Take a look back at some of the most impressive victories in the history of the World Cup tournament:
6. Germany 🇩🇪 – Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 8:0 (2002)
Runners-up Germany made a statement early, with all-time World Cup scoring record holder Miroslav Klose, in the first of his four tournament appearances, netting two goals in quick succession before securing the hat trick in the 70th minute.
5. Uruguay 🇺🇾 – Bolivia 🇧🇴 8:0 (1950)
Despite playing only one group-stage game — their group consisted of just three teams while the other three had four, and France withdrew before the tournament started — Uruguay, the eventual champions, finished level with hosts Brazil on eight goals in the opening round after Oscar Miguez’s hat trick.
4. Sweden 🇸🇪 – Cuba 🇨🇺 8:0 (1938)
Sweden’s first-round walkover and Cuba needing a replay to defeat Romania contributed to the lopsided result as Henry Andersson and Gustav Wetterstrom each scored hat tricks in the 16-team knockout tournament — Cuba’s only appearance in the World Cup to date.
3. Hungary 🇭🇺 – El Salvador 🇸🇻 10:1 (1982)
Laszlo Kiss scored three goals in seven minutes — the only hat trick scored in the World Cup by a substitute — to end the feel-good story of El Salvador, who qualified for the event for only the second time despite the nation being embroiled in the start of a civil war.
2. Hungary 🇭🇺 – South Korea 🇰🇷 9:0 (1954)
Sandor Kocsis, who finished with 11 goals in that year’s tournament, had a hat trick and Ferenc Puskas and Peter Pelotas had two goals for eventual runners-up Hungary, who defeated West Germany 8-3 in their next game before incredibly losing 3-2 in the rematch in the final.
1. Yugoslavia 🇷🇸 – Zaire 🇨🇩 9:0 (1974)
Yugoslavia failed to score in their group-stage opener against Brazil and then responded with six goals in the first half against Zaire, who, now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo, made their only World Cup appearance to date. Dusan Bajevic had a hat trick, scoring his side’s first and last goals.
