The clock is ticking until the 2026 World Cup begins. For a few of the 48 teams heading to the tournament, they will feel confident that they can surpass the expectations many have for them this summer.
Typical powerhouses in world football have dominated the narrative when it comes to who might win the competition or who will progress the furthest. While the likes of Spain and France might be the favorites across sportsbooks offering 2026 World Cup odds, several other nations might feel that they can cause an upset.
Expanding the knockout stage to 32 teams means there is a greater chance fans will witness a giant killing, particularly in a winner-takes-all scenario where the stakes change. Here are three teams that could be dark horses to back against some of the tournament favorites in June and July.
Norway: A generational attack that can disrupt the elite
They might lag behind the European and South American elite in betting markets, but Norway is very much capable of beating the likes of Germany or England in the knockout stages should their paths cross. And that all comes down to the presence of Erling Haaland.
With Haaland being unquestionably one of the best strikers in world football, manager Ståle Solbakken has set his team up to maximize his talisman’s ability. In qualifying, Norway won every single game and scored 37 goals—16 of those strikes came from Haaland.
However, there’s more to the Red, White, and Blue than their striker. Martin Ødegaard pulls the strings from midfield, while Antonio Nusa offers a threat off either flank. Although drawn in Group I with France, Senegal, and Iraq, Norway is good enough to beat any team, and Haaland could score several late goals to steal victories. If they build momentum early on, they could very well push into the latter stages of the tournament.
Japan: Giant-killers in waiting
Germany and Spain found out the hard way in 2022 that Japan was not a team to be underestimated. The Samurai Blue beat both countries to finish top of Group E, but then failed to progress beyond the Round of 16 once again after losing to Croatia on penalties. Could that all change this summer?
Hajime Moriyasu has built a well-balanced team, with their pressing and speed in transition causing trouble for opponents in recent games. Victories against Brazil and England have demonstrated that Japan can upset the odds going into the tournament, and they will be confident of more success this summer.
Japan will face the Netherlands, Tunisia, and Sweden in Group F. Although not guaranteed qualification, they are good enough to finish first or second and should, at the very least, qualify as one of the best-performing third-place teams. As recent matches have shown, they are good enough to win one-off games of football, so perhaps this is the year that they finally reach the quarter-finals.
Ecuador: Defensive dominance on the world stage
Ecuador was one of the biggest surprises in South American qualifying matches, as they managed to finish second in the standings above the likes of Colombia and Brazil. While they suffered a group-stage elimination in 2022, this is a better team than it was four years ago.
Defensive solidity is their best quality, as they conceded just five times in 18 qualifying matches. Moisés Caicedo, Piero Hincapié, and Willian Pacho all play their part in locking teams out, and fans can expect to see the same this summer.
Ecuador does not play stylish football, but they are effective—the last time La Tricolor lost a match was in September 2024, a 1-0 defeat to Brazil. Sportsbooks give them a good chance of qualifying for the knockout stages in Group E, where they will play Curaçao, Germany, and the Ivory Coast. Should they reach the Round of 32, their defensive approach will make them a nightmare for top teams.
