pic.twitter.com/3NcJwI0jiO
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 22, 2022
Argentina's 36-game unbeaten streak has now been snapped 😳 pic.twitter.com/RvifAal8Iy
— Caesars Sportsbook (@CaesarsSports) November 22, 2022
Twitter weighs in
Mabrouk to Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 on its opening #FIFAWorldCup victory against Argentina 🇦🇷! This may be the biggest upset in World Cup history. Dreams come true. pic.twitter.com/uHLE4QMxTT
— Avi Kaner ابراهيم אבי (@AviKaner) November 22, 2022
Not since Senegal beat France in the 2002 World Cup opener I think I can ever remember an upset like this
— Douglas Reyes-Ceron (@dreyesceron) November 22, 2022
Biggest World Cup upset in my life
— Master (@MasterTes) November 22, 2022
"That's the biggest World Cup upset I've ever seen." – @MichaelRyanRuiz
"Is that like a 12 vs. a 5 in the NCAA tournament?" – @Stugotz790
"It's a 16 vs. a 1." – @MichaelRyanRuiz explains what a massive and unprecedented upset it is for Argentina to lose to Saudi Arabia. pic.twitter.com/gvpwt2IDMO
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) November 22, 2022
Has to be the biggest World Cup upset EVER
Saudi Arabia beats Argentina 2-1
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) November 22, 2022
Would this be the biggest upset in World Cup history? Saudi Arabia have been really good value for this lead. So impressive second half
— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) November 22, 2022
Biggest upset in World Cup history according to FIFA experts #SaudiArabia #السعوديه_الارجنتين #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/L6gRxyrR9Q
— Majeed Gly (@MajeedGly) November 22, 2022
That has to be the biggest World cup upset of all time – how many had money on that!
— AmerCric (@Amermalik12) November 22, 2022
Is Saudi Arabia's win against Argentina the BIGGEST upset in World Cup history? 💭 pic.twitter.com/k2GHIpr1NA
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 22, 2022
Saudi Arabia (25-1 ML) SHOCKS Argentina 2-1 in one of the biggest World Cup upsets in history.
For comparison:
When the Jacksonville Jaguars were 26.5-point underdogs in 2013 vs. the Denver Broncos, they were only 17-1 on the ML. 🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/t3isRHaiqn
— Ben Fawkes (@BFawkes22) November 22, 2022
Group C odds
Even after the loss, Argentina remains the favorite to win Group C at +175 odds. They’re followed by Mexico at +250, Poland at +310 and Saudi Arabia at +350.
