Everyone who watches international soccer can tell you that there are a few big names this year at the Qatar World Cup. Brazil, led by the iconic striker Pedro, will be a force to be reckoned with on the world stage. Meanwhile, perennial World Cup favorites Spain and Argentina will be the center of quite a bit of attention going into the 32-team, knockout-style tournament.
But which dark horses should the fans keep an eye on? Are there standout underrated teams hiding in the standings that could make things complicated with some stunning upsets? Let’s break it down.
Qatar
You should never count the host country out. In 2018, when Russia hosted the World Cup, their underrated team made it shockingly far into the tournament, knocking out Spain in the round of 16.
Qatar, which has a relatively short history with the sport of soccer, hasn’t been too high on most fans’ radars. However, there’s an undeniable advantage to playing in your own backyard. Traveling and adjusting to a new time zone and new cultural customs can be exhausting, even for superstar soccer players. Don’t sleep on Qatar: savvy fans will watch this team closely.
The US
You don’t need to watch too much soccer to know that the US is an international powerhouse when it comes to sports. The US routinely cleans up at the Olympics, owing to a culture that prides itself on rugged individualism and athletic excellence. So far, World Cup glory has escaped the famously proud country.
This year could be the US’s chance to prove itself in a previously elusive sport. The team has rising stars like Ricardo Pepi and Cameron Carter-Vickers on deck to help propel them to victory. Meanwhile, several American players are now returning to the pitch after being sidelined by injuries, so the pressure is on for the team to deliver.
Denmark
Denmark’s national team hasn’t received much coverage ahead of the 2022 World Cup. Denmark made a strong showing during the UEFA qualifying stage, winning all eight matches and notching an impressive 27 goals during the qualifiers.
It would be wise for any team up against the Danes to be cautious. They’ve proven to be electric on the attack and exceptionally good at maintaining possession of the ball. And if there’s one thing that wins soccer matches, it’s consistent pressure from the offense that can run down the defensive players’ stamina before delivering that one game-changing goal.