All rankings considered are from the official FIFA's website:
https://inside.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/men
In the 2022 World Cup, everyone remembers fondly rooting for the Morocco team (ranked #22 at the time), which unexpectedly reached the semi-finals.
In the 2018 World Cup, Croatia (#20) went all the way to the finals. We also had Russia (#70) and Sweden (#24) reaching quarter-finals.
In the 2014 World Cup, Costa Rica (#28) reached the quarter-finals.
In the 2010 World Cup, Ghana (#32) and Paraguay (#31) reached the quarter-finals
In the 2026 World Cup, will there be a similar dark horse run? Dark horse defined as a team that ranks #17 or below according to the latest FIFA world ranking before the beginning of the world cup reaching at least the quarter finals.
Something to consider is the fact that the world cup format has changed and ranking methodology might have changed as well.
Once we get to the final ranking before the world cup I'll begin adding "Yes and it will be [TEAM]" at your suggestion. Each of these questions will resolve YES if TEAM reaches at least the quarter finals
Once we get to the Round of 16 all remaining dark horse candidates will be added to the market.
1,000People are also trading
@traders with rankings finalized these are the possible dark horses from this year in order by ranking. I added t
USA
Japan
Switzerland
Iran
Turkiye
Ecuador
Austria
Korea Republic
Australia
Egypt
Canada
Norway
Cote d'Ivoire
Panama
Czechia
Paraguay
ScotlandTunisia
Congo DR
Uzbekistan
Qatar
Iraq
South Africa
Saudi Arabia
Jordan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Cape Verde
Ghana
Curaçao
Haiti
New Zealand
I added some of them so we can start trading as the matches happen. Let me know if there is anyone you guys are missing and, as I said, I'll add all remaining ones for the round of 16. Happy trading!
@BayesianTom I got an error. it seems mods don't have permissions for the new dashboard system. elevating to admin
@traders with rankings finalized these are the possible dark horses from this year in order by ranking. I added t
USA
Japan
Switzerland
Iran
Turkiye
Ecuador
Austria
Korea Republic
Australia
Egypt
Canada
Norway
Cote d'Ivoire
Panama
Czechia
Paraguay
ScotlandTunisia
Congo DR
Uzbekistan
Qatar
Iraq
South Africa
Saudi Arabia
Jordan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Cape Verde
Ghana
Curaçao
Haiti
New Zealand
I added some of them so we can start trading as the matches happen. Let me know if there is anyone you guys are missing and, as I said, I'll add all remaining ones for the round of 16. Happy trading!
@shankypanky theoretically they will publish the rankings tomorrow (we are still on a open window with friendlies played today)
But I'll start taking suggestions now if you want!
At first in order to not clog up the market I thought of adding by request and only adding all candidates after the group stage ends. But it could be interesting to have them all, not sure