World Cup 2026 Dark Horses: Six Teams That Could Shock the World

World Cups are defined by their surprises. Croatia reaching the final in 2018. Senegal winning their group in 2022. Morocco making the semi-finals. The tournament has a way of producing teams that nobody anticipated going deep — and in 2026, with an expanded 48-team format and more knockout rounds, the opportunity for upsets has never been greater.

Here are six teams who could shock the world at World Cup 2026.

1. Norway

Their presence at the tournament is the first surprise — Norway returned to World Cup football after a 20-year absence. Their second surprise could be going deep into the knockout rounds. Erling Haaland at a World Cup, fully fit and motivated, is a frightening prospect for any defence. Add Martin Ødegaard pulling strings in midfield and an organised defensive structure, and Norway have the tools to beat higher-seeded opponents. Any team that faces them in the Round of 32 should be worried.

2. Japan

Japan have demonstrated at consecutive World Cups that they are not here to make up the numbers. At Qatar 2022 they beat Germany and Spain — two of the most technically accomplished nations in the world — in the group stage. Their pressing system, tactical discipline, and collective organisation make them extremely difficult to play against. In the expanded format, where there are additional knockout rounds, Japan's ability to sustain high-intensity performances over multiple games could take them further than ever before.

3. Croatia

An ageing squad, yes. But a squad of World Cup experience that is almost unmatched. Their 2018 run to the final and 2022 semi-final were achieved by a group of players who understand how to win knockout football. Luka Modrić, now in his late thirties, remains one of the most technically gifted midfielders in the world. Croatia under Zlatko Dalić have shown they can reach deep stages of tournaments. Never write them off.

4. Senegal

Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021, and the squad that powered that victory — led by Sadio Mané before his career-altering injury — has regenerated with younger talent. They have pace on the wings, physicality in midfield, and a coach in Aliou Cissé who has built genuine tournament structures. In knockout football, Senegal's directness and power make them dangerous against any European or South American side.

5. Sweden

The 5-1 win over Tunisia in their opening match confirmed what Swedish football watchers already knew: the combination of Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak at the top is devastating. Sweden last reached the semi-finals of a World Cup in 1994. This squad has the physical and technical quality to reach at least the quarter-finals. In a wide-open side of the bracket, they could go much further.

6. Australia

Australia qualified via a playoff route that took determination and belief. They have a core of experienced players — including those who reached the quarter-finals at Qatar 2022, beating Denmark in the process — and a competitive spirit that makes them difficult to dismiss. They will not win the tournament. But they can absolutely beat a higher-seeded team in the Round of 32 or Round of 16.

The beauty of the World Cup is that all six of these teams could go deep, or none of them might. That uncertainty is what makes the tournament unlike anything else in sport. Follow every upset, every surprise, and every moment live on KickD throughout World Cup 2026.

KickD Sports Desk

Our editorial team covers Arab football and the FIFA World Cup 2026 live on kickd.net — real-time scores, group standings, and match analysis updated around the clock.

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