Every World Cup has one thing in common: a team that surprises everyone. This is a team nobody picked. They beat opponents they shouldn’t have, advance farther than anyone expected, and manage to capture the whole world’s attention. The 2026 World Cup kicks off on June 11 with 48 teams and more games than ever. The chance for surprises has never been greater. But before we look ahead, it’s worth remembering where this concept began. Yankee Scores reports.
The Gold Standard: Costa Rica 2014
To understand what a dark horse run really looks like, we need to go back to Brazil 2014. Costa Rica was placed in the “Group of Death” with three former world champions: Uruguay, Italy, and England. Nobody thought they had a chance.
Instead, they shocked everyone. They stunned Uruguay 3-1, beat Italy 1-0 to secure qualification with a game to spare, and topped the group with seven points. Goalkeeper Keylor Navas became a national hero overnight. They held the Netherlands to a 0-0 draw through 120 minutes in the quarterfinal before eventually losing in penalties. A country of five million people had the entire world on its feet, me especially.
Morocco 2022: Dark Horse or Something More?
Qatar 2022 was a different story. Even though Morocco was ranked 22nd in the world, which was still a bit high, their run was very impressive and they overperformed. They faced Belgium, Croatia, and Canada. Not only did they advance, but they also topped the group, allowing just one goal, which was an own goal, across three matches.
They eliminated Spain in penalties, then defeated Portugal 1-0 in the quarterfinal; the night Ronaldo walked down the tunnel in tears. France ended their run 2-0 in the semifinals, but Morocco already made history as the first African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal. By the time they beat Portugal, it was hard to just call them lucky. They showed strong organization and tactical brilliance.
Sometimes a dark horse turns out to be a very good team that simply didn’t get enough attention.
Who Carries the Torch in 2026?
Three teams stand out.
Norway returns to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, having won all eight of their UEFA qualifying games. Haaland leads the offense, and Ødegaard controls the midfield. If Norway reaches the knockout stage, no one will want to face them.
Colombia reached the quarterfinals in Brazil 2014, inspired by a then-22-year-old James Rodríguez, who won the Golden Boot. Now they’re back with Rodríguez and Luis Díaz leading the way. They are in Group K alongside Portugal, DR Congo, and Uzbekistan, a group Colombia can genuinely win.
Morocco deserves mention again, though they are not really a dark horse anymore. They open Group C against Brazil on June 13. If they beat or draw with Brazil in that opener, Morocco will announce itself to the entire tournament again. Their success in Qatar was obviously no fluke, they know how to win.
Senegal shocked defending champions France in 2002. Costa Rica defeated three former champions in 2014. Morocco reached the semifinals in 2022. The World Cup always leaves room for the unexpected and that is why it is the greatest tournament on earth. With 48 teams and a new Round of 32, there’s more opportunity than ever for surprises in 2026.
Somewhere in this tournament, a team that nobody believes in will emerge and surprise everyone.
