Which Teams Are the Worst Performers in FIFA World Cup History?

Tunisia join list of FIFA World Cup's worst-ever group-stage performers

Tunisia's dismal FIFA World Cup campaign came to an end on Thursday with a 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands, leaving them bottom of Group F without a single point and with a goal difference of minus-10.

AFP Sport looks back at other teams that endured similarly disastrous group-stage campaigns, finishing without a point while recording a double-digit negative goal difference.

North Korea (2010)
Group record: Played 3, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 3, Goals For 1, Goals Against 12, Points 0

North Korea began a daunting Group G campaign with a spirited 2-1 defeat to Brazil but then suffered a humiliating 7-0 loss to Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal before falling 3-0 to Ivory Coast.

Saudi Arabia (2002)
Group record: Played 3, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 3, Goals For 0, Goals Against 12, Points 0

Saudi Arabia's tournament unravelled from the outset as Germany thrashed them 8-0, with Miroslav Klose scoring a hat-trick. Further defeats to Cameroon (1-0) and the Republic of Ireland (3-0) sealed a winless campaign.

Greece (1994)
Group record: Played 3, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 3, Goals For 0, Goals Against 10, Points 0

Making their World Cup debut, Greece failed to score a goal, losing 4-0 to both Argentina and Bulgaria before a 2-0 defeat to group winners Nigeria.

El Salvador (1982)
Group record: Played 3, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 3, Goals For 1, Goals Against 13, Points 0

El Salvador suffered the heaviest defeat in World Cup history, losing 10-1 to Hungary in their opening match. They later lost to Belgium and Argentina, although Hungary also failed to progress from the group.

New Zealand (1982)
Group record: Played 3, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 3, Goals For 2, Goals Against 12, Points 0

New Zealand's maiden World Cup appearance ended in three defeats — 5-2 to Scotland, 3-0 to the Soviet Union and 4-0 to Brazil.

Mexico (1978)
Group record: Played 3, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 3, Goals For 2, Goals Against 12, Points 0

In a surprising entry on the list, Mexico opened with a 3-1 loss to Tunisia, were crushed 6-0 by defending champions West Germany and then lost 3-1 to Poland.

Zaire (1974)
Group record: Played 3, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 3, Goals For 0, Goals Against 14, Points 0

Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, endured a 9-0 defeat to Yugoslavia, along with losses to Scotland (2-0) and Brazil (3-0), finishing with one of the worst records in tournament history.

Haiti (1974)
Group record: Played 3, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 3, Goals For 2, Goals Against 14, Points 0

Haiti's only previous World Cup before 2026 ended with defeats to Italy (3-1), Poland (7-0) and Argentina (4-1), conceding 14 goals in total.

South Korea (1954)
Group record: Played 2, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 2, Goals For 0, Goals Against 16, Points 0

South Korea still holds the unwanted record for the worst World Cup campaign. They lost 9-0 to Hungary before suffering another heavy 7-0 defeat to Turkey, conceding 16 goals in just two matches.

Special mention – Bolivia (1950)
Group record: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 1, Goals For 0, Goals Against 8, Points 0

The 1950 World Cup featured an unusual format, and after France withdrew, Bolivia's only group match was an 8-0 defeat to eventual champions Uruguay, ending their campaign after just one game.