South Korea's 'Kazan Miracle' Against Germany Revisited as a World Cup Upset

As the North, Central American, and Caribbean World Cup approaches, South Korea's stunning 2018 victory over then-champion Germany, dubbed the 'Kazan Miracle,' is resurfacing in discussions of historic tournament upsets.

Al Jazeera recently featured ten of the greatest upsets in World Cup history, ranking the South Korea vs. Germany match from the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia as the ninth most surprising result. The match occurred during the group stage, where Germany, a four-time winner, faced elimination.

The article noted that some of the biggest upsets in World Cup history involve the group stage elimination of defending champions, and the 2018 tournament was no exception. South Korea entered the match having already lost to Sweden and Mexico, making their chances of advancing slim. Germany, conversely, was desperate for a win to avoid an early exit.

Despite Germany's intense efforts to secure a victory, the game remained scoreless until late in the second half. Kim Young-gwon scored the opening goal for South Korea, and a subsequent goal sealed Germany's fate, confirming their elimination from the tournament. This unexpected outcome remains a significant moment in World Cup lore.