Seeing a national team make surprising progress at the FIFA World Cup is not an uncommon thing. We’ve been lucky to witness great underdog runs in many tournaments, with Croatia in 2018 and Morocco in 2022 being some of the more recent teams that spring to mind.
The odds of seeing an otherwise unfavoured team make a push for the knockouts this year are significantly higher. With the tournament’s expanded format, 48 teams will compete at the World Cup, and a potentially weaker overall pool as a result. Let’s take a look at the dark horses that might cause upsets at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Japan – An Unpredictable National Team That Troubles Even the Bookmakers
Japan has quietly evolved into a squad that genuinely terrifies football’s traditional heavyweights. They navigated the Asian qualifying stages brilliantly, registering just a single defeat along the way. Add a formidable winning streak that includes major scalps against both Brazil and England to the mix, and you have a side absolutely brimming with confidence.
They will be desperate to carry that momentum straight into the tournament. Standing in their way in the group stages are the Netherlands, Sweden and Tunisia. While the North African side shouldn’t pose a massive threat, both the Dutch and the Swedes will know they are in for a punishing 90 minutes.
It is this exact giant-killing pedigree that makes the Samurai Blue such a fascinating watch. Trying to predict how they will fare against elite opposition is a brilliant headache for fans and anyone weighing up the World Cup markets on NetBet Sport They possess a proven track record of tearing up the script when it matters most.
Morocco – This National Team Seems Ready for Yet Another Unforgettable Tournament
Morocco gets to play in Group C, where it will go up against the mighty Brazil. This means that the team will most likely lose the first spot and finish in second place. We cannot say the same about Scotland and Haiti because they are much weaker and less dominant. Remember that Haiti is entering the World Cup for only the second time in their history, having last made an appearance back in 1974.
That is why neither of the two can really compete with Morocco. This will be the country’s 7th World Cup, but this time it will compete as the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Let’s not forget that CAF awarded them this winning status off the pitch. It was actually Senegal who won the tournament on the day.
We must also note that Morocco beat Spain and Portugal in the previous World Cup. The African side ultimately lost the 3rd place playoff to Croatia. These achievements alone put Morocco in 8th place on the FIFA ranking list.
Turkey – A Strong Squad With Exciting Young Players
World Cup fans might want to keep an eye on Turkey, as this national team has built a strong squad in recent years. It booked a place by knocking out Romania and Kosovo in the World Cup qualifying playoffs. Turkey missed out on direct qualification by just 3 points.
Many believe that Turkey will go on top in its World Cup group, as it won’t have to deal with any of the traditional favourites. Its list of opponents includes the USA, Paraguay, and Australia. We don’t believe that any of these teams are truly better than Turkey.
None of them feature superstars like Arda Guler, Kenan Yildiz, and Hakan Calhanoglu. Turkey also has Kerem Akturkoglu, who is a recognised goalscorer in Europe.
Norway – The National Team That Dominated the European World Cup Qualifiers
Another European national football team that might surprise you is Norway. This side achieved a spectacular direct World Cup qualification after winning all 8 of its qualifying matches. Among them were two massive wins against Italy that officially secured their spot in the tournament.
The World Cup group featuring Norway also hosts teams like France, Senegal, and Iraq. We believe that the Norwegians will only really struggle against France. Iraq doesn’t stand much of a chance against them, while Senegal might cause some difficulties.
Norway’s fans have been waiting for years for the national team to show off its true potential. It seems like the time has come for them to shine, thanks to players like Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard.
Ecuador – A Highly Defensive National Team That’s Tough to Break Down
Ecuador’s latest performances indicate that this national team might cause a surprise at the World Cup. This squad hasn’t lost any of its last 17 matches. It even frustrated top teams like the Netherlands and Morocco.
We must mention that Ecuador ended in 2nd place during its World Cup qualifiers. It achieved that with just 5 conceded goals in 18 matches. However, it is a rather careful approach that also brought them only 14 scored goals.
It will be interesting to see whether this defensive strategy works against Germany and the Ivory Coast. We can safely say that Ecuador will most likely secure 3 points against Curaçao. If its defence performs as it has so far, then we will surely see Ecuador in the knockout stages.
