Milestone

First World Cup Victories

70 games· 1930 - 2026

A record of historic milestones, highlighting the first-ever game wins achieved by nations at the FIFA World Cup finals, marking their initial breakthroughs on football’s biggest stage.

Congo Democratic Republic ·

Saturday 27 Jun 26FIFA World Cup
Congo Democratic Republic
3 - 1
Uzbekistan
N

Türkiye · Türkiye outlast the USA 3-2 in Inglewood after a frantic World Cup group-stage shootout.

Thursday 25 Jun 26FIFA World Cup
Türkiye
3 - 2
United States of America

Egypt · Egypt rally from a goal down to beat New Zealand 3-1 in Vancouver and seize control of Group G.

Sunday 21 Jun 26FIFA World Cup
New Zealand
1 - 3
Egypt
N

Canada · Canada run riot in Vancouver, blasting Qatar 6-0 with a 3-0 lead already in hand by half-time.

Thursday 18 Jun 26FIFA World Cup
Canada
6 - 0
Qatar

Bosnia and Herzegovina · Dzeko and Pjanic send Bosnia and Herzegovina out on a high, ending Iran's World Cup hopes in Salvador.

Wednesday 25 Jun 14FIFA World Cup
Bosnia and Herzegovina
3 - 1
Iran
N

Slovakia · Slovakia stun world champions Italy 3-2 in Johannesburg to crash the Azzurri out of the World Cup.

Thursday 24 Jun 10FIFA World Cup
Slovakia
3 - 2
Italy
N

Serbia · Klose sees red as Serbia stun Germany 1-0 in Durban and throw Group D wide open.

Friday 18 Jun 10FIFA World Cup
Germany
0 - 1
Serbia
N

Greece · Greece stun Nigeria in Bloemfontein as a rare World Cup win keeps their 2010 hopes alive.

Thursday 17 Jun 10FIFA World Cup
Greece
2 - 1
Nigeria
N

Slovenia · Koren's late strike punishes Algeria as Slovenia seize a priceless World Cup opening win in Polokwane.

Sunday 13 Jun 10FIFA World Cup
Algeria
0 - 1
Slovenia
N

Côte d'Ivoire · Côte d'Ivoire rally from 2-0 down to stun Serbia & Montenegro in Munich and salvage their World Cup debut with a famous win.

Wednesday 21 Jun 06FIFA World Cup
Côte d'Ivoire
3 - 2
Serbia and Montenegro
N

Ukraine · Ukraine's first World Cup win arrives in style as Saudi Arabia are swept aside 4-0 in Hamburg.

Monday 19 Jun 06FIFA World Cup
Saudi Arabia
0 - 4
Ukraine
N

Ghana · Ghana stun the Czech Republic in Cologne as a blistering first half and a late clincher hand the Black Stars a famous World Cup win.

Saturday 17 Jun 06FIFA World Cup
Czech Republic
0 - 2
Ghana
N

Czech Republic · Koller and Rosicky punish the United States as the Czechs open with a ruthless 3-0 World Cup statement in Gelsenkirchen.

Monday 12 Jun 06FIFA World Cup
United States of America
0 - 3
Czech Republic
N

Australia · Tim Cahill's late double turns Australia’s World Cup opener from despair into a 3-1 shocker against Japan in Kaiserslautern.

Monday 12 Jun 06FIFA World Cup
Australia
3 - 1
Japan
N

Ecuador · Ecuador stun Croatia 1-0 in Yokohama to claim their first World Cup victory.

Thursday 13 Jun 02FIFA World Cup
Ecuador
1 - 0
Croatia
N

Japan · Japan's first World Cup win arrives in Yokohama as Takayuki Suzuki sinks Russia in a landmark Group H opener.

Sunday 09 Jun 02FIFA World Cup
Japan
1 - 0
Russia

South Africa · South Africa edge Slovenia 1-0 in Daegu to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Saturday 08 Jun 02FIFA World Cup
Slovenia
0 - 1
South Africa
N

South Korea · South Korea seize their World Cup opener in Busan, beating Poland 2-0 to ignite the 2002 co-hosts' dream.

Tuesday 04 Jun 02FIFA World Cup
South Korea
2 - 0
Poland

Senegal · Sénégal stun reigning champions France as Diop's opener sends the 2002 World Cup into shock mode in Seoul.

Friday 31 May 02FIFA World Cup
France
0 - 1
Senegal
N

Jamaica · Jamaica stun Japan in Lyon as Theodore Whitmore strikes twice to end the Reggae Boyz's World Cup at a high.

Friday 26 Jun 98FIFA World Cup
Japan
1 - 2
Jamaica
N