Dark Horses

Morocco shocked the world in Qatar. They became the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final, beating Spain and Portugal on the way. That squad is still mostly together. Walid Regragui has built something genuinely special — a side that is hard to break down, terrifying on the counter, and absolutely believes it can beat anyone. They are not a surprise any more, which might actually make them more dangerous.

Never underestimate home advantage. The Americans are co-hosting this tournament and will play their group games and potentially several knockout rounds in front of enormous, passionate home crowds. Add a genuinely exciting young squad — Pulisic, McKennie, Musah — and a manager who has worked hard to turn a collection of talented individuals into a functioning team, and you have a team that can absolutely cause problems. The Americans have never gone past the quarter-finals. That could change here.

Japan have been doing this for years now. People still expect them to be pushovers and they keep finding ways to prove everyone wrong. In 2022 they beat Germany and Spain in the group stage — two of the biggest nations in world football. Their squad is full of players performing at the highest level in Europe, they are tactically intelligent, and they never stop running. Do not sleep on Japan.

James Rodríguez is 35 in 2026 but still capable of moments that win tournaments. Colombia qualified strongly and have dangerous attacking players throughout the squad. They are not seen as title contenders but they have the quality to beat anyone on their day, particularly in the knockout rounds where individual brilliance can be the difference. South American teams tend to go well at World Cups and Colombia are underrated.

You never write Uruguay off. They are a country of three million people who somehow keep producing world-class footballers and competing at the highest level. They are dangerous on the counter, hard to beat, and carry that South American grit that makes knockout football feel like home for them. Their squad is ageing but experienced. When the nerves kick in for fancied nations, Uruguay just get on with it.

Senegal are African champions for a reason. Sadio Mané leads a squad that combines physicality and technical ability in a way few African nations have managed. They are big, quick, organised, and can hurt you in multiple ways. Aliou Cissé has turned them into a genuine tournament team rather than a side that flirts with the knockout rounds and then falls away. Underestimate them at your peril.

Croatia have been doing this for years. Finalists in 2018. Third place in 2022. Luka Modrić is 40 but still pulls strings in midfield in a way that younger players cannot replicate. This golden generation knows what it takes to win knockout matches at a World Cup. They are tactically disciplined, experienced, and they do not panic. Every time you think this era is over they find a way to keep going.

The big question hanging over Portugal is what happens after Ronaldo. This tournament may provide the answer. They have Vitinha, João Neves, Rafael Leão, Bernardo Silva, and Bruno Fernandes — a genuinely world-class core that does not need Ronaldo to be the main man any more. If they can stop treating every game as a setup for a Cristiano highlight reel and play as a team, they have the talent to go very deep indeed.