World Cup 2026: The mysterious 'dark horse' team that could surprise at the tournament

These include South Korea and Turkey in 2002, Ukraine in 2006, Ghana and Paraguay in 2010, Costa Rica in 2014, Croatia in 2018, and Morocco in 2022. According to a TTXVN correspondent in the US, CBS News predicts that the 2026 World Cup will be no exception, especially with 16 additional teams participating. Although none of the aforementioned teams actually won the tournament from an underdog position, they still created surprising journeys and became realities.

So which team is the notable underdog pick for the 2026 World Cup? CBS sports journalist Chinmay Vaidya believes that while "risky bets" on teams like Egypt or Canada might be intriguing, this calculation requires a certain degree of realism. Switzerland—a team that has posted a series of strong results in recent years and possesses the characteristics of a "dark horse"—has the potential to cause surprises at the tournament.

Switzerland enters this tournament seeking redemption after a disappointing 2022 World Cup, where they were eliminated in the Round of 16 following a 1-6 defeat to Portugal. This team has never been viewed as a genuine title contender or a team capable of deep runs, even though they have frequently advanced past the Round of 16 in recent years. Switzerland has been eliminated in the Round of 16 in four of the last five World Cups, and before that, they had a streak of failing to qualify for six consecutive World Cups.

Switzerland's current squad has reached the quarter-finals of the Euros in both of the last two editions. They lost on penalties in both instances, meaning they could have easily reached the semi-finals with just a bit more luck. In 2021, they eliminated France on penalties in the Round of 16. In 2024, they defeated reigning European champions Italy in the Round of 16. This shows they have the ability to compete with the strongest teams in high-pressure matches.

Looking at their preparation for the tournament, there are many reasons for optimism. Switzerland defeated both Mexico and the United States in friendlies last summer in Salt Lake City and Nashville before returning to Europe. They won four of six World Cup qualifiers, drawing the other two. The team has been scoring well at home, and this trend continued in a recent 3-4 loss to Germany—their only defeat in their last ten matches.

Regardless of the opponent, conceding only two goals in World Cup qualifiers is no coincidence. When combined with the experience of their defense, Switzerland can build a defensive system capable of helping the team go deep, similar to Morocco in the 2022 World Cup. All four of Switzerland's starting defenders have over 50 caps, with Ricardo Rodriguez and Manuel Akanji standing out. Although veteran goalkeeper Yann Sommer is no longer the starter, Gregor Kobel has replaced him excellently, keeping 15 clean sheets in 34 appearances for Borussia Dortmund (Germany) in the most recent season.

Kobel is a relatively new face, but he has experience playing for a top German club and can handle significant pressure. In addition to the four main defenders, Switzerland has four other regular starters with over 50 caps each. Captain Granit Xhaka has played over 140 matches. Remo Freuler and striker Breel Embolo each have over 80 appearances, while Ruben Vargas has 60 caps. Coach Murat Yakin has been in charge since 2021, building on the foundation laid by coach Vladimir Petkovic during Euro 2020 (held in 2021).

Along with midfielders Denis Zakaria and Djibril Sow, Switzerland boasts up to ten experienced players who have played together consistently. This does not guarantee success at the World Cup, but their cohesion and experience give them an advantage over teams that might have more individual talent but lack chemistry.

Since Canada will play all their matches at home, Switzerland is not an overwhelmingly superior favorite in Group B, but they still have a high chance of topping the group. They are the most experienced and highest-quality side, and they will only face Canada—their biggest rival—in the final group-stage match.

If Switzerland finishes top of Group B, they will face a third-placed team in the Round of 32. Even if there are surprises in other groups, the likelihood of meeting a strong opponent is very low, making it easier for them to reach the Round of 16 without facing a top-tier team.

In the Round of 16, their likely opponent would be the winner of Group K, possibly Portugal or Colombia. Switzerland might want to face Portugal to "settle the score" from 2022, and they also have a chance to beat Colombia if they meet them.

In the quarter-finals, Switzerland could face Argentina if everything goes as expected. This might be where their journey ends. Argentina has won the last two Copa America tournaments and the most recent World Cup. The team is playing very comfortably now, free from the pressure of "helping Messi win one last international title." While Switzerland is solid and experienced, they would still be massive underdogs against Argentina.

Picking Switzerland to top Group B is not a difficult case to make. This team is strong enough to beat Qatar and Bosnia & Herzegovina even without their best form, and they can prepare well before the match against Canada. It's a value selection.

Switzerland's path to the Round of 16 is quite secure. The more notable point is the bet to reach the quarter-finals, where they could face Portugal again. If they meet Colombia, Switzerland also has a slight edge due to their experience.

Switzerland would be hard to endorse if they face Argentina in the quarter-finals, but if you believe they will go that far, you might also consider a bet on them reaching the semi-finals. That would be their best-ever World Cup performance, though the reality shows they have not been far from that threshold in recent years.