Changing Scene: The Rising Countries That Are Defying Powerhouses in the 2026 FIFA World Cup
There is nothing like an underdog. The World Cup has given us many surprises and moments of glory for fans from across the globe. Soccer is known for its powerhouse teams, nations that have won the World Cup several times and shaped soccer history. With the new, expanded format of the World Cup, more teams have had the chance to compete, on occasion outperforming countries traditionally known for their soccer prowess. These lesser-known countries in the realm of soccer have been gaining traction as the tournament progresses, showcasing the sport's evolving nature. It may be that we are witnessing the rise of new soccer powerhouses.
Cape Verde Defies the Champions
Cape Verde is an archipelago on the west coast of Africa with a population of about half a million. The squad first became well known after drawing with the 2024 European Champions, Spain, in their World Cup debut. The Blue Sharks went on to qualify for the Round of 32 after finishing second in their group. The team’s goalkeeper, Vozinha, garnered worldwide attention after performing remarkably throughout the games, which included 18 saves. Cape Verde lost narrowly 3-2 to defending champions Argentina in the Round of 32. Despite being eliminated, Vozinha became the most-followed goalkeeper in the world and went from largely unknown to a soccer star, raising the question of whether he will find a team in the future. Clearly, this small nation’s performance will go down in history as one of the best national debuts of all time.
Paraguay Eliminates Germany
Paraguay did not start on the right foot, losing to the U.S. 4-1 in its first game. However, the South American nation made a comeback, qualifying for the Round of 32 among the best eight third-place teams. The Albirroja did not take the opportunity for granted and defeated four-time World Champion Germany in shootouts during the Round of 32. Paraguay might just be a team that is often overlooked in a region as full of soccer talent as South America. When talking about the region’s teams, people probably think of Argentina or Brazil first, but smaller countries also have first-class squads. Unfortunately, Paraguay’s run was cut short by none other than the 2018 World Champions and 2022 Runner-Ups, France. Nevertheless, Paraguay managed to yield only one goal to the Les Blues, which some might argue is a victory in itself.
Norway: From Zero to Hero
28 years passed before Norway could compete on the global stage once more. During the group stage, the Vikings lost only to France, qualifying for the Round of 32 after placing second in their group. A 2-1 victory against Ivory Coast qualified them for the Round of 16, which equals the team’s best result achieved in the World Cup of 1998. If they win against Brazil tonight, the Vikings will break their performance record. Norway’s star, Erling Haaland, has also been having a stellar run with his national team, scoring five goals out of the 10 the team has scored overall. Definitely a great fourth-ever World Cup for the Norwegians, who are facing five-time World Champion Brazil this afternoon. Fans can be sure that their team will come back for another World Cup and that the wait will not be that long; at least it doesn’t seem so.
Final Thoughts
The expanded 48-team format was not something I was fond of, but seeing the diversity of teams, fans, and the fascinating results, I must say I was wrong to consider it detrimental to the World Cup experience. If anything, the presence of more teams has redefined soccer, enriched the viewership, and reached even more fans across the world. Hopefully, we will see more and more countries competing in the upcoming years. Maybe we will even have an underdog as a finalist this year. The greatest part about soccer is that you never know.
