With the expansion to 48 teams, the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Canada and Mexico opens its doors to a whole range of new faces. Three debutants stand out in particular: Uzbekistan, Cape Verde and Jordan. All three are celebrating their very first World Cup participation at this tournament – and all three have what it takes to make established football nations nervous.
Uzbekistan: Asian Patience Pays Off
For the Uzbek Football Association, it is the fulfillment of a decades-long dream. Multiple times in the past, the team came close to failing in the AFC playoffs. But this time, direct qualification was achieved with ease. Coach Timur Kapadse relies on a tactically disciplined team that stands compact in midfield and switches quickly over the wings. Forward Eldor Shomurodov, no stranger to Serie A at AS Roma, is considered the key player. In addition, there are young talents like Abbosbek Faizullaev, who is making waves at CSKA Moscow. Uzbekistan has produced an entire golden generation – vice Asian champions at U23 and participants in the 2024 Olympics impressively demonstrate this.
Cape Verde: The Island Selection Makes History
With just around 500,000 inhabitants, Cape Verde would be one of the smallest countries ever to participate in a World Cup. The "Blue Sharks" have held their own against heavyweights like Cameroon in African qualifying and thus celebrated the greatest success in their federation's history. The team's style is characterized by Portuguese-influenced technique and Creole passion. Players like Ryan Mendes, Bebé or the lightning-quick Garry Rodrigues provide experience, while young players from Portuguese and French leagues bring fresh momentum. Cape Verde's greatest trump card is the mix of homeland ties and European training quality – many national players grew up in the diaspora and returned to the squad.
Jordan: From Insider Tip to Reality
Jordan had already caught the spotlight at the Asia Cup 2024 with a place in the final. Now the team led by coach Hussein Ammouta crowns this development with their first World Cup qualification ever. Forward Mousa Al-Tamari, who shines in France's Ligue 1 at Montpellier, is the figurehead and combines individual class with the necessary international experience. Jordan's playing style is based on compact defense and quick counters – a profile that can certainly provide surprises against favored opponents.
Who Has the Best Chances?
In the new format with twelve four-team groups, not only group winners and runners-up reach the Round of 16, but also the eight best third-place finishers. This means that often just one win and one draw is enough to reach the knockout phase. This constellation plays into the hands of all three underdogs. While Uzbekistan seems athletically and tactically the most developed, Cape Verde could become the surprise package of the tournament with its carefree style of play. Jordan, for its part, benefits from its experienced squad and the experience gained from the Asia Cup final.
One thing is clear: The expansion to 48 teams not only means more games, but also more stories. And if the history of football teaches us anything, it's this: At a World Cup, anything is possible – even a Round of 16 berth for an island republic with half a million inhabitants.