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# World Cup Underdogs: The Teams History Said Shouldn’t Have Won

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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/LRGwiTjs.m3u8" -->
## Video: World Cup Underdogs: The Teams History Said Shouldn’t Have Won

[Watch (HLS stream): World Cup Underdogs: The Teams History Said Shouldn’t Have Won](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/LRGwiTjs.m3u8) (1:59)

![World Cup Underdogs: The Teams History Said Shouldn’t Have Won](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/LRGwiTjs/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2014-06-11. If you’ve been following along, you’re well aware the United States has a tough road ahead if they want to get out of group play, much less win the World Cup. Fear not, USMNT faithful. Not all hope is lost. Crazier things have happened._


---

Jul 27, 2023 4:48 PM UTC

---

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### Meet The 2014 World Cup Underdogs

---


## Transcript

If you've been following along, you're well aware that the United States has a tough road ahead if they want to get out of group play, much less win the World Cup. Team USA has seen a huge challenge, why soccer fans say they're in the group of death. They know they've got a big task ahead of them to get out of the Group of Death. Also known as the group of death. The group of death, that sounds fun. But fear not USA faithful not all hope is lost. Crazier things have happened. Take a look back in 1966 for example when North Korea knocked off soccer powerhouse Italy one nil to make it to the second round of the tournament.

They came over. No one knew them. They were the enemy. We'd fought the Korean War against them. They, they looked funny, had really funny names. The, the commentators couldn't even describe their names and saying, number 2 passes to number 3 and then to number 4. And while they lost to Portugal in the next round, their mark was already made. It was the first time a team outside of Europe, North and South America had advanced out of the first round. You can take Cameroon in 1990 as well. The African nation stunned the world with an opening victory against reigning champions Argentina and follow that up by defeating Romania to make it to the quarter final.

It was the first time any African national had made it to the quarter finals. An upset so huge, FIFA made the Confederation of African Football a qualifying spot in the next World Cup. But more recently, who can forget Ghana? USA fans definitely can't. In 2010, in just their second time as a nation qualifying for the world cup. The small African country broke American hearts and defeated the US in overtime to advance to the final eight. But, Ghana's world cup dreams were dashed in the next round as Uruguay as penalty shots did them in. So, maybe there is a glimmer of hope for the US to make it deep into the tourney after all.

They'll play Ghana on Monday, Portugal, then Germany. World Cup action begins June 12. I'm Jamal Andrews.

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