With 2026 well underway, the football world is beginning to shift focus to the upcoming FIFA World Cup, which will commence in June. Despite the qualification process being ongoing, we have the majority of clubs qualified, with only a few spots still left up for grabs. Just a few months until the action kicks off, making fans worldwide place their early predictions and prepare for live betting opportunities for the tournament. Each FIFA World Cup has unique storylines that define the competition and the sport as a whole, uniting the world in a knockout tournament. The competition is truly special, and in recent years, we have seen numerous dark horses make deep runs into the knockout rounds, taking down some of the best footballing nations. The 2026 World Cup is expected to be no different and will be a month of captivating summer football.

Norway

Norway has not been in the World Cup since France hosted in 1998, and will return in 2026. Despite featuring decades of trauma, Norway look like a revitalised team, led by Erling Haaland, who is getting better each year for Manchester City. With Arsenal captain Marin Odegard back fit and seeming better each week, Norway could make a deep dive into the knockout rounds from the pair of Premier League greats alone.

Although Haaland and Odegard will take the headlines for Norway, their team is full of footballers in Europe’s top-flight leagues, making them an all-around force. From back to front, Norway seem a solid national side, with sufficient bench depth making them a dark horse pick for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. In their final World Cup qualification game, they faced the four-time winners, Italy, whom they made light work of with a 4-1 win on Italian soil. This victory was a statement win, with a brace by Erling Haaland, and one apiece for starlet Nusa and the Wolves talisman Strand Larsen. Norway are currently on a 12-game unbeaten streak, which they hope to extend into the summer.

Columbia

After failing to reach the knockout stage in Qatar, Colombia will be hoping to make up for their disappointment in the previous World Cup. Currently, Ecuador has one of its strongest teams in history on paper, with a selection of players who compete for their respective clubs in European competitions. Since the last competition, Ecuador have come along in leaps and bounds, with the likes of Moises Caicedo particularly improving, and entering conversations of the best midfielders in the world. Willian Pacho made his debut for the national team in 2023 and has since become an elite centre-back for PSG in Ligue 1, and will be a formidable rock for his country in the competition.

Ecuador are quietly going under the radar for the FIFA World Cup, and although they may not have the firepower to win the competition, a knockout push is definitely attainable. Qualifying for the FIFA World Cup, Ecuador beat the reigning champions, Argentina, 1-0, showcasing that they are not to be taken lightly. The tie was filled with drama, with 2 red cards, though Ecuador remained level-headed, and it was the 36-year-old veteran Enner Valencia who scored the winning goal, earning qualification. 

USA

Over the years, being the host nation has proved a major advantage, and at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, there will be no surprise if this continues. Despite sharing the hosting privileges with Mexico and Canada, the USA is taking the majority of the games, with 78 out of the 104 matches being played on United States soil. Being the host nation is a huge boost on the field, with massive crowds, less travel for the players, and familiarity with the climate, all factors that may give them a slight edge over others. Alongside these factors, the USA have one of the greatest lineups in modern history, which could prove valuable if they hope to make the knockout stages. Despite their blip in 2018, when they failed to qualify, the USA have become more respected at the FIFA World Cup in recent years, often reaching the round of 16. In the upcoming competition, it would be no surprise if the USMNT could exceed the round of 16, reach the quarter-finals, or the semi-finals if a favourable draw goes their way.

One of the main cards for the USMNT in the FIFA World Cup in 2026 is their manager, Marucio Pochettino. Despite being of Argentinian descent, there are few better suited to take control of the squad, with a notable history of managing some of the elite footballers of the modern era. In the current 2025/26 season, ‘Captain America’ Christian Pulisic is putting up some of the greatest numbers in his career to date, being the top scorer for AC Milan in the Serie A. It is believed that if the USA were to perform at this World Cup, a large part of that would come down to Pulisic’s performances.

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