Nine dark horses vying for a quarterfinals spot, with the US Men's National Team among them at the World Cup.

Tournament upsets are a staple of the World Cup, where underdog teams regularly defy expectations with remarkable performances.

Tournament magic is a staple of the World Cup, with Cinderella stories unfolding regularly. One of the most thrilling aspects is witnessing an underdog team defy expectations and make a deep run. The 2022 tournament was a prime example, as Morocco's historic semifinal appearance left fans in awe.

Unexpected quarterfinalists have emerged from obscurity in the past, such as Turkey in 2002 and Sweden and Bulgaria in 1994. Meanwhile, rising stars like 2018's Belgium and 2006's Portugal have proven their worth.

To qualify as a legitimate contender, teams must meet certain criteria initially.

The US Men's National Team has already achieved significant success previously.

Croatia and Morocco will have to wait another year for their chance.

Uruguay is eliminated from consideration, while Germany's reputation precedes it as a four-time World Cup champion. The US Men's National Team remains in contention for a quarterfinals spot alongside nine other dark horses.

The US Men's National Team boasts an elite striker and midfielder duo, fueling high expectations for a successful tournament despite their 28-year absence from the World Cup stage. Meanwhile, others are cautiously optimistic about underdog teams like Norway, choosing to temper enthusiasm with a dose of skepticism.

Considering the underdogs, several teams have a realistic chance of advancing to the quarterfinals, including the US Men's National Team, a contender often overlooked by fans and pundits alike at the World Cup.

Los Cafeteros' impressive offense makes them a strong contender, despite being an outside favorite. Luis Diaz's ability to cut in from the left flank is unmatched by most players worldwide, while Richard Rios of Benfica and Jhon Arias of Palmeiras provide a formidable right-sided attack. The team's midfield maestro is James Rodriguez, who at 34 years old still exerts significant influence over the game, having contributed seven assists to CONMEBOL qualifying efforts and scoring three crucial goals in the process.

Colombia's prospects look bright as they prepare to face Portugal at Miami Stadium in the group finale, where a win would secure their position and set them up for a showdown with either a third-place team from Group A or a weaker opponent from Group B in the round of 32. The quarterfinals are within reach for this talented side, which finished runner-up in the 2024 Copa America.

Get ready to participate in a thrilling sports prediction game, set against the backdrop of the 2026 World Cup.

Ecuador's World Cup history is marked by a lack of knockout game victories, with their sole appearance in the knockout stage being a 2006 loss to England in the round of 16. The team's defense has been its backbone, boasting an impressive record-low five goals conceded in 18 CONMEBOL qualifiers, thanks in part to the talents of Willian Pacho (PSG), Piero Hincapie (Arsenal) and Pervis Estupiñán (Milan). At midfield, Moises Caicedo from Chelsea orchestrates the team's strategy, providing a solid foundation alongside his defensive counterparts.

Ecuador's performance will be scrutinized in Group E, but Germany's typical level of excellence seems to be absent this time around. Ivory Coast's attacking prowess was noticeably muted during qualifying, which raises questions about their overall potential. The group champion will meet a third-place team from another group in the round of 32, while the runner-up will face the second-placed team from Group I, likely Senegal or Norway. With Enner Valencia leading the charge at 36 years young, Ecuador might just find its footing and make a strong push to the quarterfinals.

Senegal's World Cup debut in 2002 marked a significant milestone for the team, which had finished as runner-up at the Cup of Nations earlier that year. The team's impressive performance caught everyone's attention, particularly when they stunned defending champion France in their opening match and reached the quarterfinals before falling to Turkey in extra time. Twenty-four years later, Senegal is set to face France once again in the tournament opener after securing a runner-up finish at the Cup of Nations earlier this year. Under the guidance of Pape Thiaw, who was part of that historic 2002 team, Senegal's counterattack has become a potent force, as evident from their recent encounter with the United States.

Sadio Mané spearheads a dynamic attack that's underpinned by a robust midfield foundation. Meanwhile, Kalidou Koulibaly, now plying his trade with Al-Hilal, marshals a resolute defense that has conceded just three goals in 10 qualifying matches and two goals in seven Cup of Nations games this year. With an abundance of experience at the highest club and international levels, Senegal is well-positioned to emulate their impressive 2002 quarterfinal run.

Head coach Hajime Moriyasu's influence on Japan's team is evident, despite the absence of injured players Kaoru Mitoma from Brighton and Takumi Minamino from Monaco. Since 2018, Moriyasu has been at the helm, instilling a pressing style that allows his European-based players to thrive in this approach. With eight victories by four or more goals in their last 16 qualifiers, Japan's attacking prowess is undeniable, even if tougher World Cup opponents await.

It's been four years since Japan secured crucial wins over Spain and Germany in the group stage, while last year they triumphed against Brazil and England in friendly matches. With this momentum, they're well-positioned to conquer Group F and potentially face a relatively weak quarterfinal opponent from among the group runners-up.

Europe's share of the World Cup field is substantial, with a third of the teams hailing from this continent. Among them, Switzerland stands out due to its consistent recent performance and a relatively easy draw. The Swiss have successfully navigated the knockout stage at three consecutive World Cups, retaining 18 players from those squads. Furthermore, they've reached the quarterfinals in two successive EURO tournaments, narrowly missing out on progression when England eliminated them via penalties just two years prior.

Switzerland's strong performance has earned them top spot in Group B alongside Canada, positioning them for a favorable draw against a third-placed team in the Round-of-32. This sets the stage for a potential quarterfinals appearance, a feat Switzerland hasn't achieved since hosting the World Cup in 1954.

In Group D, Türkiye shares hosting duties with the United States. Last June's encounter saw the Turks outscore their American counterparts by a single goal, thanks to Arda Güler's decisive strike for Real Madrid. This young duo, comprising Güler and Kenan Yildiz of Juventus, has proven to be one of the most promising pairs in the tournament at just 21 years old.

Türkiye's drought from World Cup appearances ended after their third-place finish in 2002, yet they surprisingly reached the EURO 2024 quarterfinals, demonstrating potential for greater success. With improved consistency and discipline to complement their innate talent, Türkiye may achieve more substantial results at future World Cups.

Given their history at World Cups, host nations often defy expectations, making Canada, Mexico, and the United States dark horses with potential to reach the quarterfinals or further. Seeded in relatively weak groups, failure to advance for any of these teams would be a catastrophic outcome, putting immense pressure on their performances.

The United States demonstrated its attacking prowess with a 3-2 victory over Senegal on May 31, as Christian Pulisic's pace and skill left defenders scrambling, while Sergiño Dest's aggressive runs down the flank caused chaos, and newcomers Ricardo Pepi and Folarin Balogun made strong cases for themselves in the starting lineup. This potent offense should yield positive results against Paraguay and Australia's defensive-minded teams, putting the U.S. in a favorable position to advance.

Mexico's World Cup journey has been marred by injuries and uncertainty, but a potential game-changer may be emerging in 17-year-old midfielder Gilberto Mora, who is reportedly on Real Madrid's radar and set to become Mexico's youngest-ever World Cup participant. Coach Javier Aguirre must find a way to integrate talented forwards Santiago Giménez and Rául Jiménez into the lineup, giving his team a potent attacking force that could be bolstered by a resurgent defense. With home advantage in the sweltering heat and high altitude, Mexico is well-placed to replicate its impressive quarterfinal finishes as host in 1970 and 1986.

Canada's prospects for advancing to the quarterfinals are less promising than those of its two co-hosting nations, with health being a crucial factor. Left back Alphonso Davies is an exceptional player when fully fit, boasting top-notch skills within Concacaf, while center back Moise Bombito ranks among the region's elite defenders. If either or both can recover to full fitness, they will bolster a team featuring potent counterattackers like Jonathan David and Tajon Buchanan, who have shown they can capitalize on homefield advantage through July.

Get ready to pit your World Cup expertise against the competition this summer as 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One launches its free-to-play fantasy game, challenging fans to make accurate predictions and rise through the rankings.

Fans have various options to engage with the competition. They can participate individually against all opponents, form exclusive groups with friends for personal recognition, join public groups to team up with fellow enthusiasts, or step it up by competing in featured groups alongside well-known soccer experts and media figures listed here.

The Cooligans

Uncrowned

Feature group analysis.

Fans have various options to engage with thecompetition. They can participate individually against all opponents, form exclusive groups with friends for personal recognition, join public groups to team up with fellow enthusiasts, or step it up by competinginfeatured groups alongside well-known soccer experts and media figures listed here.