Dark Horses: Five Teams That Could Shock the World
Norway, Austria, Japan, and more — these are the teams that could make unexpected deep runs.
Beyond the traditional favorites, several teams have the talent and circumstances to make surprise runs deep into the tournament:
Norway
— The Haaland-Ødegaard axis is one of the deadliest duos in international football. Norway's system is simple: defend compactly, win the ball, and release Haaland. In tournament football, having the best finisher on the pitch can take you far. A quarter-final run is very possible.
Austria
— Ralf Rangnick's high-intensity pressing system has transformed Das Team from also-rans into the team nobody wants to face. Their fitness levels are elite, their tactical organization is exceptional, and David Alaba's leadership provides big-match composure. Austria could realistically reach the quarter-finals.
Japan
— The Samurai Blue have victories over Germany and Spain on their recent World Cup resume. Mitoma and Kubo provide world-class technical ability on the wings. Japan's tactical flexibility — they can switch formations mid-game — makes them unpredictable opponents.
Morocco
— The 2022 semi-finalists are no longer underdogs. Achraf Hakimi leads a team that knows how to win knockout matches. Their defensive organization — the foundation of the Qatar run — remains intact, and they've added more attacking variety.
Colombia
— Returning after missing 2022, Los Cafeteros are one of the tournament's most entertaining teams. Luis Díaz is elite, the midfield is creative, and the defense has improved. On their day, Colombia can beat anyone.