Predicting the 'dark horse' at the 2026 World Cup.

Surprises are an integral part of any World Cup. This year, which team will be the "dark horse" of the tournament, challenging the big teams?

Norway is highly regarded for having Haaland - Photo: REUTERS

Based on current form, squad quality, and historical precedent, experts have already compiled a list of contenders for the 2026 World Cup title, including Spain, Argentina, Portugal, England, France, and others.

However, the group of teams considered the "elite" of the world today are predicted to face a major challenge from the dark horses of the tournament.

So which team is considered a potential spoiler at the 2026 World Cup?

First and foremost, we must mention Morocco – the representative from Africa. At the 2022 World Cup, Morocco caused a major surprise by reaching the semi-finals. Their journey ended with a 1-2 defeat against Croatia in the third-place match.

But it's hard to say that Morocco's surprise victory was due to luck, because they possess a young and excellent squad. By the 2026 World Cup, this squad will be at its peak, and Morocco will undoubtedly be even more formidable.

Following Morocco is Norway, featuring Erling Haaland. Norway has been absent from major tournaments for many years, and the 2026 World Cup will be the stage to witness the return of this Nordic team. Experts believe Norway is likely to spring a surprise because they possess many outstanding players, including superstar striker Erling Haaland - the top scorer in the English Premier League this season.

Japan's national team coach Hajime Moriyasu has set the goal of Japan winning the 2026 World Cup - Photo: REUTERS

Norway's problem is that their squad is not well-balanced across all positions. The Nordic team's defense is quite weak compared to the stars in their attack. This imbalance will be a major challenge to Norway's ambitions of going deep in the 2026 World Cup.

Another team to watch at the 2026 World Cup is Colombia. The South American representative boasts a quality squad, well-balanced across all three lines. They also have stars who can decide a match, such as Luis Díaz, Jhon Córdoba, and James Rodríguez.

With their formidable strength, Colombia is predicted to go far in the 2026 World Cup, at least replicating their quarter-final appearance from 2014.

Another team worth anticipating is Japan. The team from the Land of the Rising Sun aims to win the 2026 World Cup. At first glance, this seems like a far-fetched goal, but the Japanese are generally not one to boast.

With a squad of high-quality players currently playing in Europe, the Japanese national team is one of the most impressive teams in the world. Recently, Japan has defeated England, Brazil, and many other strong opponents... That's why they are predicted to be the dark horse of this year's tournament.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/du-doan-ngua-o-tai-world-cup-2026-20260603150513963.htm