The 2026 FIFA World Cup has not even started yet, but fans are already making predictions about who could lift the trophy next summer. The usual favourites are once again among the top contenders: France, Argentina, Brazil, England and Spain all arrive with huge expectations.
But football history teaches us one very important thing: World Cups love underdogs.
In almost every edition, an unexpected national team appears, knocks out giants, wins over neutral fans and becomes one of the biggest stories of the tournament. And with the new 2026 World Cup format, featuring more teams and more matches, the chances of seeing surprise runs are even greater.
Still not sure what has changed for this World Cup? Then we recommend reading our article about the new 2026 FIFA World Cup format and all the competition changes.
In this article, we highlight three World Cup underdogs for 2026 that have real potential to trouble the favourites and maybe even produce a historic campaign.
Morocco: no longer a surprise
If anyone still doubts Morocco’s ability to compete at the highest level, all they need to do is remember what the team achieved at the last World Cup. Morocco arrived in 2022 without much expectation and ended up delivering one of the most historic campaigns ever by an African nation.
What is even more impressive is that it does not look like a one-off.
Morocco still has an extremely competitive generation, filled with players used to performing on the biggest stages in European football. The team combines physical intensity, defensive organisation and speed in transition, qualities that work very well in short tournaments.
On top of that, Morocco always play with incredible emotional intensity, something that can make a huge difference in balanced matches. Players like Achraf Hakimi continue to lead a squad that genuinely believes it can compete against anyone.
For African fans, Morocco represents one of the continent’s biggest hopes at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Japan: discipline, speed and organisation
Japan has already shown several times that it can cause serious problems for the world’s biggest teams. Even without the global status of European and South American powers, the Japanese national team has become highly respected.
The secret is consistency.
Japan are usually tactically organised, aggressive without the ball and extremely quick at exploiting space. In tournaments where small details decide everything, teams like this become very dangerous.
Another important factor is the technical development of Japanese players in recent years. Many now play in top European leagues and arrive at the World Cup more prepared than ever to face elite opposition.
At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Japan could once again eliminate one of the favourites and become one of the tournament’s biggest stories.
Ecuador: the team nobody is talking about
Among all the World Cup underdogs for 2026, Ecuador may be the least discussed, and that could make them even more dangerous.
Their South American qualifying campaign was outstanding. Ecuador finished ahead of football giants such as Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia, showing consistency, intensity and excellent competitive mentality.
Physically strong and tactically balanced, Ecuador has a very exciting young generation and several players capable of competing at the highest level.
South American teams also tend to adapt very well to the emotional pressure of a World Cup. If Ecuador gain confidence in the opening matches, they could quickly become one of the most difficult teams to face in the competition.
Why the new format could help World Cup underdogs
The new 2026 FIFA World Cup format could strongly benefit underdog teams.
With more national teams involved, more knockout matches and an extra elimination round, there will be more opportunities for historic moments. A strong group stage could be enough to give confidence to a less-fancied side and completely change the direction of the tournament.
In long competitions, the emotional factor matters a lot, and organised, disciplined teams with strong collective spirit often manage to outperform technically superior opponents.
Who will be the biggest surprise of the World Cup?
Football lives on unexpected stories, and that is exactly what makes the FIFA World Cup so special. Every fan loves seeing an underestimated team challenge the giants and move closer to the impossible.
Morocco, Japan and Ecuador all have enough quality to seriously trouble the favourites and perhaps become the biggest surprise of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
And for you, which of these teams can go furthest? Or is there another nation you believe could shock the world?
Leave your opinion in the comments.
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