Sport
Which three teams are primed to be Dark Horses at this summer’s World Cup?
The 2026 World Cup is just around the corner with no fewer than 48 teams set to descend on the USA, Canada and Mexico over the coming days. The tournament gets under way on Thursday 11th June and anticipation is high.
Realistically, the eventual winner is likely to come from a select group of teams. After all, the World Cup has only ever been lifted by eight different nations. However, one or two ‘dark horses’ will emerge, as they always do.
Here are three teams that could embark on a deep run at this summer’s tournament.
Ecuador
Only Argentina finished ahead of Ecuador in CONMEBOL qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, highlighting just how far they have come as a football nation in recent times. Indeed, Sebastian Beccacece’s side could make a profound impact at this summer’s tournament.
Powered by the youth academy of Independiente del Valle, Ecuador have produced a group of exceptional players that includes Moises Caicedo, Willian Pacho and Piero Hincapie. They boast one of the strongest defences anywhere in the world, conceding just five goals in 18 World Cup qualifiers.
Ecuador will look to stay compact and invite pressure on top of themselves before hitting out on the counter-attack. At the age of 36, Enner Valencia remains their first-choice centre forward, but the former West Ham striker has proved himself as the perfect focal point for his national team.
Japan
Japan have belief that they can go deep into the knockout rounds of the 2026 World Cup after building to this point over a number of years. Currently ranked 18th in the world, Hajime Moriyasu’s side have the talent to make a serious impact this summer, although the loss of Kaoru Mitoma was a blow.
The Brighton winger will miss the tournament through injury and so Japan might be missing an extra dimension in the attacking third. They will be worse off for not having Mitoma. Nonetheless, Samurai Blue boast players in some of the best leagues around Europe including Take Kubo, Hiroki Ito and Wataru Endo, all of whom are capable of influencing matches at the elite level.
Moriyasu’s team are technically able. They can control a match through their use of the ball, or they can hurt teams in quick transition, depending on the requirements. Japan have made the last 16 of the last two World Cups and with a favourable draw they could go even further this summer.
Norway
From the moment Norway blew away their qualification opponents to punch their ticket to the 2026 World Cup, they were widely identified as potential ‘dark horses.’ There’s good reason to believe Erling Haaland and co. are set to better Norway’s best-ever World Cup showing of a last 16 appearance.
Haaland is arguably the most fearsome finisher anywhere in the world at this moment in time. The Norwegian scored an astonishing 16 goals in qualification, eight more than any other player. Haaland needs service, but he has Arsenal captain and Premier League winner Martin Odegaard behind him as a creative force.
Norway don’t just have Haaland to provide firepower, they have Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth too. And Crystal Palace focal point Jorgen Strand Larsen. And promising RB Leipzig winger Antonio Nusa. It’s certainly true that Norway’s depth is thinner in the defensive areas, but they have genuine difference-makers in attack.
After finishing top of a qualification group that included Italy, Norway have good reason to believe they can compete against the best of international football. Morocco were the surprise package of the 2022 World Cup and Norway have the makings of the next underdog to make the latter rounds of the tournament.
