By Abubakar Ojima-ojo
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already produced several historic moments, with a number of nations either setting new records or matching their greatest-ever achievements on football’s biggest stage.
From debutants making an instant impact to long-waiting nations finally breaking through in the knockout rounds, the expanded 48-team tournament has created opportunities for teams to rewrite their football history.
Here are the countries that have achieved their best-ever World Cup runs at the 2026 tournament.
Canada
Canada made history by reaching the knockout stage of a FIFA World Cup for the first time. Having previously exited in the group stage during their only two previous appearances in 1986 and 2022, the Canadians progressed to the Round of 16 before their campaign ended against Morocco.
Cape Verde
Making their FIFA World Cup debut, Cape Verde enjoyed a dream tournament by advancing beyond the group stage and reaching the Round of 32. Their maiden appearance on football’s biggest stage also brought their first-ever World Cup victories, marking the nation’s greatest achievement in the competition.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina surpassed their previous best World Cup performance after advancing beyond the group stage for the first time. Having been eliminated in the group phase during their only previous appearance in 2014, they reached the Round of 32 in 2026 to set a new national record.
Egypt
Egypt also celebrated a landmark achievement by reaching the knockout rounds for the first time in their World Cup history. After group-stage exits in 1934, 1990 and 2018, the Pharaohs advanced to the Round of 16, establishing a new best-ever finish despite eventually bowing out.
Norway
Norway have matched their best-ever World Cup performance by advancing to the quarter-finals for the first time since France 1998. Led by Erling Haaland, the Scandinavians ended a 28-year wait to return to the last eight and now have the opportunity to set a new national record if they progress further.
Colombia
Colombia have already matched one of their strongest World Cup campaigns by reaching the Round of 16 and remain in contention to equal or surpass their quarter-final finish from Brazil 2014. Victory over Switzerland would see Los Cafeteros reach the last eight once again, matching their deepest-ever run, while progression beyond that would establish a new national benchmark.
The 2026 World Cup has also seen several nations come close to rewriting history. Mexico ended a decades-long wait for a World Cup knockout victory by winning a Round of 32 match for the first time since hosting the tournament in 1986, although they were eliminated in the Round of 16 and fell short of surpassing their all-time best quarter-final finish.
Paraguay, meanwhile, matched their previous best by reaching the Round of 16 before exiting against France.
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With the quarter-finals still to be played, Morocco, Norway and potentially Colombia all remain in contention to extend their historic campaigns and set new national records before the tournament concludes.
