NETHERLANDS – IN SEARCH OF THE FIRST STAR
There are few countries that have such a rich football history without ever becoming world champions like the Netherlands national football team. For many football fans, the Netherlands remains the largest country that never won the World Cup. The lost finals of 1974, 1978 and 2010 still form scars in the collective memory of Dutch football culture.
Yet the Dutch team continues to return to the top. This is not only due to talent, but also due to a football philosophy that has had an influence worldwide. So-called total football, developed by visionaries such as Johan Cruyff, changed the way the sport was played.
The current generation may lack the iconic look of the teams of the 1970s, but it does have remarkable balance. In defense is Virgil van Dijk, one of the most respected defenders of his generation. His leadership and calmness form the basis of the team.
The Netherlands has technical quality in midfield, while up front players like Xavi Simons must provide the creativity needed to break open closed defenses. Simons represents a new generation of Dutch footballers who are comfortable on the ball, tactically trained and not afraid of responsibility.
The question surrounding the Netherlands is often the same: does the team have enough scoring power to win a world title? In big matches, the difference between success and disappointment often turns out to be one decisive moment in front of the goal. If the Netherlands becomes more efficient in this regard, it can finally break the curse of losing finals.
The 2026 World Cup may offer one of the last chances for some experienced players to make history. For millions of Dutch supporters, a first world title would feel like the completion of a long unfinished story.
PORTUGAL – LIFE AFTER RONALDO
For more than twenty years, almost everything revolved around Cristiano Ronaldo. He was the face, the leader and often the savior of Portuguese football. Yet Portugal has proven in recent years that its future does not solely depend on one of the greatest players of all time.
The modern Portuguese team may have the widest selection in its history. Where previous generations often relied on one or two superstars, nowadays almost every position seems to be occupied by a player of top international level.
Midfielders like Bruno Fernandes bring creativity and intelligence, while players like Rafael Leão provide speed and unpredictability. At the back, Portugal has a solid defensive base that is often underestimated.
What makes Portugal dangerous is the combination of technical sophistication and tactical discipline. The country has been producing players for many years who are excellently skilled and easily adapt to different playing styles.
The big challenge will be to fully complete the psychological transition to a post-Ronaldo era. The bigger the legend, the harder it becomes to leave its shadow behind. Yet Portugal seems better prepared than ever.
For the first time in history, a world title does not feel like a distant dream, but a realistic goal.
BELGIUM – THE LAST CHANCE OF A GOLDEN GENERATION
For years, Belgium was considered the ultimate sleeping giant of international football. When an exceptional generation finally emerged, many expected the Red Devils to win a world title.
That didn’t happen.
Players like Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku brought Belgium closer to success than ever before, but the ultimate breakthrough failed to materialize.
Now the country is in a transition phase. Some veterans have disappeared, while younger players are taking on more and more responsibility. Yet Belgium remains dangerous. The infrastructure that produced the golden generation is still producing talent.
What Belgium needs is a new identity. The team can no longer rely solely on memories of the past. The question is whether the new generation has the same exceptional quality as its predecessors.
If that is the case, Belgium remains a team that can cause problems for any favorite.
CROATIA – THE SMALL COUNTRY WITH THE BIG HEART
With less than four million inhabitants, Croatia is one of the smallest countries that regularly reaches the top in the world. That is precisely why Croatia’s performance is so impressive.
The final place in 2018 and the third place in 2022 confirmed what insiders have known for years: Croatia has an exceptional football culture. The country consistently produces technically strong, mentally tough players who are unfazed by bigger opponents.
Luka Modrić’s era is slowly coming to an end. His influence on Croatian football can hardly be overestimated. He became the symbol of a generation that made the impossible possible.
The challenge for 2026 is clear: can Croatia remain competitive without its greatest leader? History shows that one should never underestimate the country. Croatia always seems to get stronger as the pressure increases.
URUGUAY – THE PRIDE OF A LITTLE GIANT
When football fans talk about traditional superpowers, Uruguay is sometimes forgotten. That is remarkable, because the country not only won the first world championship in 1930, but also became world champion in 1950.
For a country with only a few million inhabitants, this is an almost unimaginable achievement.
Modern Uruguay combines the traditional fighting spirit the country is famous for with a new generation of technical players. Attackers like Darwin Núñez symbolize that development. He has speed, strength and the aggressiveness that is so characteristic of Uruguayan football.
Uruguay rarely plays good football according to European standards. However, it does play effective football. Opponents know that matches against Uruguay often turn into physical and mental battles of attrition.
That makes the team dangerous during a long tournament. Nobody is looking forward to meeting Uruguay in the knockout stages.
COLOMBIA – THE LAND OF REDISCOVERED AMBITION
After several volatile years, Colombia seems to have found an upward trend again. The country traditionally has technically skilled players and a creative playing style that is attractive to watch.
While previous generations relied heavily on individual stars, today’s Colombia looks more like a collective. That makes the team less predictable and more difficult to combat.
The enthusiasm of the Colombian supporters is also among the most impressive in international football. During major tournaments, almost every match turns into a colorful festival.
Colombia is not one of the absolute top favorites, but has enough quality to be a major surprise.
MOROCCO – THE PIONEER OF AFRICA
Morocco’s performance at the 2022 World Cup changed the global football landscape. For the first time, an African country reached the semi-finals of a world championship.
That success was no coincidence. Morocco has an exceptional generation of players who are active at the biggest clubs in Europe. At the same time, the team has developed a strong national identity.
Players like Achraf Hakimi represent a modern generation that is technically refined and tactically excellent.
The biggest danger for Morocco is that expectations are now much higher. While the team was still seen as an outsider in 2022, no opponent will underestimate them in 2026.
Yet Morocco remains the biggest contender to write African history again.
JAPAN – THE SILENT REVOLUTION
For decades, Japan was considered an emerging football nation. That description is now outdated. Japan is simply one of the best countries in the world.
The development of Japanese football is one of the most successful sporting projects of modern times. By investing in youth training, infrastructure and international experience, the country has become a fixture at world championships.
Japanese players combine technical precision with an enormous work ethic. Opponents often underestimate how well organized the team is. It is precisely for this reason that Japan regularly succeeds in surprising larger football nations.
There is still a lack of individual superstars who can completely control matches, but as a collective Japan is among the most dangerous outsiders in the tournament.
The 2026 World Cup could well be the moment when Japan finally takes the step from respected outsider to real world power.
