2026 World Cup: Two 100/1 Underdogs Who Could Upset the Odds This Summer

Every FIFA World Cup has its favorites, and this summer will be no different. We have less than four months to go until North America opens its doors to the world, and already, online betting sites have their frontrunners priced up.

The latest World Cup odds have Spain listed as the 9/2 frontrunners, primarily thanks to their European Championship victory in Berlin two years ago. England, the team they beat in that famous evening in the Olympiastadion, is close behind at 11/2. But while the favorites currently hold their place in the odds lists on merit, every time the World Cup rolls around, an underdog upsets the odds as it embarks upon a run that no one could have anticipated.

In Qatar four years ago, both Morocco and Croatia made it all the way to the semifinals. The Atlas Lions became the first African team in history to reach the final-four, beating both Spain and Portugal along the way before losing to France with a spot in the final on the line. The Croatians, meanwhile, have become accustomed to World Cup upsets in recent years, with their semifinal appearance in the Arabian Gulf their second straight such trip after beating England to punch their tickets to the final in Moscow in 2018.

So, which outsiders will steal the show in North America this summer? Erling Haaland's Norway shone in qualifying as they beat four-time champions Italy home and away to reach the tournament for the first time since 1998. Two of our three cohosts, namely Mexico and the USA, will also be hoping to mount deep tournament runs. However, we have found two teams listed at 100/1 odds or longer who could cause quite the stir throughout June and July. Let's take a look at who they are.

You'd have thought that after a third-place finish and a final appearance in their last two trips to the World Cup, the bookies would have learned their lesson. However, when it comes to their valuations of Croatia, it would appear that isn't the case. Zlatko Dalic's side is listed as a whopping 100/1 outsider to win the World Cup this summer, with the likes of Colombia, Uruguay, and Ecuador all considered more likely. While we aren't saying the Vatreni will leave MetLife Stadium on July 19th with the trophy, they certainly have the ability to mount a march to the quarterfinals, or perhaps even better.

Yes, the days of the Croatian golden generation are now in the rearview mirror. The likes of Ivan Rakitić, Mario Mandžukić, and Dejan Lovren have all long retired from the international game, but some stars do remain. Veteran 40-year-old midfielder Luka Modrić still captains the team, while his old comrades Ivan Perišić and Andrej Kramarić are still regulars. Manchester City's Mateo Kovacic, goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, and Duje Caleta-Car ensure that there is bucketloads of experience across the board.  

But not only that, the Croats have a slew of new stars all peaking at the perfect time. JoskoGvardiol, Josip Stanisic, and Petar Sučić are all 25 or younger, and they play for some of Europe's biggest clubs, namely Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan. Add to that 18-year-old Hamburg defender Luka Vuskovic, and it's clear to see that the Croatian future is bright.

So, why are they considered 100/1 outsiders? Well, their performances at Euro 2024 left a lot to be desired, slumping to a disastrous group stage exit without winning a single game. But their qualifying exploits spoke of a team in form: seven wins, one draw, qualification secured at a canter. The big boys have been stunned by Croatia in the past, and we won't be making the mistake of ruling them out too early this summer.

Betting Against Switzerland’s Tournament Consistency

Despite never being considered contenders, Switzerland is always a safe bet to reach the knockout rounds of any tournament. Two years ago, they were one of the stars of the show as they reached the quarterfinal of Euro 2024, resoundingly beating reigning champions Italy before falling to England in a brutal penalty shootout. They have reached each of the last six major tournaments they entered, and on each occasion, they made it through the group stage.

So why, oh why, then, are they also way out at 100/1? Why are teams such as Mexico and Uruguay (both 66/1) considered more likely victors, even though they were dumped out of the last World Cup in the group stage? It's certainly strange pricing, especially considering Switzerland's pedigree.

Captain Granit Xhaka remains one of the best deep-lying playmakers in Europe, even after swapping Bayer Leverkusen for newly promoted Premier League side Sunderland in the summer. Manuel Akanji starts every game for Serie A table-toppers Inter Milan, while goalkeeper Gregor Kobel is currently the last line of defence for Borussia Dortmund. In attack, Dan Ndoye is a proven match-winner on his day, while Breel Embolo is currently bang on form for Ligue 1 side Rennes, recently scoring the winner against Paris Saint-Germain.

Switzerland, then, is stacked with talent, and a group containing both Canada and Qatar should secure safe passage to the second round. They will be expecting to reach the quarterfinals at the very least, and as we have seen at recent World Cups, anything can happen from there.