The greatest show on earth kicks off next week folks; yes, next week! We’re almost there and as World Cup 2026 fever takes hold, fans from across the globe are starting to dream of glory yet untold.
While the latest World Cup 2026 betting odds say the winner will likely come from Spain, France, England or reigning champions Argentina, there are a handful of other nations who fancy their chances and maybe a few which have gone under the radar.
So here is the SBOTOP pick of four coaches who can upset the odds this summer, the dark horses who may lead their teams to unexpected success, whether that be a semi-final place or even the big prize.
Mauricio Pochettino: USA
The host nation are priced at 81.00 to win the tournament and, while that may be a step too far, the Stars and Stripes will be backed by raucous crowds and will hope to go deep into the competition. In Pochettino, the USA has one of the most admired coaches in world football, as a former boss of Espanyol, Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain. The likeable Argentine was a cultured yet uncompromising centre-back as a player, and as a coach he has maintained his culture and added superb man-management skills.
When he arrived as USA boss in 2024, he was considered alongside the likes of Jurgen Klopp, and Pochettino has high expectations of himself and his players. In AC Milan star Christian Pulisic, Pochettino has a leader on the pitch, and he can rely on experienced top-level stars such as Fulham’s Antonee Robinson to deliver on the biggest stage. The USA will play an attacking and high-pressing style which the home fans will enjoy and my prediction for the Stars and Stripes is a quarter-final place.
Ronald Koeman: Netherlands
Koeman is Oranje through and through as a player and now manager. A dominant centre-back with a thunderbolt of a shot, he scored 14 goals in 78 internationals and led his nation with passion. He has been managing for 26 years at the top level, and this is his second stint as Netherlands boss, sandwiching a season as Barcelona manager. Now 63 years of age, Koeman will be one of the senior men in the dugouts this summer and he will lead the Oranje in his no-nonsense style as he did as a player: “I’m a coach who likes his teams to be disciplined and well-organised,” he says, “I like to dominate games. The Dutch like attacking football. I like to be direct and have good communication with my players. We hold short meetings.”
Fair enough!
Virgil Van Dijk will do his bidding on the pitch and there is no doubt the messaging from the manager will be crystal clear. The Oranje are at odds of around 23.00 to win and I see them as potential semi-finalists.
Julian Nagelsmann: Germany
Only 28 years of age when he rose to fame as TSG Hoffenheim head coach, Nagelsmann managed Red Bull Leipzig and Bayern Munich before taking the national team coach role in 2023. Last year he extended his contract to take him to Euro 2028 and that is some signal of intent for a manager in demand across Europe’s top leagues. He trains his teams to play with a flexible mindset and to adopt ‘gegenpressing’ where they win back possession as quickly as possible rather than regrouping.
Of these four managers Nagelsmann arguably has the best squad of players at his disposal, captained by Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich and with the likes of Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz in their ranks. They come into the tournament on the back of eight wins, beating Finland 4-0 on Sunday and are priced at 17.00 to win the World Cup.
Like the Netherlands, I rate Germany as a possible semi-finalists.
Zlatco Dalic: Croatia
Under Dalic, Croatia reached the 2018 World Cup final to be beaten 4-2 by France, and the team still has some familiar names from back then. Talisman Luka Modric remains a key player, as is winger Ivan Perisic and the two of them will have over 350 caps between them when they play in the finals. Meanwhile, at the back, Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol is a powerful presence. Croatia qualified from their group with seven wins and a draw, their best qualification results in their history and Dalic’s band of brothers are more than capable of picking up some positive World Cup 2026 results.
They are out at around 111.00 to win the tournament and what a story that would be for the 2018 beaten finalists. I expect Croatia to navigate their group, and probably reach the last 16 and then…who knows?
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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