With just 30 days remaining until the opening match of the 2026 World Cup, this tournament is shaping up to be a memorable one.
While several exciting young Serie A talents are preparing to announce themselves on football’s biggest stage, there are also experienced veterans from the league who could play a decisive role in helping their nations pull off major upsets.
The 2022 World Cup will forever be remembered as one of the tournament’s greatest editions, as it produced some of the biggest shocks and most unforgettable underdog stories in football history. No one could have predicted it, but it turned into a historically significant tournament for the dark horses as there were 15 major upsets recorded — the highest percentage of shocking results since 1958.
The surprises began almost immediately, as Saudi Arabia stunned eventual champions Argentina in one of the greatest World Cup shocks ever, setting the tone for a competition filled with chaos, drama, and unforgettable giant-killing moments.
Yet the 2026 edition could deliver another wave of surprises, especially with several experienced Serie A veterans potentially making their final appearances on the international stage and using their experience, leadership, and quality to guide their nations toward historic results. These players and their respective national squads head to Canada, The United States, and Mexico while betting sites in Italy continue to find reason to back them once more.
Serie A Veterans Ready to Lead Football’s Dark Horses
One of the biggest shocks heading into the 23rd edition of the World Cup is the absence of Italy, who failed to qualify for a third consecutive tournament after suffering a playoff defeat to an Edin Dzeko-inspired Bosnia and Herzegovina side.
But despite the Azzurri’s absence, Serie A will still have a major influence on the competition, with several experienced stars from the league expected to lead smaller nations capable of producing memorable upsets on football’s biggest stage.
Scott McTominay — Scotland (Napoli)
Ever since his move from Manchester United, McTominay has looked like a completely transformed player.
The Scottish international, who is approaching the end of his second season in Italy with Napoli, has registered an impressive 33 goal contributions in 78 appearances — from midfield — across all competitions. If he can carry that lethal form into the international stage, then Scotland — who are preparing for their first World Cup appearance in 28 years — could emerge as one of the tournament’s most dangerous dark horses.
With McTominay having quality teammates such as Andrew Robertson, Ryan Christie, and John McGinn providing experience across the pitch, Scotland possess a squad capable of producing major World Cup upsets against more established football nations.
The midfielder was pivotal to Scotland’s dramatic qualification campaign and proved to be the talisman of the side when pressure mattered most. One of the defining moments came in a crucial clash against Denmark, where he scored a stunning overhead kick from over 2.53 meters to help secure qualification.
The former Manchester United midfielder, who previously won the Serie A title and Serie A MVP award with Napoli, has become one of the leading figures among the experienced Serie A stars heading into the tournament. Now entering what many consider the prime years of his career, McTominay could be the driving force behind the Scottish side determined not just to participate at the 2026 World Cup, but to make their presence felt and shock some of football’s traditional heavyweights.
Hakan Calhanoglu — Turkey (Inter Milan)
Hakan Calhanoglu has spent close to a decade in Serie A and, in this period, has established himself as one of the most complete midfielders in the world.
The Turkish international has played a major role in AC Milan and later Inter Milan title challenges, becoming one of the standout experienced Serie A stars heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Following a sensational performance in the Coppa Italia semi-final — where he finished with two goals and an assist — Como’s head coach Cesc Fabregas openly admitted his admiration for the midfielder’s game, praising both his intelligence and technical quality.
He said: “We have to stay calm and build a team piece by piece. There aren’t many players like Calhanoglu, I’m in love with him. When we play against Inter, the first thing I worry about is whether he plays or not. These champions always find solutions. He’s a player I really like because there aren’t many in football, people like him, Pirlo, Modric, Kroos. Seeing him at this level is incredible, he builds everything around himself and makes the team play.”
For a legendary midfielder like Fabregas to publicly recognize your qualities only underlines the level Calhanoglu has reached in recent years.
His composure, creativity, passing range, and leadership make him one of the Serie A veterans capable of dictating games at the highest level, and with him orchestrating play in midfield, Turkey could become one of the tournament’s most dangerous dark horses.
The 32-year-old was central to Turkey’s qualification campaign for the World Cup — a tournament that will mark only the third appearance in the nation’s history — contributing one goal and four assists while maintaining an outstanding 90% passing accuracy as a deep-lying playmaker.
His ability to control tempo and unlock defenses gives his team a level of tactical maturity other nations lack.
Alongside Real Madrid starlet Arda Guler, Turkey now possess a midfield combination capable of troubling even the strongest teams at the tournament, making them one of the countries most likely to produce major World Cup upsets in 2026.
Luka Modric — Croatia (AC Milan)
The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner who famously guided Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final, will once again be aiming to inspire his nation on football’s biggest stage.
The veteran midfielder joined Milan last season after leaving Real Madrid in a bid to help him maintain full fitness ahead of the World Cup, even at 40 years old, continues to dictate matches with remarkable composure and intelligence.
Despite his age, Modric remains one of the standout experienced Serie A stars this season. In what is expected to be his final World Cup appearance, the Croatian legend will be desperate to sign off on the international stage with another memorable run.
And even if Croatia do not go all the way, they still possess the quality and mentality to pull off major World Cup upsets against some of the competition’s biggest favorites. Even with five goal contributions in Serie A this season, Modric remains one of football’s most respected figures and a symbol of consistency, leadership, and elegance in midfield.
With the midfield magician orchestrating play, Croatia once again have the look of dangerous dark horses capable of causing problems for any team at the tournament.
Sead Kolasinac — Bosnia and Herzegovina (Atalanta)
The 32-year-old former Arsenal defender was part of the Bosnia team that produced one of the biggest shocks of the qualification campaign by eliminating Italy in the playoffs.
Now in his third season with Atalanta, the experienced centre-back has established himself as a key figure in the squad, and his experience heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup could prove vital to Bosnia’s hopes of producing major World Cup upsets.
Alongside Edin Dzeko, he remains one of only two survivors from Bosnia’s historic 2014 World Cup squad, bringing invaluable tournament experience to a team many already consider one of the competition’s potential dark horses.
Famously nicknamed “The Tank,” the defender’s physicality, aggression, and uncompromising style embody exactly the type of mentality smaller nations require to frustrate and disrupt elite opponents.
Beyond his defensive toughness, his years in Serie A have helped refine the technical side of his game. This season, he has maintained an impressive 91% passing completion rate while consistently delivering commanding defensive displays.
His 8.7 defensive ratings across several key matches further underline that, despite his age, he still possesses the quality and intelligence needed to neutralize top-level attackers — qualities his country will rely on heavily if they are to shock bigger nations at the tournament.
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