7 World Cup Teams That Were One Mistake Away From Glory

by Spencer Toth - 6/2/2026

World Cup teams that were one mistake away from glory Randal Kolo Muani France

The World Cup is where legends are made and legacies are written, but one mistake can turn into permanent scars remembered decades later. The nature of the tournament and the sport of football as a whole means that one missed opportunity or tiny mistake can separate immortality and heartbreak. Some teams don’t get blown out or exposed, but rather come within inches of glory before one moment changes everything. Over the last 100 years, entire generations of global superstars have had their careers defined by single moments, and these are the best World Cup teams that were one mistake away from glory.

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#1 Ghana, 2010: Asamoah Gyan’s Crossbar vs Uruguay

No team fits this topic better than Ghana in 2010. South Africa was hosting the continent's first and only World Cup tournament, and Ghana was the final African team remaining in the quarterfinals. No African side had ever reached the semifinals before, and Ghana was deadlocked with Uruguay deep into extra time when the unimaginable happened.

With the score leveled at 1-1, Dominic Adiyah’s header looked destined to hit the back of the net with seconds to play. Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez then deliberately handballed on the goal line to swat it away, resulting in a penalty and a red card. Up stepped Asamoah Gyan with the chance to win the game for Ghana, but he smashed the ball against the crossbar. Uruguay went on to win the match in a penalty shootout minutes later, and while Gyan converted his spot kick then, it was too little too late. It was one of the cruelest swings in World Cup history, as Ghana was one mistake away from changing African football forever.

#2 France, 2022: Randal Kolo Muani’s Late Chance vs Argentina

France and Argentina faced off in one of the greatest World Cup Finals in written history. France was coming off their 2018 World Cup win, and was looking to become the first back-to-back champions since Brazil in 1962. Across the field stood Lionel Messi in what could have been his last chance to lift football’s ultimate prize. France trailed Argentina 2-0 for most of the match before a late brace from Kylian Mbappe sent the game into extra time. With the score tied up at 3-3 in the 123rd minute, Randal Kolo Muani had the chance to make history.

Through on goal against Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, Kolo Muani found himself with a golden opportunity to win the World Cup for France. The angle was solid, the timing was strong, but Martinez threw out his right leg to make one of the most iconic World Cup saves in history. Argentina held on for the 3-3 tie before winning in a penalty shootout minutes later.

For Argentina, this moment went down as a legendary save to help give Messi his only World Cup. For France, it was an incredible chance that slipped away thanks to a mistake from Kolo Muani. A better finish and World Cup history is rewritten, making this arguably the most impactful miss in World Cup history.

#3 Netherlands, 2010: Arjen Robben’s Miss vs Spain

The Netherlands has had some of the greatest World Cup teams in history, but still has no title to show for it. Their 2010 final against Spain is one of the most painful examples. The match was tense, physical, and scoreless deep into the second half when Arjen Robben got the chance of a lifetime.

He was through on goal in a one-on-one against Iker Casillas after Wesley Sneijder slipped him through with an immaculate pass. This was the type of chance Robben has finished countless times in his career, but Casillas came up with the defining moment of the tournament thus far. Robben opened up his body, tried to slide it past Casillas, but the Spanish goalkeeper got just enough to turn it away. Spain went on to win the World Cup thanks to the iconic goal from Andres Iniesta, leaving the Netherlands with another ‘what if’ to look back on. Had Robben scored, the Netherlands probably would’ve won the World Cup for the first time in their nation’s long history.

#4 Italy, 1994: Roberto Baggio Penalty Miss vs Brazil

Roberto Baggio was in the prime of his career, having just won the Ballon d’Or and having put together an excellent tournament for Italy en route to the World Cup Final. His goals carried Italy to this stage of the tournament, but he was held off the scoresheet after 120 scoreless minutes in the World Cup Final.

Italy and Brazil were heading to a shootout, and the stakes could not be higher. With Brazil ahead in the shootout, Baggio needed to score to keep the Italians alive. The iconic superstar stepped up to the spot and blazed his shot over the crossbar. Baggio stood frozen as Brazil began to celebrate behind him, having just taken the final kick of Italy’s World Cup tournament. Baggio’s remarkable tournament and, to an extent, his lengthy professional career were defined by a single moment, cruelly etched into the hearts of Italian fans to this day.

#5 Argentina, 2014: Gonzalo Higuain’s Miss vs Germany

This one didn’t come in the dying minutes of the match, but it was still the defining moment of Argentina’s tournament. The match was scoreless early when Toni Kroos misdirected a header back towards his own goal. Higuain picked up on the opportunity and was suddenly facing Manuel Neuer in front of the German goal. Higuain was in the prime of his career, and this was a chance he would score nine times out of ten. However, this was one out of ten chances, as Higuain dragged the ball well wide of the goal, not even testing Neuer between the sticks.

Germany would survive this moment, stay rigid defensively, and eventually find the winner through Mario Gotze in extra time. For Argentina, Lionel Messi was once again left without a World Cup, and this miss became a driving narrative behind Messi’s international failures before Argentina won the World Cup eight years later.

#6 Netherlands, 1978: Rob Rensenbrink Hits the Post vs Argentina

The Netherlands was one of the World Cup favorites in 1978, led by a dominant squad that played ‘total football’ throughout the tournament. Four years after losing the 1974 World Cup Final against West Germany, the Netherlands had the chance to avenge their mistake against Argentina in the 1978 World Cup Final.

The match was held in Buenos Aires, giving Argentina home-field advantage, and was tied 1-1 late in regulation time. Rob Rensenbrink got onto a pass at the far post and poked it past Argentine goalkeeper Ubaldo Fillol. It looked as though the Netherlands had finally achieved international glory, but the ball hit the post and somehow stayed out. UEFA’s tribute to the late Rob Rensenbrink referenced this famous chance as one of the many ‘what if’ moments the Netherlands has had to endure. Argentina went on to score twice in extra time to win 3-1, lifting the World Cup trophy for the first time in front of their home fans. The Dutch were once again left with a beautiful team that fell short at the final hurdle, and are still searching for their first World Cup trophy.

#7 Spain, 2002: Disallowed Goals vs South Korea

Spain’s 2002 quarterfinal loss to South Korea is the most controversial knockout stage match in World Cup history. South Korea, the co-host nation, had gone on a dramatic run after knocking out Italy, and now took on Spain in the quarterfinals. Spain believed they had multiple goals disallowed due to refereeing errors, and the decisions became the defining storyline of the match.

The most famous moment came in extra time, when the Golden Goal rule was still in effect. Joaquin crossed the ball to Fernando Morientes to head home what looked like the Golden Goal for Spain. However, the assistant referee ruled the ball went out of play, wiping the legendary moment off the board. This was the second goal that had been disallowed for Spain, leaving the side in outrage. South Korea went on to win the match in penalties after it finished 0-0, and Spain went home feeling robbed. This mistake wasn’t the Spanish side's fault, but still turned into a defining moment for arguably the best team in the tournament.

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Start:	June 2, 2026 @ 10:00 PM
Expert:	Nick Menken
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7 World Cup Teams That Were One Mistake Away From Glory

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