by Brandon Evans, Soccer Post Huntingdon Valley

The 2026 FIFA World Cup™ starts Thursday! The excitement for this tournament is in full swing, and this is no surprise given that the World Cup is the most prestigious title in the entire sport and the hardest to win. There have been 22 World Cups, and only 8 nations have been champions: Brazil, Germany, Italy, Argentina, Uruguay, France, England, and Spain. The World Cup hierarchy is deeply hard to break, with the last new champion being the legendary Spanish team in 2010, which even then was hardly a surprise. But can a brand-new team shock the world and join that list of honor this summer? While there are many possible teams, here are some of the most likely candidates.

Colombia

Just two years ago, Colombia sent shockwaves through the soccer world by reaching the 2024 Copa América Final, also in the United States, where they just narrowly lost to the current Argentine dynasty. What defined this team was their enigmatic, electric, and simply fun playing style, which blew most opponents away. And for the most part, the squad is the same, with several crucial players such as Luis Díaz and Daniel Muñoz even solidifying themselves as some of the best in the world at their positions. Led by their famous talisman, James Rodríguez, who famously lit up the stage at the 2014 World Cup, Colombia has a chance to truly rub shoulders with the South American elite of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay.

Senegal

Depending on who you ask, Senegal is the current African Champions. Overall, they are one of, if not the sole, team outside of Europe or South America with the most tournament experience right now. Who is to say they can’t become the first team outside of Europe and South America to win the World Cup? Senegal might be a team that flies under the radar because most of its star players don’t play in Europe, but that doesn’t mean its squad is subpar. With a strong defense headlined by Kalidou Koulibaly and Édouard Mendy in goal, a midfield filled with new reliable stars, and the best Senegalese player of all time, Sadio Mané, up top, Senegal might be one to watch out for.

Morocco

The other team that faced Senegal in that recent, controversial AFCON Final and has one hand on the trophy is Morocco. But one thing Morocco definitely has in its arsenal that Senegal does not is the momentum from four years ago. At the 2022 World Cup, Morocco put on the best defensive display of the tournament and reached the semifinals, becoming the first African and Arab team to do so. Most of that team is still here, including their captain, the back-to-back UCL Champion Achraf Hakimi, and arguably the best goalkeeper outside Europe, Yassine Bounou. The new additions to the team are nothing to scoff at either, with the likes of their star forward, Brahim Díaz. Can Morocco go one step further in 2026?

The Netherlands

Out of all the teams here, the Netherlands are the ones who came closest to entering that coveted list, making three World Cup Finals but losing them all. This time around, though, could be truly special. On paper, the Dutch have the best defense in the world, led by Virgil van Dijk, alongside Nathan Aké and Denzel Dumfries, and the depth beyond that is even more eye-catching. If that translates to performance on the pitch, we could be seeing a defensive juggernaut in the making. Building off two solid performances at the last World Cup and Euro 2024, can the Dutch finally win the World Cup in 2026?

Portugal

While all the teams mentioned before have a solid chance to win, the only one that’s an outright title contender and a favorite for many is Portugal. This Portuguese team is truly star-studded, probably their best squad ever, but what is really scary is the midfield featuring Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, and João Neves; arguably the three best midfielders in the world right now. On top of that, there is also the looming narrative surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo, who is still on his now 20-year quest to win the World Cup, the only missing trophy in his cabinet. With this explosive midfield supported by an overall talented team, all motivated to get Ronaldo his storybook ending, Portugal could very well be World Champions this summer.

Who do you think is a dark horse to win the 2026 World Cup? Can any of these nations finally break the trend and become world champions?