Coming into this 2026 World Cup, we at Sports-Hop Media had labelled Ecuador as dark horses mere months ago, before they had even been labelled as such: a country with strong chances of performing well despite being slightly weaker than most favourites. After all, Ecuador are no France, nor are they an Argentina or even an England side, but what they showed against Germany today was fearlessness. Ecuador has now cemented themselves as one of the hardest working sides of the entire tournament, coming back from a 1-0 deficit against the 4-time World Cup winners Germany to win it 2-1 in the 77th minute thanks to Gonzalo Plata, who, alongside his Ecuadorian teammates, put in an absolute world class performance of a shift. Today felt like one of the first important results of this 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup, and this may change a lot of momentum, both for Ecuador and Germany, will this result have a psychological impact on Julian Nagelsmann and his side going forward? Have Ecuador peaked or can they truly show the World just what they are capable of doing?

Nevertheless, the 25th of June 2026 will probably be labelled as the most important day in the history of the Ecuadorian national football team, who for reminder, were just 90 minutes away from being knocked out of the 2026 World Cup if they didn’t beat Germany. The repercussions on the head coach Sebastián Beccacece would have been immense; talks of him potentially being out of the job had his side lost today, but he turned it around, magnificently. Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo and his teammates played with heart, and guts, something they hadn’t been able to do against both the Ivory Coast and Curaçao. Relief, joy, excitement were all the emotions that Ecuadorian went through after the full-time whistle had gone at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, after they had seemingly invaded 95% of the stands with their bright, yellow jerseys.

Beccacece deservedly will get a lot of the praise in the Ecuadorian press tomorrow, he stuck to his principles, and gambled, to make sure his side got the job done. Ecuador played as a unit, and committed their players forward when they needed to, whilst remaining a compact unit at the back, with 2-time Champions League winner Willian Pacho making sure than no Germans shall pass. Ecuador’s potential round of 32 opponent as it stands? Thomas Tuchel’s England. But things may just change

The post FROM ALMOST BEING ELIMINATED TO BEING THE BEST THIRD-RANKED NATION IN THE WORLD CUP: THIS IS THE STORY OF EDUCADOR, WHO BEAT GERMANY WITH GUTS, FINAL SCORE: 2-1. appeared first on Sports Hop Media.

Paraguay have only gone and done it! A history making victory over Germany, a side with more talent than they could count, a side whose path to the latter stages of the knockout tournament looked to be competitive but an opportunity for Julian Nagelsmann’s side to show what they were capable of, a side who will feel like they came up against a brick wall in Paraguay, a side who will have many regrets for maybe not throwing the kitchen sink at Paraguay before the South Americans scored first. But Germany’s 2026 World Cup journey stops here, and we have our first major upset. Will it be the first of many to come in the round of 32 or is this an anomaly? Perhaps a sign that soccer has become more competitive than ever before. A completely different debate. Paraguay advance to the next round and it hardly feels real typing those words. It hardly felt real when Paraguay took the lead in the 42nd minute after they had not even created any clear-cut opportunities, and even harder for those Paraguayan fans to believe they could beat the Germans when Kai Havertz equalized just ten minutes after the start of the second half.

This isn’t to take anything away from Paraguay and their resilience today, will they get criticised in the German media for the way in which they approached the game, in the way that Gustavo Alfaro set up his side to play every last of his men behind the ball? Inevitably. But Alfaro won’t care one bit. José Canale will become a cult hero in the heart of Paraguayan fans for years to come, for those children in the stand, hoping and praying that the penalty shootout would go their way, and it sure did. Paraguay has come

far, from suffering a severe defeat against the United States of America in their first group stage match, to beating Turkey 1-0 with 10 men for an entire half and drawing their final group stage match against Australia to just secure a best of third place finish to even play Germany. They will surely savour this moment. Their biggest win in their history. The team played with guts and heart today in Boston, and they played as a unit.

Paraguay had only ever gotten past one round of the knockout stages in their entire footballing history in 2010 when they too, beat Japan on penalties. History repeats itself, but this time, they do it against one of the biggest giants of the sport. This is the game that we love and respect, the players do it for the fans, their families, themselves, for their passion for the sport that they have too loved since they were just little, and in the end, this is what it has always been about. The World Cup. We just stop everything we do, watch and admire.

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He chased the hattrick for so long, but it wasn’t to be for Cristiano Ronaldo today, against Uzbekistan. After a shaky start from Portugal in their opening game against DR Congo, the pressure had mounted on Roberto Martinez, who has received a lot of criticism regarding his tactics, but Ronaldo and his crew put it to bed and now look like they are strong contenders once more. Argentina, France, Spain, Brazil, Netherlands, we can now add Portugal to the list of nations that will continue to rise and prove to be a major threat. 

Uzbekistan had thought they got their first historic World Cup goal in the thirtieth minute, but Joao Cancelo had been fouled. Portugal comfortably won their second game in Group K in the end, winning 5-0. Goals from Rafael Leão 87′, Abduvokhid Nematov 60′ (OG), Cristiano Ronaldo 39′, 6′ and Nuno Mendes 17′

Fair criticism after their opener, or just an overreaction from the media and football fans? 

A lot of criticism aimed towards the national side after they had drawn against DR Congo was that they were unable to create clear chances against a very strong side, well set-up; this was nothing but, this was Uzbekistan’s first ever World Cup and they have found it difficult to maintain a high-level in their first matches. Their first match against Colombia was a lot tighter, despite the scoreline, but in the end, Uzbekistan were no match for the South American side, today, they came up against arguably one of the most complete sides in the entire tournament. Portugal showed today that they have massive quality across the board, in every single position. PSG’s Nuno Mendes scored a fantastic freekick after Cristiano Ronaldo had created a decoy, and Portugal capitalized in the second half to put the game to bed, with an own goal from Abduvokhid Nematov, the Uzbek goalkeeper, before Rafael Leao scored the fifth and final goal. 

Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha and Joao Neves, possibly the strongest midfield of the entire tournament, didn’t have a lot to do today, with the trio being in control for the entire length of the match, it will be fascinating to see what they can do against Colombia in the final group stage match on Saturday, arguably their strongest challenge until the knockout stages.  

The stars are out in full force in this World Cup so far. Vinicius Jr scored in Brazil’s opener, Lionel Messi has reminded the world just who he was, whilst Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane all continue to deliver, this is what makes them elite footballers, when the pressure rises, they deliver. Pressure makes diamonds, and these athletes just continue to show up and remind people that they do it differently.  

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When the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup came out, the Belgian population had a quick glance at Group G to find out that their home nation had been drawn in a group with Egypt, Iran and New Zealand. Young fans perhaps saw nothing wrong with that group, countries ranked far below their own in the FIFA World Rankings, but those who have been there and seen Belgium perform on the biggest stage of them all in the past 16 years will know that things have never been easy. Even uttering the words ‘golden generation’ in Belgium might get you into trouble, a generation seen in the world between 2014 and 2022 as one of the most talented pool of players available to play for Belgium and yet… none of them ever delivered. Now the year is 2026, Kevin De Bruyne is 34 years old, Romelu Lukaku is 33, Thibaut Courtois too is 34, and the feeling in Belgium is that once those senior players eventually call it quits, it’s going to be hard to ever feel the level of excitement that was once present when watching the red devils. Tonight, they met Egypt in Seattle, at Lumen Field, and such a test it was.

Rudi Garcia, the French manager, took over the Belgian national team in January 2025, with a contract he had signed which would see him work with the squad until the end of the 2026 World Cup. Garcia, who had always worked as a manager at club level, now faces a new challenge: carrying this Belgium squad as far as possible. But where exactly will he go and what are the country’s ambitions heading into the World Cup?

Well, these questions pose themselves, but Garcia only has two games left to answer them. His side faced a tricky opponent in Egypt, who made sure to neutralise the Belgians tonight. In fact, Belgium looked discombobulated at times, lacking any real dynamism. With a frantic start to this World Cup with all teams showing a tremendous level of football being played, no game will ever be easy (as seen with Spain who drew their opener to 64th ranked FIFA team Cape Verde), and this was seen tonight, Egypt have two of the best forwards in the world in Omar Marmoush and Mohamed Salah, and they made sure to keep Belgium occupied tonight. Emam Ashour opened the ceremony

with his first World Cup goal in the 19th minute, assisted by Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah, and Belgium struggled. Belgium struggled under the very hot conditions in Seattle. Egypt set up nicely against a team, who’s major threat in the first half came through the left-hand side with Manchester City’s own Jeremy Doku. This was a real contest between Belgium and Egypt, at times, Egypt looked like the better side, the more organised side, looking to counter Belgium with pace, by the 56th minute, Rudi Garcia had seen enough.

Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana was taken off, as he struggled to make any real impact on the game, the Red Devils found it hard to create any movement. Youri Tielemans was able to be more creative offensively and Belgium’s dynamic changed drastically once Brighton’s De Cuyper came onto the field. In the 66th minute, Belgium’s all-time leading goalscorer Romelu Lukaku came on to replace Charles De Ketelaere, despite his manager saying he was nowhere near fit enough to play. 27 seconds was all it took for Romelu Lukaku to create an impact on the game, as he drew his defender near the goal and Belgium equalised thanks to an own goal by Mohamed Hany.

A lapsus of concentration perhaps from the African national side? What more can Belgium do against two teams they should beat in Iran and New Zealand? Journalists and reporters may criticise the performance tonight, but the biggest critics of them all will be those Belgian fans who will tell you those exact few words: “If you expect disappointment, you will never be disappointed”. Rudi Garcia has a lot of work to do, and not a lot of time to make things right. Whether he does or not remains to be seen, but Belgium have to start showing more guts, more spirit, to finally chase the success they so finally desire, even if the team will tell you they have no chance of ever getting anywhere near close to it. They owe it to their fans to show more desire to win football matches. Belgium face Iran next Sunday, whilst Egypt face New Zealand. Group G may go down to the wire

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The 2025/2026 season will be key for most players, as they will inevitably want to prove their worth to make it to the squad; Manchester United’s forward Joshua Zirkzee is seemingly looking for a loan move as his game time under Ruben Amorim has reduced, and this is consequent ahead of a World Cup year. The Dutch national team is packed with talent all playing amongst the Top 5 leagues, and for players such as Joshua Zirkzee, it is simply non-negotiable to be getting important minutes week in, week out. Zirkzee is just one of many who need to be playing regular football, as the sport is simply just getting more and more competitive, others will look to shine, whether that’s domestically or in European competitions for most.

With UEFA also introducing the new Champions League format last season, the new campaign that has kicked off just a few weeks ago will prove to be undeniable as each club progresses through the table, and players performing for their clubs will carry an unbelievable amount of momentum to North America would they win it in Hungary in May 2026, just a mere couple of days before the biggest sporting tournament in the world takes place. High-profile players simply must perform before the World Cup kicks off on the 11th of June 2026, because all eyes will be on them. From players likely to lace their boots one final time, to rising stars wanting to prove a point, we take a look at players more than capable of setting the stage on fire:

Florian Wirtz:

The 22-year-old German has perhaps found life a little bit difficult in the Premier League so far, 7 matches in the Premier League, 2 matches in the Champions with nothing to show for it just yet. Football fans have been rather quick to jump on his case, scrutinising the player’s every move, but Liverpool head coach Arne Slot will be aware of how Florian Wirtz is performing, and he won’t be worried one bit, because the talent is there, and some players do take longer to adapt to the physicality of English football, especially those coming from Germany. Slot has a huge squad and will perhaps need to tweak a thing or two before Wirtz finds it more comfortable, in a system where Liverpool always play with so much pace and positivity.

Wirtz’s season will be crucial after the Christmas period, and this is where we believe he will be performing at the highest level he possibly can. Germany should in theory automatically qualify for the World Cup after they beat Northern Ireland 1-0 last Monday although their spot isn’t guaranteed just yet, Slovakia are on the same amount of points with just two games left to play, whilst Northern Ireland are three points behind. Julian Nagelsmann knows he has one of the best talented and creative players in the world and he might just be the one player to light the place up in North America next year, perhaps in a similar sense as James Rodriguez in Brazil during the 2014 World Cup

Jude Bellingham:

Jude Bellingham perhaps has a lot of pressure on his shoulders, arguably one of England’s most talented players is, too, scrutinised like Florian Wirtz: his every move, touches, attitude, workrate and overall play are studied like a holy book from those who watch the sport. Bellingham was able to save England in the 2024 EUROS with his late and dramatic last-minute overhead kick to knock Slovakia out and qualify for the quarter-finals. That night, Jude Bellingham not only became a clutch player, but he proved to be indispensable in the England squad… and naturally this added a lot of extra pressure, especially after he signed for the club of his dreams in Real Madrid, and outperformed most players on the planet the season he signed.

Under Thomas Tuchel, Jude Bellingham has played a total of four games, and whilst he is now fully back from his shoulder injury, the England boss did not include him in the squad during the International break. The Englishman initially suffered from a dislocated shoulder in November 2023, and despite the pain, continued playing all the way through until the pain became too much. This shouldn’t go unnoticed, as it shows Bellingham’s resilience and mentality to go above and beyond for his teammates, club and country.

There’s no doubt Jude Bellingham will be on the plane that travels to North America next summer, and if he’s given the trust to perform where he performs better by Thomas Tuchel, there’s no doubt in our minds that Bellingham will be the player to lift England to a second World Cup trophy, 60 years after they last won it.

Vinicius Junior:

At Sports-Hop Media, we have spoken about Vinicius Junior being the potential mastermind behind Brazil’s resurgence to glory; after all, no one has won more World Cups than the Seleção. We strongly believe that under Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil could cause issues to just about every squad on the planet. For more information about why we believe Vinicius Junior will be the key to unlocking Brazil’s sixth World Cup, read our article here:

Erling Haaland:

Ryan Giggs, George Best, George Weah, Eric Cantona, Abedi Pelé, Alfredo Di Stéfano, those players all share something in common: they have never played in the World Cup. Despite being amongst the most talented players to have ever set foot on a football pitch, some players have simply never been able to play in a World Cup (injury issues, timing, nationality, internal politics and many other factors) to prove that they belonged; 25-year-old Erling Haaland will finally be able to demonstrate why he’s one of a kind, and to do it in the biggest tournament in the world will simply mean he’s above many forwards who came before him. Norway has qualified for the World Cup before, three times in fact, the first time in 1938, then again in 1994 and the last time they played in the World Cup was in 1998, when France defeated Brazil in the final.

But Norway aren’t out of the woods just yet, they are in pole position to finish top of their group, but Italy are creeping in just behind, and with two more games left to play, they just need to beat Estonia before facing Italy on the 16th of November to claim the top spot and an automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Would Norway manage to secure this spot, they would become automatic dark horses as their squad is filled with talent.

But the biggest talent of them all is Erling Haaland, who is simply a scoring machine. He has scored 94 goals in 104 Premier League games, which is simply ridiculous. The Norwegian powerhouse has found it easier than anyone else to adapt to English football, he who imposes his game with so much ease. He’s one of football’s most dangerous players, and must not be underestimated would Norway qualify. The only concern for Norway would be the lack of experience which could cause them to fall short in the latter stages of the tournament, but we are not there yet. The simple thought of Haaland potentially being in the World Cup has to be scary for most defenders potentially coming up against him. He has shown time and time again that he can do it in the Premier League, that he was able to do it in the FA Cup, before doing in the Champions League, will it be any different in the World Cup? The answer is simple: it will all depend on his teammates.

Lamine Yamal:

We mentioned the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will both create a void when they are gone from the game – they could still be the shiniest stars in next year’s World Cup, the world works in mysterious ways – but we must not ignore the fact that the sport is filled with talents left, right and centre, and the biggest of them all is right there in front of us: Lamine Yamal. There aren’t too many players in today’s game who could replicate Lionel Messi’s game to the letter, but then again, not every player was blessed by the Argentinian when they were just babies – Lamine Yamal was -. In a world where football is full of enormous talents but the sport is oversaturated with matches (Raphael Varane complained a couple of seasons ago that there were too many games and player’s healths were not taking into consideration), it’s actually quite difficult to pinpoint exactly who works extraordinarily hard, who has the IT factor, and who has both. Only two players have the IT factor today, and they go by the names of Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal.

Lamine Yamal made his professional debut at the age of 15 years old and 9 months against Real Betis in April 2023 and the rest is still yet to be written, he became the youngest player ever to appear for FC Barcelona in LaLiga; became the youngest player to start for FC Barcelona in the 21st century at the age of 16 years old and 1 month. He became the youngest LaLiga player with an assist at 16 years and 45 days; became the youngest LaLiga goalscorer ever when FC Barcelona faced Granada in October 2023, whilst he was only 16 years and 83 days old.

For Spain, he became the youngest players and goalscorer in the history of the national team at the age of 16 years and 57 days, and later became the youngest player ever to appear at a European Championships, the youngest player to ever score in the tournament, and helped his side win the tournament and became the youngest player to ever do so, all doing so when he had just turned 17.

And that’s not even all of it. This goes to show that Lamine Yamal, beyond all the numerous records he has already broken, is one of a kind and a player who could feature in no less than six World Cups in his career, something no one has ever done: well at least until Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo both step foot onto the pitch next year. Lamine Yamal could feature in the 2046 World Cup, alongside future stars we don’t even know yet.

Just one glance at Lamine Yamal with a football to his feet is all you need to know about why he can bring glory to Spain next year, they who have a formidable and balanced squad, with a mix of experience and youth. Lamine Yamal will not need to be asked twice: he will be in North America, displaying his talent and flair to the entire world.

Kylian Mbappe:

But someone else will have something to say about all of that, and he goes by the name of Kylian Mbappe: France’s biggest talent since Zinédine Zidane. Mbappe also broke record after record, and was once setting the world on fire when he was Yamal’s age. He became the youngest French player at a World Cup and the youngest French player to score at a World Cup when he was only 19 years old. Perhaps the most impressive stat lies in the fact that Kylian Mbappe is only the second youngest player to score in a World Cup final after the legendary Pélé and Mbappe is the first player to score a hattrick in a World Cup final since Geoff Hurst did it for England in 1966.

The world has known about Kylian Mbappe for almost a decade now, which is mindblowing in itself; the Frenchman doesn’t turn 27 until December and should arguably and in theory, be in the prime of his career. France were so close to winning back to back World Cups after they had won it in 2018, but Argentina shattered their dreams when they defeated France on penalties. Kylian Mbappe arguably played the best game that anyone has ever played in the history of the sport when he scored the hattrick, lifting his country on his back when they needed him the most. It is perhaps the best individual performance we have ever seen in football history.

Mbappe’s talent is undeniable, when he was 18/19, his lightning speed and finishing impressed everybody, and he immediately became a star, signing for PSG for a fee of 180 millions euros. This alone is proof that he wasn’t meant to be just like every other footballer competing for a spot, he was the one making things happen. Whether for Monaco in the Champions League, for PSG in Ligue 1, or for Real Madrid now on the world stage, he will have more pressure than anyone else to deliver for his home country next year, but we believe he’s more than capable of doing so. Why? Because he was (and still might be) the most talented player to have reached the stage when Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were regressing. From a talented pool of players, to imposing figures such as Erling Haaland, and undeniable prodigies like Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe, we cannot emphasize enough that the 2026 World Cup will be the biggest we will ever see.

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Guillermo Ochoa: (40 years old)

The Mexican goalkeeper could become the first footballer in history to play in a grand total of 6 World Cups, alongside the greatest players of all time in Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Guillermo Ochoa’s career trajectory has been fascinating to say the least – a player who has never quite managed to play for the best football clubs in the world (had a brief spell at Malaga in Spain but spent majority of his career playing in Mexico) and yet always showed up in the World Cup, making a name for himself and performing like his life was on the line every single time. Guillermo Ochoa hasn’t played club football in months, and could perhaps steal the spotlight from younger Mexican goalkeepers wanting to prove a point, but football fans would be more than glad to see a 40-year-old Ochoa play for the national team, someone always looking to steal the show with his flamboyant saves and his charismatic demeanour.

Luka Modric: (40 years old)

Luka Modric will most likely go down as being the best midfielder the sport has ever seen, longevity aside. The Croatian has won everything there is to win… other than one: the World Cup; and he was just inches away in 2018, he could sense it, he could feel it, but it was out of reach. When Luka Modric won the Ballon D’Or in 2018, he became the first ever Croatian to win the prestigious award, and the first midfielder to win it since Kaka in 2007. Despite comparisons being drawn with Xavi, Andres Iniesta and players such as Lothar Matthaus, Luka Modric really cemented himself on the grandest of stages over the past decade and beyond, winning possibly the biggest trophies at club level, and played alongside some of the most talented athletes the sport has ever seen. We mentioned Croatia being another dark horse next year, and football fans will all have their eyes turned towards Luka Modric and his every movement.

Ivan Perisic: (36 years old)

Same case scenario as Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic has participated in four different World Cups, and despite rumours that he had retired from the game altogether this year, Ivan Perisic answered in the best way he possibly could, by signing to Dutch side PSV Eindhoven, in hopes of making the Croatian squad next year in North America. The 36-year-old has had an illustrious career, playing for some big names, such as Inter Milan, Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolfsburg. Whilst he could technically play again in the 2030 World Cup at the age of 40 years old, the Croatian national team will no doubt improve its squad, with younger and hungrier talent coming through. Ivan Perisic has always been a reliable player, and versatile too, able to play in any given position on the pitch.

Casemiro: (33 years old – could still play in 2030)

Casemiro, much like Luka Modric, has won everything there is to win in his career, other than a World Cup, and whilst he’s still only 33, there are signs that could point towards Casemiro playing in his last ever World Cup in 2026. The Brazil squad is getting stronger and stronger, and the Manchester United player might not physically be ready to be club football for another four years, only to partake in his last World Cup appearance in 2030 – it is looking very unlikely. Casemiro isn’t the only Brazilian potentially playing his last tournament; another two famous names are also shortlisted:

Marquinhos: (31 years old – similar situation)

Much like Casemiro, Marquinhos still has a lot to prove, especially for his national team. This Brazilian generation might be on its last leg, and will want to go out on a high note, they who have been disappointing for the most of 2/3 World Cups now. Marquinhos could be playing in his last World Cup, as he has been a professional for well over 13 years now, of which he has spent 12 at PSG, and that will have taken a toll on him. With young Brazilian defenders coming through with the likes of Lucas Beraldo from PSG and Nottingham Forest’s own Murillo, Brazil has a backline it can rely on going into the future, with both Eder Militao and Gabriel Magalhes at the prime of their career, it might be time for Marquinhos to take a step back after next year, or at least reflect on what his career will look like in July 2026.

Neymar Jr: (33 years old)

There isn’t one person on this planet who could deny that Neymar was the most talented player of his generation, and it unfortunately might be time for the Brazilian to say farewell to both his national team and the sport. He has suffered from so many injuries in his career, and his career trajectory has gone downhill over the past 5/6 years. He had never been injured for more than a consecutive month when he made the move from Santos to Barcelona in 2013, and has since been injured too many times. He spent 120 days injured during his second season at PSG, and he has spent the majority of the past 3 years injured, which just highlighted those issues he had when playing at PSG, being sidelined for weeks, sometimes months, at every given season of his career. Neymar is the biggest example of a “what if” in football history: what if he hadn’t been injured so many times? He’s arguably one of the most talented footballers of all time and is highly decorated. For the Brazil national squad and for the fans, it is in the best interest that Neymar is fit and ready to go in 2026 in the United States of America, for one last dance.

Kevin De Bruyne

By now, even Kevin De Bruyne must be weary of the endless talk about Belgium’s so-called “golden generation” — a team brimming with talent that never quite fulfilled its promise. With names like Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois, Romelu Lukaku, Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, and Radja Nainggolan, Belgium boasted some of Europe’s and the world’s finest players. Yet, on the grandest stages, the breakthrough never came.

Off-field disputes, instability at the top, and internal tensions often overshadowed their potential. And while De Bruyne has long been the heartbeat of this side, he has never quite managed to carry the nation on his shoulders. Next year in North America, he will likely try one last time.

Whether he succeeds may depend less on him and more on how Belgium’s next wave — Jeremy Doku, Amadou Onana, Lois Openda, and Malick Fofana — can blend with what remains of the old guard. If this truly is Kevin De Bruyne’s farewell, then it marks the end of an era, and he departs with nothing but respect and admiration.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi:

Both players will be playing in their last ever World Cup, whilst Cristiano Ronaldo is on the hunt for 1000 career goals and a World Cup to forever cement his legacy, Lionel Messi announced a few months ago that he had played his last ever match in Argentina, as he and his side await June 2026, they who will be amongst the favorites to win it. The last time a country has ever won a World Cup back-to-back was Brazil in 1958 and 1962, which just goes to show how difficult that task is. Will it be Cristiano Ronaldo, will it be Lionel Messi? One final dance, potentially at MetLife Stadium for the biggest football match in history? It just has to be. Anything less sure won’t live up to those expectations.

More stars likely to feature in their last World Cup: Robert Lewandowski, Yann Sommer, Dusan Tadic, Angel Di Maria, Manuel Neuer, Edin Dzeko,

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That brings the tally to 14 nations already confirmed, leaving 34 coveted places still up for grabs. Asia will contribute eight teams in total, with three berths still undecided. Africa’s nine slots remain wide open, while North & Central America plus the Caribbean have three to fill beyond the automatic host entries. South America has three more places to hand out, and Europe—where the fiercest battle lies—must squeeze 16 representatives from a crowded field of 55 national teams.

It may be early to predict the ultimate champion, but anticipation is already building. Next year’s tournament promises to be among the most thrilling in memory: some nations will lean on their superstar talent, while others rely on collective spirit and discipline. From dark horses with nothing to lose to underdogs dreaming of glory, here are our early picks to shake up the world in 2026.

Dark horses

Morocco: Possibly one of the most overlooked nations in 2022, they ended up finishing top of a very tough group with Croatia, Belgium, and Canada, and beat Spain in the last 16, Portugal in the quarter finals, before losing against France, playing some really good football in the semi-finals. Achraf Hakimi, one of the leaders in the locker rooms, is one of the best players in the world and could very well lead his nation to another semi-final. Although the competition will be fiercer this time around, with more countries taking part in the 2026 edition. Morocco has a solid squad with head manager Walid Regragui trusting his group of players, who constantly show real hunger to prevail: Sofyan Amrabat was the standout player three years ago, and Regragui is a young manager capable of uplifting his squad, with new players coming through the ranks, with the likes of Brahim Diaz and Eliesse Ben Seghir showing real quality. Morocco is a country to look out for once more.

Croatia: There may be an argument for Croatia to be somewhere between underdogs and dark horses for next year’s World Cup, as the nation has overperformed over the past two editions. Leader Luka Modric will most likely be playing his final tournament next year, so Croatia may want to go out on a high: Croatia reached the final in 2018. Croatia, much like France, England, Spain, Germany, and CO, have had strong runs over the past couple of World Cups, but many football fans might still be underestimating what Croatia is capable of achieving. The football isn’t flamboyant, nor does Croatia have superstars in every position on the field, but their experience in recent years may be an important factor. Gvardiol, Kovacic and Modric are Croatia’s most important players, and they have lost a lot of important players over the past couple of years (Mario Mandzukic, Subasic, Lovren, Vrsaljko, and, most importantly Ivan Rakitic, who announced his retirement from professional football last season), so they will definitely be underestimated, but do not rule out this important footballing nation.

Ghana: It’s hard to pinpoint a favorite when it comes to African nations, who have perhaps underperformed when it comes to retracing the entire history of the World Cup, even though Morocco surprised everyone by reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup. The last two teams to have qualified for the quarter-finals before seeing elimination were both Senegal and Ghana, Senegal doing so in 2002 and Ghana most recently in 2010. Unfortunately for the Ghanaians, the 2010 World Cup is one they will never forget. They still feel today that they were hard done by by Uruguay, when Luis Suarez got himself sent off for a handball offence on the goal line, before Asamoah Gyan missed his penalty. Although no African nations have yet to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, Ghana has some real talent in their squad: both Mohammed Kudus and Antoine Semenyo could prove to be a lethal partnership next year, with both players playing at the highest level in England. Other reliable players include Inaki Williams, Thomas Partey, Tariq Lamptey, and Mohammed Salisu. Perhaps Ghana will be dark horses, perhaps they will underperform, but what is certain is that they will need their strongest two players in Semenyo and Kudus, if they want to stand a chance. It is all dependent on the front two.

Japan: Much like Croatia, Japan has been consistent in recent years, reaching the round of 16 in the previous two World Cups, only this time, they have a more talented squad, with real potential. Those too raw in 2022 have now cemented themselves in Europe, and others just decided to take the sport by its horns. Wataru Endo, Ao Tanaka, Daizen Maeda, Takefusa Kubo, Kaoru Mitoma, Takumi Minamino, Hiroki Ito, Daichi Kamada, Junya Ito, Keito Nakamura. These are all names of Japanese footballers who have performed amongst the best players in the world, on a consistent basis in Europe. Endo is a player Arne Slot can count on, Ao Tanaka cemented himself in the Leeds squad last year, whilst players like Kubo, Maeda, and Mitoma all continue to pave the way for Japanese football. Those who paid close

attention to Japan in recent World Cups will remember the remarkable tenacity that they possess. Now, if you add to that a strong squad to compete alongside the best, then Japan may just creep up as the strongest dark horse of the competition. There’s no surprise they were the first country to qualify for the World Cup.

United States of America: We spoke about the chances that the USA will hold on home soil next year, and we believe at Sports-Hop that if the support behind the national team is strong, then there are many chances that the USA could go far in the competition. With this new format, especially, more countries will feel like they have a chance and will play with much more freedom. Much like Japan, the US national team has improved in recent years, developing some top players. Christian Pulisic is considered to be one of AC Milan’s most important players today, whilst players such as Timothy Weah, Antonee Robinson, Chris Richards, and Weston McKennie have all become reliable starters and leaders in their respective leagues. The USA finished 3rd (semi-finals) in 1930 when only 13 teams were playing, and have only ever since reached the quarter-finals in 2002 and the last 16 three years ago now. But with the way football changes, and is becoming a much more tactical sport than it has ever been. With Mauricio Pochettino in charge, there have been a lot of negative talks surrounding the performances displayed but it can all change in the blink of an eye, especially as the World Cup will be played on home soil.

Other dark horses may include Norway, Ecuador, Turkey, and Mexico.

Underdogs:

Uzbekistan: Perhaps the biggest underdogs of them all. When Uzbekistan qualified for the World Cup a couple of months ago, it had already surprised everyone, which is without counting the new format allowing for more spots to be played for. The truth is, Uzbekistan has a talented pool of players who have come under the light in recent years, whereas they had previously never qualified for a World Cup in their existence. By definition, they are the biggest underdogs in the tournament already, and people will expect Uzbekistan to struggle, and rightly so. The experience on the biggest of stages plays a massive role, most countries will know what it’s like to play in a World Cup, but Uzbekistan doesn’t, and this is where they come in. Perhaps the most talented footballer Uzbekistan has ever produced is Abdukodir Khusanov, who plays for one of the biggest clubs in the World in Manchester City. Other players include Eldor Shomurodov, who plays for Süper Lig club İstanbul Başakşehir in Turkey, and is currently on loan from Serie A club Roma.

Against all odds, Uzbekistan will most likely go out in the group stages, but, just but, they might surprise one or two people.

Gabon: As qualifying matches are still underway in the AFC, Gabon might just get over the line and qualify for the 2026 World Cup, having won 5 out of their 6 matches so far, with the national squad only needing a few points left to secure a play-off spot, and they could even surpass Ivory Coast as the sole leader of Group F to qualify directly. As of today, the 9/3/2025, Gabon plays the Seychelles, with the latter not having won a single match of the qualifiers, Gabon could be in pole position before the Ivory Coast plays Burundi on Friday. If Gabon ends up finishing top of their group and participates in the World Cup next year, they will be massive underdogs. It would be the same situation as Uzbekistan, as this would be their first World Cup. With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang nearing the end of his career, this would be a wonderful sight to see him play and represent his country next year. With Mario Lemina also having been a competitive player over the course of his career, Gabon will, too, rely on Denis Bouanga, LAFC’s very own. Gabon could be a big underdog next year. One to watch over the next couple of days.

Paraguay: Paraguay are just inches away from qualifying to the World Cup. With two games to go, they simply must not lose their composure now, because their spot is still not guaranteed, but they are edging closer to the top 6 places, six spots available for qualification, with seventh having to go through play-offs. Paraguay would be a real underdog if they qualify. The nation hasn’t participated in a World Cup since 2010 and lacks any real quality in the squad. Players such as Miguel Almiron and Juan Iturbe are not at the peak of their careers, and whilst they are perhaps overperforming in the CONMEBOL qualifying matches, their odds of surprising the world next year are extremely small, but still there. By definition, much like Uzbekistan, Paraguay would also be an underdog, as they risk facing better opposition across their entire fixtures.

Canada: Having previously written about Canada, the feeling here at Sports Hop is that Canada sure aren’t favorites, and they’re not dark horses either. Football fans will actually feel that Canada will be underdogs, even when they’re playing in front of their home supporters in Vancouver and Toronto. Previous results have been poor, and perhaps this Canadian side will go under the radar a bit, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing for Jesse Marsch and his men. We previously mentioned Canada having a good pool of players who play in Europe, but because of their previous records in World Cups, most football fans will underestimate Canada and expect the side to get beaten by stronger opposition. We mentioned before that, should Canada advance to the knockout stages of the competition, it would be a huge result for the home fans and perhaps would give Canada some momentum going forward. Canada has always struggled on the big stage, but this time around, it is their turn to prove that they can be more than just underdogs; they need to prove that they belong.

Scotland: Since 1998, Scotland has not participated in the World Cup, and that’s exactly why they should be considered underdogs. Ask most English fans, and they won’t take Scotland seriously, and yet here we are talking about how Scotland could be one of the most important nations if they manage to qualify for the World Cup next year. Scotland is currently in Group C in the FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers, alongside Belarus, Denmark, and Greece. Scottish fans will feel like they have a serious chance of making it past those three nations if they put their head down and play some outstanding football. With European qualifiers taking place soon, this is the time for Scotland to show that they belong with the best. Scotland has produced some incredibly talented footballers, with the likes of Scott McTominay, Andrew Robertson, and John McGinn carrying the reins. The argument though, is, Scotland haven’t got enough talent in every position, which is the perfect reason that they would be underdogs if they make it past qualifying matches. Scotland will be overlooked, and people will expect them to face some heavy defeats against bigger nations, but they could also shock the world.

Other underdogs may include DR Congo, Cape Verde, Jamaica, Algeria, Iran, Jordan, and Greece

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In 1994, when the United States kicked off its World Cup campaign against Switzerland, the national team was still very much an unknown quantity. – Then – Serbian manager Bora Milutinović fielded the best eleven the country could offer, while U.S. Soccer had even looked abroad for reinforcements—naturalizing players like Thomas Dooley and Roy Wegerle to bolster the roster. Hosting the World Cup was a landmark moment for American soccer, but the team itself entered the tournament as underdogs, full of determination yet largely untested at the sport’s highest levels. They would eventually go out against Brazil in the last 16, losing 1-0, with both teams seeing red.

A handful of players had managed to carve out respectable European careers. Earnie Stewart was a regular in the Eredivisie, Eric Wynalda and Paul Caligiuri had spells in Germany, Tab Ramos featured for Real Betis in Spain, and John Harkes put together a steady run in England with Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County, West Ham, and Nottingham Forest. Cobi Jones briefly appeared in the Premier League before returning home to become a cornerstone of Major League Soccer with the LA Galaxy. A young Claudio Reyna, still at the beginning of his career, would go on to leave perhaps the biggest European footprint of his generation.

Others were still on the cusp. Brad Friedel, then only 25, would eventually become one of the Premier League’s most reliable goalkeepers, but in 1994 he had yet to make his mark. Alexi Lalas, who emerged from that World Cup as the team’s most recognizable face, earned a short spell in Serie A with Padova, though his reputation at home ultimately overshadowed his European impact.

For many more, however, Europe was either a brief stop or never part of the picture at all. Marcelo Balboa, Tony Meola, Mike Sorber, Cle Kooiman, and Fernando Clavijo built their reputations primarily in North America. Even Thomas Dooley, brought in to add international experience, had played most of his European career at mid-tier clubs rather than among the continent’s elite. The collective result was a team rich in spirit and effort but limited in the week-to-week exposure to the very best players in the world.

Fast forward three decades, and the contrast is striking. The modern U.S. men’s national team is built on a foundation of players not just participating in Europe but thriving at some of its biggest clubs. Christian Pulisic is a Champions League winner now starring at AC Milan. Weston McKennie plays for Juventus and is arguably the club’s most important player. Tim Weah, son of footballing icon George Weah, just signed a loan deal at Champions League club Olympique de Marseille, with an obligation to buy. Tyler Adams anchors midfield in the Premier League. Gio Reyna, forged at Borussia Dortmund and now continuing his career in England, has been one of the most technically gifted players the U.S. has ever produced. Beyond the headline names, players like Antonee Robinson, Yunus Musah, Malik Tillman, and Chris Richards are regular starters in Europe’s top five leagues.

The depth is unprecedented. In 1994, if one or two players fell out of form, the drop-off was severe. Today, the U.S. can rotate between multiple European-based options in nearly every position, giving the squad a wider arsenal of tactical and technical weapons than ever before. They are fitter, sharper, and more tactically aware, precisely because they are competing week in and week out against world-class opponents.

None of this diminishes the legacy of 1994. If anything, it underscores their importance as trailblazers. That team, with its mix of domestic stalwarts and a few adventurous pioneers abroad, proved that American players could belong on the world stage. They opened the doors that today’s generation has walked through.

But the shift is undeniable. Where once the U.S. was an outsider with something to prove, now—looking ahead to 2026 on home soil again—it is a program with the talent, experience, and depth to compete toe-to-toe with the game’s global powers. Where the United States of America’s national team looked very raw in Qatar in 2022, we, at Sports-Hop insist that they will be a force to be reckoned with next year.

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When the 2026 World Cup bid was first unveiled, much attention naturally focused on the United States and Mexico—two nations deeply woven into the history of the World Cup and global football. After all, Mexico has appeared in more tournaments than France, Spain, England, Uruguay, and the Netherlands, to name just a few. The 2026 edition will mark Mexico’s third time hosting—more than any other country in the world. While this decision sparked calls from some nations for greater recognition and fairness, FIFA chose to reward Canadian football by including the Maple Leaf nation among the hosts—making 2026 the first World Cup in history to be co-hosted by three countries. History continues to be written.

With less than a year to go before the tournament officially kicks off, FIFA will rely on all three host nations to deliver a spectacle worthy of the world’s biggest sporting event. The foundation is there: an expanded format, three nations working in unison, and passionate fans across the continent. Canada will host 13 World Cup matches between Vancouver and Toronto (compared to 13 in Mexico and 78 in the USA), including 10 group stage matches, two round-of-32 knockout fixtures, and one round-of-16 match—scheduled to take place in Toronto.

The United States will, understandably, hold the lion’s share of the tournament with 78 matches in 11 host cities—a reflection of its infrastructure and market power. But for Canadian fans, the significance lies not in quantity, but in the moment: their team’s representation on home soil and the historic opportunity to reach the knockout stages. Should Canada advance beyond the group, it would be groundbreaking—after all, they’ve only qualified for two World Cups in their history.

The contrast between Canada and its co-hosts is striking and should not be overlooked.

Mexico made its World Cup debut in 1930—at a time when Canada didn’t even have a professional national team. The world waited decades to see Canada reach the finals, which finally happened in 1986, ironically the same year Mexico hosted the tournament, for the second time.

To make a real impact in 2026, Canada will rely heavily on its star duo: Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies, both playing at the highest level in Europe’s top five leagues. But beyond them, there’s a growing wave of talent pushing through: Porto midfielder and national team captain Stephen Eustaquio, Celtic’s versatile defender Alistair Johnston, OGC Nice center-back Moïse Bombito, and Vancouver Whitecaps’ Jayden Nelson all form part of a promising generation.

Canada’s selection as a host is no accident—FIFA may not explicitly call it a game changer, but we believe this will create a shift in Canada. FIFA outlined the following in its official bid book:

“Canada has proven experience hosting major sporting events and has raised the bar for women’s and youth competitions, including the record-setting FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 and the FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup Canada 2007.

Known as a welcoming and inclusive nation, as well as a leader in human rights and environmental sustainability, Canada will use the opportunity to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup to engage the country from coast to coast through football, while delivering economic and social benefits to its diverse population. The country will prioritize racial and gender equality, social inclusion, and collaborate with all stakeholders on infrastructure improvements.”

Canada’s role in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is not merely about hosting matches—it’s a statement of intent. It is a declaration that the nation, once an outsider in global football conversations, is ready to step into the spotlight and embrace the weight of expectation. This tournament is Canada’s coming-of-age moment on the world stage, a rare opportunity to demonstrate not just its footballing evolution but its identity, values, and unbreakable spirit.

Beyond the packed stadiums and roaring crowds lies a deeper purpose—one rooted in legacy. This moment is not just about hosting matches; it’s about laying down lasting foundations for the men’s game in Canada. Since the early 1980s, when football infrastructure was sparse and public support limited, progress has been slow but steady. While the women’s game surged ahead—culminating in the record-breaking 2015 Women’s World Cup, which drew over 1.3 million spectators—the men’s side has struggled to keep pace. Now, with the world watching, Canada has a chance to close that gap. A chance to elevate its men’s football program to a level of respect, consistency, and global competitiveness it has long aspired to reach.

What once existed in the margins is now moving into the mainstream. Behind the scenes, Canada is quietly but powerfully laying the foundations for a footballing future that will outlast the final whistle.

But the ambition doesn’t stop there. The 2026 World Cup is Canada’s chance to paint a broader vision of inclusion, diversity, gender equality, health, and unity. It’s about energizing youth, galvanizing communities, and giving every Canadian, regardless of background, a reason to believe. Football, here, becomes more than a game—it becomes a national movement.

As North America prepares to unite under one tournament, Canada will stand proudly alongside its co-hosts, the United States and Mexico—three nations bound not only by geography but by shared values and intertwined histories. Together, they offer a bold image of regional harmony, proof that cooperation can build something spectacular.

Yet for all the political and cultural significance, it will ultimately fall on the shoulders of two men to carry a nation’s hopes. Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies—icons in the making, products of a new Canadian footballing generation—will be tasked with inspiring millions, igniting belief, and leading the charge toward uncharted territory. It is their time now, not only to play, but to unify, to elevate, and to dream.

Because some moments are bigger than sport.
And for Canada, 2026 may be remembered not just as the year it co-hosted a World Cup—but as the year it truly arrived.

The post Canada’s First Dance: What Hosting Means for Canadian Football appeared first on Sports Hop Media.

With this 2026 edition of the World Cup, Mexico has already gone down in history as being the sole country on earth to have hosted the biggest tournament in the world a total of three times. Not only does it cement Mexico as being a legendary footballing nation, but it is proof that Mexican football, in its roots and in its heritage, has stood high and tall in the test of time. Mexico is one of the most devoted nations when it comes to football, from kids wanting to pick up a ball to play with their friends from the moment they can walk, to Mexicans proudly supporting their nation when it comes to international events.

The link between Mexican roots within football even inspired film director Danny Cannon to create perhaps the most iconic football movie of all-time: Goal, following the story of Santiago Munez, a young Mexican American man, whose dream is to play the sport professionally. From growing up in Los Angeles from Mexican immigrants’ parents and making a move to one of the most iconic football clubs in England in Newcastle United, this fictional story is one that still resonates with many people today. The film also featured cameos from the world’s biggest footballers: David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo Nazario to cite a few. Just some of the biggest names in the world.

Mexico’s World Cup Hosting History:

In 1970, Mexico made history by hosting their first-ever World Cup, and the first-ever World Cup hosted in North America. It was also the first ever World Cup broadcasted in color on television worldwide, which only makes it even more historic.

To this day, the 1970 World Cup is deemed to be the most remarkable we have ever witnessed, with some legendary footballers competing on the biggest stage: Bobby Moore, Pelé, and Franz Beckenbauer were amongst those aiming for history in Mexico. It would have been Bobby Moore’s second World Cup’s success, he who was looking for back-to-back success.

In the end, it was Pelé who made history in Mexico, becoming the first player in history to win three World Cups, as Brazil clinched its third, defeating Italy 4-1.

In Mexico, the Estadio Azteca became iconic. FIFA only needed to take one glance at the 1970 edition to know that this great nation was fit to host the event once more. Well, FIFA said: let’s make it three.

The 1986 edition of the World Cup:

It only took 16 years for Mexico to host another World Cup, whilst some footballing nations are desperate to host a World Cup for the first time, Mexico had all the tools needed to host it again. Its convenient location, close to the United States of America and South America, has always made Mexico a favorite for nations worldwide to travel to, and its population always remained its most arduous football supporters.

The 1986 World Cup was also engrained in history, as it marked what would probably be deemed as the most controversial moment in sports history. Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God”, when the late Argentinian legend scored with his hand against England in the quarterfinals. The hand was clearly used to score the goal, and English players immediately rushed to the referee, who didn’t budge.

The 2026 World Cup will be historic for Mexico, not only because it will become the first nation to host three World Cups, but because it will share its games with the United States of America and Canada, making the 2026 edition the biggest it will ever be. More venues, more matches, more nations, more stars, Mexico is cementing itself as one of the greatest footballing nation the world has ever seen. The fans will be able to showcase their passion, and perhaps, drive their nation to win their first World Cup, they who have been so consistent since its creation, often making it to the knockout rounds.

Winning the World Cup for the first time would be the country’s greatest achievement and proof that footballing gods exist, and driven by some of Europe’s top talents, it perhaps might not be such a ridiculous idea to suggest that Mexico will give it their all, in front of their own.

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