In the land of cheese, chocolate, and army knives, soccer is king—and Switzerland has deeper roots in the sport than most people realize. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass breaks down the story of The Nati: a founding FIFA member, a crossroads in football’s spread across Europe, and the quiet host nation that’s literally home to FIFA’s headquarters. We trace Switzerland’s early flashes of tournament success, their revival under Roy Hodgson in the 1990s, and the modern era defined by steady qualification and consistent knockout-round appearances—without ever producing a single “signature” World Cup moment. Then we jump to the road to 2026: Murat Yakin’s possession-first approach, a deep squad built on balance rather than superstar power, and a group that could set Switzerland up for yet another trip to the Round of 16—unless this is finally the year they break the ceiling. Along the way, we spotlight young midfielder Johan Manzambi as one to watch, revisit the legacy of Swiss icon Xherdan Shaqiri, and explore how immigration and multicultural identity have shaped the national team for generations.

The land of the Vikings is back on the World Cup stage for the first time since 1998—and Norway arrive as one of the tournament’s must-watch darlings, led by their modern-day “Jarl”: Erling Haaland. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass breaks down how the Norwegians turned a generation of talent into a true golden age, built around Haaland’s ruthless finishing and robot-like intensity, and Martin Ødegaard’s leadership and creativity from midfield.

We trace the roots of Norwegian football—from the early clubs and the founding of the federation, to the quirks of a domestic game shaped by weather and geography—then revisit Norway’s previous World Cup moments, including the famous 1994 “four teams on four points” group and the iconic 1998 win over Brazil that sent them to the knockouts. From there, we jump into the road to 2026: Ståle Solbakken’s long, patient rebuild finally clicking into place, an 11-game surge through qualifying, and a side that suddenly looks balanced—dangerous going forward, and far stingier at the back than anyone expected.

We spotlight RB Leipzig winger Antonio Nusa as the young player to know, pay tribute to Norwegian foundation-layers like John Arne Riise, and explore the country’s uniquely Norwegian football culture—from May 16th rivalry matchdays to some of the most photogenic pitches on earth. Drawn into a heavyweight group with Senegal and France, Norway have arrived with pressure, belief, and a superstar built for the biggest moments.

A country of just 10 million people, Portugal has produced three Ballon d’Or winners—and in 2026 they might be the best bet to become the next new nation to lift the World Cup. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass breaks down how the Seleção went from late bloomers (just two World Cup appearances before 2002) to genuine “sharks” on the international stage, with insight from Portuguese-born commentator Eric Krakauer.

We trace the roots of the game in Portugal—English merchants, students returning from England, and the rise of the Taça de Portugal and Primeira Liga—then tell Portugal’s modern story through Eusébio, Luís Figo, and Cristiano Ronaldo, whose stardom helped transform the country’s global football identity.

From there, we relive Portugal’s greatest moment: Euro 2016, a pragmatic run that ended with a 1–0 extra-time win over France—powered by an unlikely hero after Ronaldo went down injured.

Looking ahead, we dig into Roberto Martínez’s challenge: managing the transition away from Ronaldo’s shadow as he heads toward what he’s said will be his final World Cup at age 41, and deciding what role he should play.

We spotlight PSG midfielder João Neves as a breakout candidate, plus 18-year-old Geovany Quenda as one to watch, and we get into the club-driven intensity of Portuguese football—Benfica, Sporting, and Porto dominating the league and shaping everything from fan identity to the country’s endless “clubism” debates.

Portugal land in Group K with Colombia, Uzbekistan, and one more TBD opponent—with quarterfinals (and more) firmly in their sights if they get the Ronaldo equation right.