Top 10 Biggest Defeats in Football History

Football just like any other sport in the world is all about winning, be it winning a game or a trophy. But for one side to win, another has to take the fall and come out on the losing end. 

The glitter and glory of football are well documented in history and even in the modern day. But today we take a stroll down a dark alley of football. Join us as we take a look at the top 10 biggest defeats in the history of football. 

10. China 19-0 Guam (26 January 2000)

Kicking off the list is an international football match between China and Guam. On 26 January 2000, Guam faced China, a country who were 112 places above them in the rankings. The match took place at the Thong Nhat Stadium. China beat Guam 19-0 on the day. Guam’s side on that day was filled with amateurs (teachers, bank tellers and students who hadn't moved to colleges in the USA). China was at the start of their golden era of football, reaching that year's Asian Cup semi-finals and qualifying for their first World Cup in 2002.

9. Iran 19-0 Guam (24 November 2000)

Guam have the ill fate of being mentioned multiple times on the list of heaviest defeats in football history. Again in 2000, just a few months after the heavy loss against China, Guam suffered an embarrassing 19-0 defeat against Iran. Takhti Stadium hosted the match. 

Guam’s Football Association president Valentino San Gil later reflected on these heavy defeats: "When we first started football, we were like the punch bag."

8. Kuwait 20-0 Bhutan (14 February 2000)

Just days after their first official match in international football, Bhutan suffered a 20-0 defeat in a qualifying match for the Asian Cup 2000 at the Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium. Bhutan held the scoreline at 0-0 for 18 minutes, before conceding the first of four penalties given away that day.

Jasem Al-Houwaidi scored an incredible five goals on the day, while Bhutan only managed to record one shot in the entire game. 

7. Guam 0-21 North Korea (11 March 2005) 

Making their third and final appearance on the list is Guam. On 11 March 2005, Guan hosted North Korea in a qualification match for the 2005 East Asian Football Championship at the Zhongshan Soccer Stadium. North Korea was looking to boost their goal difference as they were trailing behind Hong Kong heading into the final round of the qualifiers. 

North Korea’s Hong Yong-jo opened the scoring in the sixth minute and his team didn't hold back, scoring 21 goals on the night. 

6. Tonga 0-22 Australia (9 April 2001)

During the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Australia called up eight foreign-based players and thrashed Tonga with a scoreline of 0-22. The match took place at the International Sports Stadium on 9 April 2001. Then Coventry City star John Aliosi scored six goals on the day. 

5. Preston North End 26-0 Hyde 

William Sudell’s Preston North End were a very good team in the 1880s. For a time when professional football had only been legalised for two years, Preston North End took full advantage of the fact player wages were not admissible at that time and built a star-studded team. 

Hyde faced Preston in the FA Cup on 15 October 1887 at the Deepdale. Hyde was defeated by the margin of 26 goals that day, with Preston’s Jimmy Ross scoring seven goals and John Graham and Sam Thomson both getting five each. This match was also in the mists of Preston’s impressive 42-game unbeaten run. 

4. Tahiti 30-0 Cook Islands 

The 1971 South Pacific Games featured a variety of games on display, but it was football that caught the headlines. On 2 September 1971, the newly founded national team of Cook Islands suffered an embarrassing 30-0 defeat at the hands of hosts Tahiti. 

Cook Islands national football team had a torrid time, also losing 16-1 to Papua New Guinea in the same tournament. 

3. Australia 31-0 American Samoa 

During the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Australia hosted American Samoa. But on the eve of the match, FIFA ruled that 19 out of the 20 players called up by American Samoa were ineligible to feature in the match. Even the U20 side could not be called up as they would miss school exams, forming Samoa to call up the beat amateurs they could find. 

American Samoa lost 31-0 on the day against Australia, with a pair of 15-year-olds even featuring for the losing side. Australian striker Archie Thompson scored an incredible 13 goals on the day. 

2. Dundee Harp 35-0 Aberdeen Rovers

On 12 September 1885, Dundee Harp hosted Aberdeen Rovers in the Scottish Cup at the East Dock Street stadium. Unfortunately, the away side only fielded 10 players on the day, in what was the club's second-ever only fixture.

Dundee Harp did not hold back, scoring 16 goals in the first half itself. So many goals were scored on the day that the referee initially awarded a 37-0 win to Dundee Harp. But Harp's secretary insisted only 35 goals had been scored and the same scoreline was recorded as official.