As the 2026 World Cup draws ever closer—just 27 days to go—we're taking a look back at some of the tournament's most unforgettable moments. And few moments are as jaw-dropping as what happened on this day in 2014, when Brazil suffered a defeat that still stings like a fresh wound.

Host nations usually enjoy a magical run on home soil. In 2014, Brazil seemed destined to add a sixth star to their iconic yellow jersey. They cruised through the group stage with two wins and a draw, then survived a nail-biting penalty shootout against Chile in the Round of 16. Neymar's clutch fifth-round penalty sent the crowd into a frenzy and the Seleção through to the quarterfinals.

There, they edged Colombia 2-1, but the victory came at a devastating cost. Neymar suffered a fractured lumbar vertebra and was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament. The weight of a nation now rested on the shoulders of a team without its talisman.

Up next in the semifinals: Germany—the same team Brazil had beaten 2-0 in the 2002 World Cup final. History seemed to be on the hosts' side. But football has a way of rewriting its own script.

At Estádio Mineirão in Belo Horizonte, the unthinkable unfolded. Germany wasted no time silencing the sea of yellow. Thomas Müller opened the scoring in the 11th minute, and then the floodgates burst open. By the 29th minute, it was 5-0—four of those goals coming in a dizzying six-minute spell. Brazil didn't manage a single shot on target in the first half. By halftime, many fans had already headed for the exits, tears streaming down their faces.

Germany added two more in the second half through André Schürrle, making it 7-0 before Oscar's 89th-minute consolation goal. It was the biggest semifinal defeat in World Cup history—and Brazil's worst loss on home soil in over 90 years.

For fans of the beautiful game, that day at Mineirão remains a haunting reminder of football's brutal unpredictability. And for those of us who love the sport, it's a story that never gets old—even if it still stings for the Seleção faithful.