One of the features of the FIFA World Cup is that it pits football powerhouses against minnows.
Occasionally these mismatches produce great upsets.
USA defeating England in 1950, North Korea triumphing over Italy in 1966, Saudi Arabia shocking eventual champions Argentina in 2022 and South Korea winning through to the Semi Finals in 2002.
It shows what is possible.
But with no nation from outside the top 20 having won the World Cup, there is a sense from fans and the media back home (and possibly some players) that “we can’t win the World Cup”.
But why not?
Here are four ways that low ranked countries can approach the World Cup to ensure they are mentally ready to create history:
Why Not Us?
Approaching the World Cup without pressure or external expectations can actually be a competitive advantage.
It creates freedom, the kind that allows players to express themselves, take risks, and enjoy the game without fear of failure.
Research in sport psychology supports the value of enjoyment-focused environments, showing that enhancing autonomy-supportive sources of enjoyment can improve engagement, confidence, and performance (Wiersma, 2001).
When players feel free to play, without being weighed down by outcome pressure, performance often becomes more natural and instinctive.
Focus on Process
At this level, success is built long before match day.
Trusting the process means fully committing to the preparation you’ve already done – physically, technically, and mentally.
From a sport psychology lens, this builds self-efficacy: the belief that you are capable because you’ve put in the work.
When players trust their preparation, they are more likely to stay composed under pressure and less likely to be derailed by moment-to-moment outcomes.
Set Realistic Goals
Goals are powerful, but only when they are within your control and grounded in reality.
While outcome goals (like winning) are important for direction, over-focusing on outcome goals can create pressure and distract from performance.
Process and performance goals help keep perspective; they shift attention toward how you want to play rather than just the result.
This allows teams to stay grounded, even when results don’t go their way.
Stay the Course
Tournament football is full of emotional swings – momentum shifts, unexpected results, and external noise.
The teams that cope best are the ones that stay emotionally steady.
Staying the course means not overreacting to single games, whether good or bad.
It’s about staying aligned with your identity, sticking to your values, and trusting your long-term direction.
Success at the World Cup often comes down to mindset as much as talent.
Teams that play with freedom, trust their process, and stay grounded in realistic goals are better able to perform under pressure.
Staying consistent and emotionally steady gives even underdogs a real chance to compete.
