Saudi Arabia's win over Argentina at 18-1 odds was the biggest upset in World Cup history. Here's proof
Saudi Arabia’s win over Argentina early Tuesday morning isn’t just one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, it might actually be the biggest.
That’s according to several sportsbooks, many of whom had Saudi Arabia’s odds to win the match at 18-1 or longer.
To demonstrate just how big of an upset it was, Argentina entered the World Cup on a 36-match unbeaten streak, one short of tying the longest streak in men’s international soccer history. At BetMGM, they had the second-shortest odds to win the World Cup at +550. Even after the loss, their odds are tied for fourth-shortest at +850.
Saudi Arabia’s odds were at the very bottom of the 32-team field and remain in the bottom five even after the massive upset. Their odds to beat Argentina were 18-1 at BetMGM.
Saudi Arabia were +1800 on the moneyline @BetMGM today vs. Argentina…
Their win is the biggest upset in World Cup history pic.twitter.com/1C2gxS8I6w
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) November 22, 2022
This will go down as the biggest upset in World Cup history. Saudi Arabia were +1800 to win the game before it started! #ARGKSA
— BetMGM (@BetMGM) November 22, 2022
Those odds grew to 125-1 at PointsBet once Lionel Messi’s penalty kick put Argentina ahead 1-0.
A bet for $100 on Saudi Arabia at that point would have won $12,500.
Saudi Arabia was 125/1 live when they were down 1-0 to Argentina
Biggest upset in World Cup History. pic.twitter.com/ZBoTJisaAC
— PointsBet Sportsbook (@PointsBetUSA) November 22, 2022
But I’m no soccer historian. If those numbers aren’t enough to convince you this was the biggest upset in World Cup history, others made the argument too.