World Cup Power Rankings: The dark horses for the 2026 tournament

At every World Cup tournament, there are always those teams that spring a surprise and exceed expectations; it's part and parcel of what we love about major tournaments. 

Like sticker books and sweepstakes, the perennial 'dark horses' have everyone guessing before the proceedings get underway, and then they are the top of discussions throughout the festivities, whoever they turn out to be. 

Well, as part of DAZN's World Cup Power Rankings, our team have had their say on who they think might be 2026's most likely dark horse team and the results are in. 

 

Norway 

The team that most of the DAZN experts believe could be 2026's most likely dark horses is Norway, who topped the contenders with 30% believing they will earn that label. 

It's their first finals since 1998 for the Norwegians, who impressed in qualifying by topping a group that included three-time winners Italy. 

In attack, they possess the vision of Premier League-winning captain Martin Odegaard, as well as one of the game's deadliest strikers in Erling Haaland. 

If Haaland can carry on his ridiculous scoring rate in his debut World Cup, that alone puts Norway very much in the 'dark horse' contention. 

The supporting cast isn't bad either, with familiar names such as Jørgen Strand Larsen, Alexander Sørloth and Oscar Bobb giving the Scandinavians a real chance of making waves in North America. 

Japan 

(C)Getty Images

Japan are perennial World Cup qualifiers, and as England saw at Wembley in March, they are a team that you'll be foolish to underestimate, and clearly our DAZN team are not. 

They may be missing Koaru Mitoma through injury but it's a squad full of European-based players such as Ao Tanaka, Takefusa Kubo and Daizen Maeda. 

Four years ago they beat both Spain and Germany in the group stages, topping the pool ahead of the European giants, and they are arguably even better this time around. 

Drawn in a group with the Netherlands and Sweden, they'll fancy their chances of going even deeper in the competition this time around. 

Turkey 

(Getty Images)

It's a first appearance for Turkey since 2002 - when they finished third - and our experts reckon they aren't there just to make up the numbers. 

Having made the tournament through the play-offs, there's a lot to like about this young Turkish side, most notably their two maverick startlets in attack. 

In Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz, they have two of the best young players at the finals and if they have a good run in North America, then these two could really shine. 

Hakan Çalhanoğlu is still knocking around too, having played a key role in Inter's Serie A win. It's an example of a well-blended Turkish side. 

Ecuador 

@LaTri

Like a dance record from the 1990s, some of our experts are screaming Ecuador when it comes to who could be the dark horse. 

The ever-improving South American side finished second in qualifying, above Brazil and Uruguay, boasting a squad that includes 2026 winners such as William Pacho of PSG and Arsenal's Piero Hincapié. 

Then there's Moises Caicedo, one of the world's premier defensive midfielders, meaning you can expect Sebastián Beccacece's side to be hard to beat. 

They will give Germany and the Ivory Coast a real run for top spot and beyond that, could really motor on in the competition. 

Sweden 

Somehow, despite failing to win a single game in qualifying, Sweden got through the World Cup back door thanks to their placing in the Nations League. Yet, now they are here, expectations are a little higher than recent form suggests it should be. 

Part of that is down to a front two of Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak, who, if both fit and firing, could be the deadliest strike force at the tournament. 

They also have a manager in Graham Potter who is set on how he wants to play and is looking to prove a point.

The last time Sweden were at a US-based World Cup, they finished third. No one is expecting that, but they could spring a surprise or two. 

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