07-02-2026, 08:38 AM
(This post was last modified: 07-02-2026, 08:46 AM by BostonCard.)
Brazil (2002) is the only team to have won all 7 matches, but that is a bit deceiving because the World Cup was expanded to 32 teams with 16 teams in the knockout round in 1998.
Other teams to go unbeaten/untied (but fewer matches):
Brazil (1970) - Won all 6 matches
Brazil (1962) - Won all 6 matches
Brazil (1958) - Won all 6 matches
Uruguay (1930) - Won all 4 matche
BC
Turns out that four teams were undefeated without making it out of the group stage. Aside from New Zealand:
Scotland (1974): They became the first team ever to be eliminated from the World Cup in the group stage without losing a game. They won one match and tied two, but missed out on advancing due to goal difference. They are the only team to have won at least one game and not lost in the group stage and not advance.
Cameroon (1982) & Belgium (1998): Both of these teams also recorded three draws in their group stages, tying every single game, and were knocked out without a single loss
The other interesting team is Switzerland in 2006. They made it through the group stage without conceding a goal (three 0-0 ties) and advanced to the knockout stage, where they lost in penalties to Ukraine after a 0-0 match. Thus, the team made it through the entire tournament without conceding a single goal in open play. Also interesting, in the penalty shoot-out, they failed to score on a single penalty.
BC
Other teams to go unbeaten/untied (but fewer matches):
Brazil (1970) - Won all 6 matches
Brazil (1962) - Won all 6 matches
Brazil (1958) - Won all 6 matches
Uruguay (1930) - Won all 4 matche
BC
Turns out that four teams were undefeated without making it out of the group stage. Aside from New Zealand:
Scotland (1974): They became the first team ever to be eliminated from the World Cup in the group stage without losing a game. They won one match and tied two, but missed out on advancing due to goal difference. They are the only team to have won at least one game and not lost in the group stage and not advance.
Cameroon (1982) & Belgium (1998): Both of these teams also recorded three draws in their group stages, tying every single game, and were knocked out without a single loss
The other interesting team is Switzerland in 2006. They made it through the group stage without conceding a goal (three 0-0 ties) and advanced to the knockout stage, where they lost in penalties to Ukraine after a 0-0 match. Thus, the team made it through the entire tournament without conceding a single goal in open play. Also interesting, in the penalty shoot-out, they failed to score on a single penalty.
BC