5 Teams That Could Lift Their First World Cup Trophy

In sports, the World Cup is the ultimate honor. Every country aspires to be the one to hold this prized object and add it to its collection of honors. Winning this competition, however, is an easy feat, and historically only a select few countries have managed to establish themselves as dominant participants. Some of the most successful countries include Brazil, Germany, and France, all of whom have won the World Cup more than once.
However, many major football powers like Portugal have failed to win the World Cup. A few short weeks remain until the 2022 World Cup, where several countries will once again fight to be the first to lift the trophy. Let's take a look at five potential first-time winners of the World Cup.

5. Senegal

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This year's AFCON champions As the continent's top team, Senegal is a legitimate darkhorse contender. Despite the African champion's lackluster World Cup track record, they appear to be a formidable opponent this year. They could only get past the group stage once, in 2002, when they reached the quarterfinals.
On the other hand, the stars align well for the Senegalese squad this time around. Players like Osimhen, Koulibaly, and Mendy have had fantastic seasons for some of Europe's best clubs. However, the eyes will be on their captain Sadio Mane, the most experienced and dependable player, to make their dream come true.

4. Denmark

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No national team has been more impressive than Denmark's in recent years. After showing promise at the 2018 World Cup and the European Championships in 2018, they are no longer a pushover. Perhaps the 2022 World Cup will mark a turning point in their football history. Looking at their previous performances in the event, we see that they have a less-than-stellar record. Five times they have participated, with 1998 and 2018 being their best years. However, they will confidently enter this World Cup after a strong showing at Euro 2020.

3. Croatia

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In a way, Croatia's history mirrors Denmark's, and the country has also experienced recent success. Their 2018 World Cup final loss was heartbreaking, but they remain one of the favorites to win in Qatar in 2022. Luka Modric and Mateo Kovai are two talented midfielders for their squad.

2. Portugal

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Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leo, Jao Felix, and Renato Sanches are just a few of Portugal's impressive attackers at its disposal. More importantly, they have a leader in Cristiano Ronaldo, likely competing in his final World Cup. Even more so than usual, Ronaldo will be looking to silence his critics after a recent slump in form.

1. Belgium

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In 2022, Belgium's Golden Generation players will likely retire, so this tournament could be their last chance to win the World Cup. Although they took home the bronze medal from the 2018 World Cup, their squad leaves little room for anything but victory.
Nonetheless, they are headed to Qatar with several injury and performance concerns. Still, no one can discount that this might be Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku's chance at redemption. Kevin De Bruyne, the best midfielder in the world, could be the deciding factor in whether or not Belgium's dream comes true.