17th Nov, 2025 @ 01:04 pm
The Republic of Ireland headed into the most recent round of FIFA World Cup qualifiers without much hope. A shock 2-1 defeat away in Armenia on matchday two followed up with a last gasp defeat away in Portugal left them cut adrift at the bottom of Group F. Evan Ferguson's second half winner in the reverse fixture against the Armenians in Dublin kept their hopes alive, but Dominik Szoboszlai's late equalizer for Hungary in Lisbon left the Boys in Green needing a miracle ahead of their final two games.
Shockingly, however, that miracle came. Ireland stunned Portugal in Dublin in their penultimate game, with a brace from Troy Parrott, coupled with a red card for opposition skipper Cristiano Ronaldo, sparking scenes of delirium at Aviva Stadium. As a result, the Irish headed to face Hungary in Budapest in their final game, knowing that a win would see them through to the playoffs. Things got off to the worst possible start, though, when goals from Dániel Lukács and Barnabás Varga, either side of Parrott's 15th-minute penalty, gave the hosts a 2-1 half-time lead.
Irish Heroics in Budapest
Things remained that way until deep into the second half, but in Ireland's hour of need, they found their hero. AZ Alkmaar striker Parrott would strike again on 80 minutes, and from then on, the visitors piled forward in the hopes of finding the winner they needed to progress. The goal didn't look like it was going to come, with a 96th-minute free kick representing last chance saloon. Goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher launched the ball into the Hungary penalty area, Ireland's Liam Scales won the flick on, and Parrott, who else, managed to poke the ball into the bottom corner to secure a scarcely believable 3-2 win.
The Irish scenes at the full-time whistle were as you could imagine. Players and coaching staff going wild on the pitch. The Puskas Arena's away end a sea of Irish joy. But as anyone will tell you, the job is not done just yet. The upcoming playoffs will be stacked with quality, including teams that don't just harbor hopes of reaching the World Cup, but ultimately going on and winning the whole thing in North America next summer.
Using a popular betting tool when looking at the World Cup winner odds shows just how far Ireland is behind some of their playoff contemporaries in terms of quality. For example, the betting calculator at Thunderpick shows that a $10 bet on Italy would pay $330 should the Azzurri leave MetLife Stadium as world champions for a record-equalling fifth time. The same bet on Ireland? A whopping $10,000.
But such a miraculous qualifying comeback isn't solely an Irish thing. Over the years, a number of nations have pulled off the impossible in reaching the FIFA World Cup. Here are two of the most riveting of them.
Last Gasp Palermo Keeps Argentina Alive
Qualifying for the 2010 World Cup saw the iconic Diego Maradona managing his beloved Argentina. The all-time great promptly installed a young Lionel Messi as his captain, and things were going smoothly initially. Three straight victories to begin the campaign had the Albiceleste dreaming of lifting the famous gold trophy in South Africa. Then, the wheels well and truly came off the bus.
Argentina would embark upon a miserable run of five without a win - one loss, four draws - saw Messi and Co. slide down the CONMEBOL table. Victories against Uruguay and Venezuela, either side of a loss to Chile, papered over the cracks, but more pain was yet to come. A gobsmacking 6-1 drubbing in the monstrous altitude of Bolivia saw Argentina clinging on to the fourth and final qualifying spot, and further losses were just around the corner.
The Albiceleste lost to Colombia, Brazil, and Paraguay, leaving them needing victories in their final two games in order to have any hopes of progression. In their penultimate game at home to Peru, it looked as though Argentina would have to settle for a 1-1 draw until veteran striker Martin Palermo swept home in the 92nd minute in the driving rain in Buenos Aires to keep hopes alive. Then, another late goal, this time from unheralded midfielder Mario Bolatti, sealed a 1-0 win away in Uruguay to clinch the fourth and final qualifying spot.
United States' Blushes Spared
The United States will be co-hosting the 2026 World Cup alongside neighbors Mexico and Canada, and as such, secured automatic qualification. However, things haven't always been that simple.
Heading into their 2014 qualifying campaign, the Stars and Stripes had qualified for each of the previous six World Cups. That streak very nearly came to an end. The US surprisingly drew away at Guatemala in their second game, before then slumping to a 2-1 defeat in Jamaica, away goals from Rodolph Austin and Luton Shelton. From then on, the pressure was on, and Jurgen Klinsmann's men had to win out or face the prospect of missing out.
The States would win the return fixture against the Reggae Boyz in Columbus, but things took a turn for the worse against Antigua and Barbuda. With the game in the Caribbean finely poised at 1-1, explosive striker Eddie Johnson struck a 90th-minute winner, and that, coupled with a Jamaican defeat in Guatemala, put the US in the box seat.
Heading into the final round of fixtures, the US's task was simple: beat Guatemala at home, and they were on their way to Brazil. Then, disaster struck when Carlos Ruiz gave the visitors a fifth-minute lead. But commeth the hour, commeth the man, specifically Clint Dempsey. The former Spurs attacker struck twice to hand the hosts a 3-1 win and punch their tickets to the World Cup, leaving both their opponents and Jamaica heartbroken.
Aviva Stadium, Dublin - Source: Unsplash