What would a World Cup be without its surprises? Underdogs repeatedly make it far into the tournament's knockout stage. For example, Morocco in 2022, who reached the semifinals, or the Croatian team, who fought for the title in the 2018 final. But which teams could go far this year?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is on the horizon: On June 11, 2026, the opening match of the 23rd FIFA World Cup will kick off in Mexico City. For the first time, 48 nations will participate in the tournament in Mexico, the USA, and Canada. This means that fans can look forward to even more games from more different teams. In addition to favorites like France, Spain, and Argentina, many other exciting teams will be there, delivering top-level football for fans worldwide.
The increase in the number of participants from 32 to 48 nations also means that more teams than ever before have the opportunity to advance to the knockout stage. Once there, many things are possible for supposedly smaller teams. Morocco's performance in Qatar in 2022 showed this. The African team, with a strong defense and precise offensive actions, fought their way to the semi-finals, where they eventually lost to favorites France. With even more teams in the knockout stage, it's worth taking a look at five teams that could go far in this year's tournament.
Norway's Golden Generation
The Norwegian national team has had a long period of suffering. The Scandinavians had not been represented at a World Cup for a full 28 years. Their best finish was only the round of 16 in 1998, where they lost 1-0 to Italy. The last European Championship also took place without Norwegian participation. The anticipation in the country is now all the greater. Led by exceptional striker Erling Haaland, who is also shining this season with 40 scorer points in 45 games for Manchester City, the Norwegian national team is as well-staffed as ever.
Besides Haaland, the offense is studded with exceptional talents: Alexander Sørloth (Atletico Madrid) and Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal FC) were able to reach the Champions League semifinals with their club teams, and behind them in the team hierarchy, top talents Antonio Nusa (RB Leipzig) and Oscar Bobb (Fulham FC) are waiting for their chance to present themselves at the World Cup. In defense and midfield, they are also outstandingly staffed with players like Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund) or Leo Østigård (Genoa CFC) and will pose problems for some teams.
The Norwegians' coach, Stole Solbakken, also relies on a particularly Positive and communal culture within the team, so that individual superstars cannot throw the team balance off kilter. The statistics service provider Opta, which is also used by many professional teams, sees the Scandinavians in 9th place the best teams in the entire tournament. Therefore, everything points to them finally meeting their fans' expectations this year and being able to advance to the quarterfinals or even further.
Favorite snack Japan
The Japanese national team has been on an upward trend for many years now. They were the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup back in March 2025, signaling to every other participant that they must be taken seriously. In the last World Cup, the Japanese players proved they could compete with the very best: they beat football giants Spain and Germany 2-1 in both matches. This saw them finish as group winners ahead of these two teams. Only a close match against Croatia, decided by a penalty shootout, ended Japan's journey in the round of 16. In the meantime, the team has improved further. Players like Hiroki Ito (FC Bayern Munich), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton & Hove Albion), and Ritsu Dōan (Eintracht Frankfurt) have showcased their talent in Europe's top leagues last season and aim to repeat their 2022 success at the World Cup.
The Japanese game is particularly characterized by a compact defense and technically strong players who can break down opposing defenses during transitions. The tactical flexibility of national coach Hajime Moriyasu is also a strength of the Japanese, which can cause problems for any team. He can repeatedly confront opponents with new problems through skillful adjustments during the game, which his players can then exploit. Even with a strong French team and confident Swedes as group opponents, the kickers from the Asian island nation therefore have every chance of advancing far into the knockout phase.
Ecuador's defensive bulwark
Much has happened in the soccer world since September 2024: Paris Saint-Germain became Champions League winners for the first time, Thomas Müller left FC Bayern, and Liverpool FC spent over 500 million on new signings. But one thing has remained the same: the Ecuadorian national team has not lost a single game. Their opponents were no pushovers, as they included teams like Brazil, the Netherlands, or the Controversial Africa Cup of Nations winner Morocco. The absolute centerpiece of the Tricolor, as the team is called in the country, is the defense. With world-class defenders like Willian Pacho (Paris Saint-Germain) and Piero Hincapié (Arsenal FC), as well as defensive midfielder Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea FC), the South Americans' back line is a fortress that even the reigning world champions Argentina have already struggled against. This defense has only conceded six goals since coach Sebastián Beccacece took office in August 2024.
In 2022, Ecuador had to concede defeat against the Netherlands and Senegal in the group stage and missed out on reaching the World Cup round of 16. However, they see better chances in their group this year against Germany, Ivory Coast, and Curaçao. With their selfless defensive work and Premier League legionnaire Enner Valencia up front, they could go far, even if the offense has not yet matched the quality of their defenders. Nevertheless, the South Americans should not be underestimated, as the legendary coach Alex Ferguson already knew: You win games with offense, you win titles with defense.
Austria again and again
While older generations in Austria can still tell stories of Andi Herzog or Toni Polster in the Austrian national team, the star players from the last World Cup participation are only known as TV pundits to most younger football fans. Meanwhile, there are 28-year-old Austrians who have never been able to follow their team on the biggest stage of world football. Therefore, the joy will be even greater for them and all other red-white-red football fans that Ralf Rangnick's team has finally made it back to the final tournament at the 2026 World Cup. And for good reason: with his approach of intense gegenpressing, the team has already positively surprised many at the past European Championship.
France was brought to the brink of defeat and secured their progression from the group in an emotional match against the Netherlands at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. Although their run ended in the Round of 16 against Turkey, Austrian football has since whetted the appetite for more. However, Rangnick's approach does not work without players of the requisite quality. As the squad becomes more concrete, it becomes clear that the team is excellently staffed. Experienced players from international top clubs like Konrad Laimer (FC Bayern Munich), Marcel Sabitzer (Borussia Dortmund), or Christoph Baumgartner (RB Leipzig) are complemented by young talents who have recently been won over for Austria. Paul Wanner (PSV Eindhoven) and Carney Chukwuemeka (Borussia Dortmund) have opted for the Austrian team and want to earn a regular spot in the Austrian eleven in North America.
In Group J with Jordan, Argentina, and Algeria, advancing is definitely possible – even if many in the country cannot follow the games live due to their kickoff times in the middle of the night. However, Rangnick's tactical genius, the quality of the players in the squad, and past results give hope that they will have more matches after the group stage.
Will Canada finally break the ban?
Two World Cup appearances, six losses, no draws, no wins. Can a team be more of an underdog? Canada looks back on a very negative World Cup history, which they now (partly) want to turn into a success story in their home country this year. And the signs are not bad: Alphonso Davies (FC Bayern Munich) has always been the sole star of an otherwise mediocre team, but with the development of striker Jonathan David (Juventus Turin), they have recently gained another exceptional talent. The Maple Leafs' team is complemented by players who show their strengths in Europe's top leagues. These include, for example, Tajon Buchanan and Tani Oluwaseyi (both FC Villarreal) or Ismael Kone (US Sassuolo).
The North Americans gave a taste of their footballing strengths at the 2024 Copa America, where they secured fourth place. As preparation for the 2026 World Cup, the hosts of the World Cup were invited to this tournament, which actually only includes South American teams. Canada performed by far the best among them. The team's speed, in particular, which is particularly evident in their transitions, causes many opponents problems. In front of a home crowd, the Canadian kickers will surely receive an additional morale boost, which can make all the difference in such an emotional competition as the World Cup.
Coach Jesse Marsch will also not be unknown to many football fans, as he made a name for himself with the Red Bull clubs in Salzburg and Leipzig, as well as at Leeds United in Europe. With the home World Cup, everything is set for Canada to secure their first win in the world's most important football tournament. How far that can carry them in the end remains to be seen.
Conclusion
The 2026 FIFA World Cup holds immense potential for sensation. Looking at the defensively strong Ecuadorians, the golden Norwegian generation, or the ambitious Canadians, it becomes clear that many teams are waiting to finally fulfill their promises. While the political controversies Throughout the tournament, hopefully these underdogs can at least provide some positive sporting stories at the football festival in North America.
- Ben
- Justus
