World Cup 2026 upset predictions: Five teams ready to shock the giants

The World Cup has always belonged to the brave. Saudi Arabia proved it against Argentina. Senegal proved it against France. The 2026 tournament, now expanded to 48 teams, creates more opportunity than ever for the underdog story to repeat itself.

More paths through the bracket, an extra knockout round, and groups where giant-killers sit directly opposite giants. Upsets are what make World Cups so much more special and while many “David” teams have beaten their goliaths in past years, many more could join this year.

These five teams have the squad, the style, and the fixture to make it happen in the World Cup.

Ivory Coast: Africa’s champions have Germany and qualification in their sights

Ivory Coast face Germany in Toronto on June 20 and this is not simply a match to survive. It is a match to win. The Elephants’ squad includes Guela Doue, brother of Desire Doue of PSG, as well as first-time call-up Yoan-Ange Bonny, a France U21 forward who plays for Inter Milan.

Alongside them, young Bundesliga talents add further quality to an already physical and direct side. Germany’s movement and technical quality may expose spaces, but if Ivory Coast are clinical in transition, they can absolutely cause damage.

Even Germany’s own coach has acknowledged it. Julian Nagelsmann said of Ivory Coast: “They are a team you can beat, but one you shouldn’t take lightly.” That is not the language of a man looking past them.

Egypt: Salah’s last dance could be Belgium’s worst nightmare

Mohamed Salah arrives at his second World Cup with one final mission, to do for Egypt what he has spent a decade doing for Liverpool. With an experienced squad led by Salah, Egypt will believe they have a strong opportunity to reach the knockout rounds for the first time.

Their opening group game is against Belgium on June 15 in Seattle. Moreover, this is not unfamiliar territory. Egypt have beaten Belgium before, and Salah in a tournament setting is a different proposition entirely, especially now that he has already said goodbye to Anfield.

Alongside him, Omar Marmoush of Manchester City adds further firepower to an attack that can hurt any backline on its day. Salah sits just two goals behind Egypt’s all-time national team scoring record. A World Cup is precisely the stage on which he would chase it down.

Norway: Haaland is coming, and France should be worried

Norway head to the World Cup 2026 as one of most in-form sides, buoyed by a promising golden generation. With a perfect record in UEFA qualifying: eight wins from eight games and the most goals scored, 37, Norway gave a clear warning of their calibre to their opponents.

Haaland finished as the top scorer in qualifying by a significant margin, netting 16 of those 37 goals across a range of match types. He has won the Champions League, the Premier League, and the FA Cup. He has never played at a World Cup. That hunger is dangerous.

This squad, by any objective measure, is the most talented Norway have assembled for a major tournament. France are the favourites in Group I. But Norway face them knowing that one Haaland moment can change everything.

Senegal: History says they can beat France…again

In their first ever World Cup match in 2002, Senegal shocked the world by beating the defending champions France 1-0, and went on to top a tricky group that also included Denmark and Uruguay.

Now, nearly a quarter of a century later, their opening fixture at the 2026 World Cup is France again. The script practically writes itself. Up front, Mane and Jackson are set to form a lethal partnership, supported by Ndiaye and Bamba Dieng, adding further firepower and depth.

Furthermore, Senegal were unbeaten in qualifying and made a strong statement against England recently, becoming the first African side to beat the Three Lions, winning 3-1 at Wembley. They are not underdogs, but a great team that happens to have done this before.

Ecuador: Compact, clinical, and built to silence Germany

Ecuador conceded just five goals across their entire South American qualifying campaign. That is not a coincidence. It is a system. Piero Hincapie and Willian Pacho at centre-back represent one of the most accomplished young defensive partnerships anywhere in the tournament.

In midfield, Moises Caicedo could be considered one of the top midfielders in the world, living up to the massive transfer fee Chelsea paid for him. Ecuador face Germany in their final group game on June 25. By then, the stakes will be clear for both sides.

Their 1-0 win over Argentina in Guayaquil during qualifying is proof that they do not need to dominate possession to be dangerous. They absorb, stay compact, and wait. Against a Germany side that can be vulnerable on the counter, that is a blueprint that works.