The mark of "underdog" teams
Prior to the 2026 World Cup, most football fans around the world were virtually unaware of Cape Verde – a team from a small island nation in the Atlantic with a population of less than 600,000. However, this newcomer team created one of the biggest surprises of the tournament by holding the reigning European champions Spain to a 0-0 draw in their first match of Group H. This proud draw was achieved through the technical skill, tactical prowess, and courageous fighting spirit of the Cape Verde players. Despite being under pressure for almost the entire match and only controlling about 25% of the possession, the African representatives held firm against the suffocating pressure from their opponents. The hero for Cape Verde was veteran goalkeeper Vozinha, with a series of outstanding saves, helping his team keep a clean sheet against 27 shots from the Spanish players. After the match, he was voted Man of the Match. The Cape Verde players defended deep but did not play negatively, committing only one foul throughout the match, breaking the record for the fewest fouls in a World Cup match since 1966. After the match, Spain's coach Luis De La Fuente praised his opponents: "Cape Verde organized their play very well. They defended deep, leaving no gaps. We still had chances, but lacked the necessary freshness. When the ball doesn't go into the net, you just have to accept it."
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| Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha had an outstanding performance. |
Even in Group H, the Saudi Arabian team caused a surprise by drawing 1-1 with Uruguay. The West Asian representatives even scored first, forcing the South American players to work hard to find an equalizer late in the match. This result means all four teams in Group H have one point after the first round, creating one of the most unpredictable situations at the 2026 World Cup.
Earlier, despite conceding a somewhat questionable penalty, Qatar held Switzerland to a 1-1 draw, keeping their hopes of advancing from the group stage alive. Another team deserving of praise is Haiti from the Caribbean. Although they lost 0-1 to Scotland, Haiti played quite well. The statistics show that Haiti created more clear-cut scoring opportunities; especially Pierrot's missed close-range header in the 85th minute, which gave Scottish fans a scare. Despite not securing any points on their return to the World Cup after 52 years, Haiti's performance still offered many positive signs.
While Haiti, Cape Verde, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are typical examples of underdog teams gradually closing the gap with the world's powerhouses, Asian powerhouses like South Korea, Japan, and Australia have proven their solid strength to compete on equal footing at the biggest stage on the planet. South Korea staged an emotional comeback to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1 in their opening match in Group A. This victory showed that Asian teams have the character and quality to overcome European opponents through their own professional ability. Japan also drew 2-2 with the Netherlands in a dramatic match despite twice falling behind. Notably, the Australian team surprisingly defeated Türkiye 2-0, a team with many players currently playing for top European clubs. Along with the Asian teams, the Moroccan team from Africa also drew 1-1 with Brazil in a closely contested match. These impressive results send a common message: Asian and African teams no longer come to the World Cup to "cause surprises," but to truly compete, challenge the status of the powerhouses, and assert their increasingly firm position on the world football map.
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| Saudi Arabian defender Al Amri (in green) scores a rebound goal that leaves Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera helpless in their opening match of Group H on June 15. Photo: AP |
World football is becoming increasingly flat.
All these results are no accident. They are the product of a strong process of football globalization over the past two decades. Japanese, Korean, and Moroccan players now wear the jerseys of clubs in top football leagues around the world such as England, Spain, Germany, France, and the Netherlands… Hwang In-beom – the hero who decided the victory for South Korea – is playing for Feyenoord (Netherlands); Ismael Saibari – who scored against Brazil for Morocco – is a striker for PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands) and was recently transferred to Bayern Munich for $50 million; Daichi Kamada – who scored for the Japanese national team – is playing for Crystal Palace (England)… They train using modern methods, are exposed to top-level tactical philosophies, and more importantly, they are no longer haunted by the inferiority complex when facing powerful European or South American teams. In fact, most of the players on the Moroccan national team (who reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup) were born and raised in Europe, absorbing the same football culture as the local players. Therefore, the gap in skill level between them and the world's top players is no longer so significant.
It's also worth noting that with the availability of comprehensive statistical data and video recordings of training sessions and matches of major teams, coaches of underdog teams can find ways to counter their opponents' strengths. The Cape Verde team's successful strategy against Spain is a prime example.
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| The Japanese national team drew 2-2 with the Netherlands in their opening match of Group F on June 15. Photo: AP |
While Saudi Arabia and Qatar may not have as many players playing abroad as Japan or South Korea, the fact that their national leagues attract world-class stars has helped to elevate the level of their domestic players. Saudi Arabian defenders regularly face renowned strikers like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, thereby gaining experience and confidence to step onto the biggest stage in the world.
Cape Verde, Haiti, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Japan, Morocco... each name is a reminder that at the 2026 World Cup, no match will be easy for the top teams. The old maps clearly defining the lines between strong and weak, between the center and the periphery, are gradually blurring, not by luck, but by effort, vision, and genuine development. The 2026 World Cup is still ahead, with many challenges. Will these teams continue their winning streak to create even greater miracles, or are the recent results just early surprises? The answer will gradually be revealed in the upcoming matches. However, even now, they have proven that any team aiming to conquer the World Cup will face greater challenges than ever before.
THANH NGUYEN
Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/the-thao/the-thao-quoc-te/202606/the-gioi-bong-da-ngay-cang-phang-cd10e83/
