Noureldein GhanemThe 2026 FIFA World Cup will be remembered not only for its heavyweight clashes but also for the emergence of several unexpected contenders who defied pre-tournament expectations.
A number of nations with modest pedigrees or limited World Cup success produced memorable runs, upsetting established powers and demonstrating that the gap between football's elite and the chasing pack continues to narrow.
Among the tournament's biggest storylines was the remarkable progress of several underdogs that advanced well beyond the stages many had predicted for them.
Some recorded historic knockout victories over former world champions, while others reached the latter stages of the competition for the first time, relying on disciplined defending, tactical organisation and clinical finishing rather than individual star power.
Their performances injected unpredictability into the tournament and produced some of its most compelling matches.
Norway – Quarter-finalists and slayers of Brazil
Norway's return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence was expected to be a learning experience. Instead, they became one of the stories of the tournament.
The Vikings reached the quarter-finals for the first time in their history, eliminating five-time champions Brazil in the Round of 16, with Erling Haaland scoring twice, including a dramatic late winner.
Norway, identified by TRT World as a potential dark horse before the tournament, defended with discipline while using Haaland and Martin Odegaard to devastating effect on the counterattack.
Even in their quarter-final defeat to England, Norway proved they belonged among football's elite.
Their iconic "Ro! Ro! Ro!" chant took the World Cup by storm and became one of the tournament's highlights.
Cape Verde – The tournament's ultimate fairy tale
Few expected the tiny island nation to make much of an impact at their first World Cup.
The African newcomers held eventual champions Spain to a scoreless draw in the group stage and advanced to the knockout rounds.
They pushed defending champions Argentina to the limit in a thrilling 3–2 Round of 32 defeat.
They won admirers worldwide with fearless, organised football despite having one of the smallest player pools in the tournament.
Cape Verde's 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha (Josimar Dias) became a global sensation as he made a combined 18 saves to help his team earn surprising draws against tournament giants Spain and hold European powerhouse Argentina to a tight 3-2 extra-time loss.
His heroic shot-stopping earned him international acclaim and caused his Instagram following to skyrocket from around 50,000 to over 18 million.
Paraguay – Germany's executioners
Paraguay were largely viewed as outsiders for a deep run, but they produced arguably the biggest single upset of the tournament.
The South Americans eliminated four-time champions Germany on penalties in the Round of 32 and displayed tremendous defensive resilience under constant pressure.
They narrowly lost 1–0 to France in the Round of 16 after another highly competitive performance.
Germany's early exit is widely regarded as the tournament's biggest shock, making Paraguay's victory one of the defining moments of the World Cup.
Morocco – Another elite World Cup campaign
Some expected Morocco to regress after their historic 2022 semi-final run. Instead, they proved it was no fluke.
In the group stage, the Atlas Lions held five-time champions Brazil to a 1–1 draw before defeating both Scotland and Haiti.
Morocco, another TRT World potential dark horse pick, knocked out powerhouse the Netherlands on penalties and proceeded to thrash co-hosts Canada 3–0 to reach the quarter-finals.
After reaching another quarter-final, Morocco became the first African nation to reach the last eight twice, etching their name in gold on the stage of international football.
Egypt – A long-awaited breakthrough
Although Africa's most successful side, the Egyptians had never left their mark on the global stage, despite the Pharaohs being the first-ever African team to participate in a World Cup in 1934.
In 2026, after nearly 100 years of frustration and wasted opportunities, Egypt produced its best World Cup performance ever by reaching the Round of 16.
Blending experienced leadership with emerging talent, the Pharaohs displayed resilience throughout the tournament, overcoming difficult opponents and handling pressure in decisive moments.
A dramatic penalty shootout victory secured a place in the last 16 before Egypt pushed one of the tournament favourites, Argentina, in an entertaining, closely contested and controversial encounter that instantly became a classic.
Egypt lost a two-goal lead after a Video Assistant Referee review disallowed a potential goal, enabling Argentina to complete a late comeback and advance.
Although their campaign ended there, their performances demonstrated significant progress and marked a welcome return to competitiveness on football's biggest stage, offering supporters renewed hope that the nation can once again establish itself among the world's leading teams.
Canada – A historic breakthrough
As co-hosts, Canada benefited from home support, but few expected them to make history.
The Canadians earned the nation's first-ever men's World Cup victory with a 6–0 win over Qatar and advanced from a difficult group.
They defeated South Africa to reach the Round of 16 for the first time before falling to African powerhouse Morocco.
The team showed how much the Canadian programme has progressed under head coach Jesse Marsch.
Switzerland – Quiet consistency rewarded
Switzerland started their World Cup campaign relatively poorly after being held to a 1–1 draw against Qatar.
However, the European side bounced back quickly, thrashing Bosnia and Herzegovina 4–1 and then co-hosts Canada 2–1.
They also eliminated Algeria in the Round of 32 after a 2–0 victory and proceeded to eliminate Colombia from the Round of 16 on penalties.
In the quarter-finals, Switzerland put up a tough fight against Argentina before a red card to Breel Embolo totally changed the dynamic of the game.
Although their journey ended against one of the tournament's eventual finalists, Switzerland reinforced its reputation as a team capable of competing with the world's best.
