The 2026 FIFA World Cup began on June 11, and it has been a tournament of romance (at least between fans), heartbreak, and a steady stream of stunning upsets. We have seen first-timers beat established giants, and some traditional powerhouses fall at the peak of expectations.
For the first time in history, a total of 48 nations will take part in the tournament, which has been split into 12 groups of four across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This new format sees the top two in each group advance, plus the eight best third-placed teams, to a bloated Round of 32 knockout stage.
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We’re only halfway through Matchday Two, and there’s already been well over 100 goals in the tournament. There have been eight red cards so far – the same number as in 2018 and 2022 combined (four each).
Amidst the chaos, some countries have appeared to be a completely different version of their previous themselves. Without further ado, here are five national teams that have improved the most during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
5) Norway
Norway are back on the World Cup stage after a painful absence of 28 years in the most emphatic way possible. Stale Solbakken’s side last appeared at the finals in 1998, but they have blitzed through European qualification and taken that form into the tournament.
Inspired by talisman Erling Haaland, they declared their return with a resounding 4-1 demolition of Iraq. Norway now lead Group I on goal difference, but they have yet to face France. However, with Haaland in this kind of scoring mood, after notching two goals in his first World Cup game, Solbakken’s men could be a problem for anyone.
4) Canada
Few teams have improved as much as co-hosts Canada, who left the 2022 FIFA World Cup beaten in all three group games. Jesse Marsch’s reinvigorated side have already put that miserable memory to bed on home soil this summer. They came from behind to draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina before crushing Qatar 6-0 in Vancouver.
Jonathan David’s hat-trick sealed the Qatar result that gave Canada their first-ever win at a FIFA World Cup. They are level on four points with Switzerland at the top of Group B and have a healthy goal difference of plus six. A first knockout appearance now looks tantalisingly close ahead of their crucial final group stage clash with the Swiss.
3) Japan
Japan have quietly morphed from underdogs to one of the most tactically astute outfits at the FIFA World Cup. Hajime Moriyasu’s Samurai Blues suffered only one loss in the third round of Asian qualifying for this World Cup. In the tournament, they followed up a thrilling 2-2 draw with the highly-fancied Netherlands by hammering Tunisia 4-0.
It became Japan’s biggest World Cup victory. Remarkably, they’ve managed all of this without influential captain Wataru Endo, who was ruled out with a foot injury before the tournament. This could be Japan’s best-ever World Cup, with quality and determination running through their squad.
2) United States
The co-hosts were considered an inconsistent young group in the past few years, but Mauricio Pochettino has transformed them into a disciplined, high-pressing unit. The United States have already secured a place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage with two successive wins. They crushed Paraguay 4-1 before a 2-0 shutout over Australia, even without their injured talisman Christian Pulisic.
Folarin Balogun has been superb as a number nine, scoring twice against Paraguay to set off a raucous home crowd. They’ve got depth of talent in the squad, and everyone seems to have embraced Pochettino’s tactics well. Suddenly, this reinvigorated American side look really dangerous, especially with momentum and home advantage.
1) Cabo Verde
If there is a feel-good story at the FIFA World Cup, it is that of Cabo Verde, the tiny island nation making their debut at the tournament. The Blue Sharks are the most unlikely, most persistent underdogs we might ever see.
They shocked the world by holding Spain to a 0-0 draw in the opener. The Europeans had shot after shot, but it was 40-year-old custodian Vozinha who locked the net behind him. That historic stalemate was followed by a gutsy 2-2 comeback draw against Uruguay, confirming that their improvement is sustainable. With two points in the bag, a place in the knockout stage is not impossible.
Edited by Nnanna Mba