The World Cup trophy is unveiled at an event related to the 2026 World Cup in New York, USA. (Photo: AFP/VNA)
At the 2026 World Cup, experts are paying particular attention to a group of teams considered the most dangerous "spoilers," ready to create shocks and challenge the ambitions of the top contenders.
Leading the list is the Japanese national team. The Asian representatives are considered one of the strongest generations in the history of their football. Possessing many players competing in top European leagues, along with a fast-paced, technically skilled, and highly organized style of play, Japan is seen as the strongest contender for the role of "dark horse" in the tournament. The "Land of the Rising Sun" team showed remarkable consistency in the qualifying rounds, losing only one match out of 16. Their victory against England at Wembley in an international friendly further reinforced the belief that Japan has the potential to make a historic breakthrough at this year's World Cup.
Another team that has high expectations is Colombia. Although they no longer maintain the explosive form they displayed during James Rodríguez's World Cup 2014 campaign, the South American team still possesses a highly creative attack and stars capable of making a difference. At the heart of Colombia's current style of play is Luis Díaz, considered one of the most dangerous attacking threats in South America. Furthermore, James Rodríguez's experience remains a valuable asset in big matches.
After many years of absence, Norway returns to the World Cup with high expectations. The Nordic team possesses a special weapon in Erling Haaland, one of the most effective strikers in the world today. Norway scored 37 goals in the qualifying campaign and conceded only five. If they maintain that performance in North America, Haaland's team could become a formidable opponent for any title contender.
Morocco, the team that created a fairytale story by reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, continues to be considered a formidable force. The African team's strength stems from their solid defense, disciplined tactical organization, and stars like Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Díaz. While not possessing a flamboyant style of play, Morocco demonstrates exceptional efficiency and consistently causes difficulties for stronger opponents.
Meanwhile, Türkiye returns to the World Cup after more than two decades of waiting with a promising generation of young players. Arda Güler of Real Madrid and Kenan Yıldız of Juventus are expected to become new stars of European football. The experience of Hakan Çalhanoğlu combined with the youth in the squad makes Türkiye a noteworthy dark horse in this year's tournament.
Despite reaching the 2018 World Cup final and finishing third in 2022, Croatia is still considered a potential surprise team. The Balkan side possesses extensive experience and a proven track record in numerous major tournaments. However, the biggest question for Croatia is whether their golden generation, featuring Luka Modrić, Ivan Perišić, and Ante Budimir, can maintain their high standards in a long and demanding tournament like the World Cup.
Rounding out the list is Uruguay, a team led by the renowned strategist Marcelo Bielsa. Under the Argentinian coach, Uruguay pursues an energetic style of play, aggressive pressing, and is always ready to create high-intensity matches. Although their qualifying campaign wasn't entirely convincing, the South American team still possesses many quality individuals such as Federico Valverde and Darwin Núñez, players capable of making a difference in big matches.
The World Cup is always a stage for surprises. While title contenders like Argentina, France, and Brazil are considered familiar main characters, Japan, Colombia, Norway, Morocco, Turkey, Croatia, and Uruguay are the most dangerous "spoilers," ready to write new and unexpected chapters on North American soil this summer.
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/world-cup-2026-nhung-ke-pha-binh-dang-so-nhat-a488537.html
