Turkey is the unofficial football world champion; Latvia once had a harsher title

During the FIFA World Cup, attention often turns not only to the official champion but also to the so-called unofficial champion. Currently, Turkey holds this unofficial title, though the team has already returned home after being eliminated in the group stage.

This tradition is based on a calculation method where a team becomes the unofficial champion by defeating the current holder and retains the title until someone else beats them. Turkey earned this status after a surprising victory over a favorite and managed to keep it until their exit.

Latvia's national team was once just one goal away from achieving a similar unofficial world champion status. However, Latvia actually secured a different, much harsher unofficial title — one associated with misfortune rather than victory. Detailed information about that title is not available.