The World Cup has always been the pinnacle of sporting ambition, but for some nations, their presence in the tournament had become a distant dream, a historical anecdote for new generations. In this edition, the curtain rises to welcome four proud teams that have broken long droughts, returning to elite football after periods of absence ranging from more than a quarter of a century to, in one moving case, more than half a century. These are the stories of Austria, Norway, Scotland and, especially, Haiti, whose qualification is not only a sporting triumph, but a cry of hope and national pride.
The last time Austria appeared on the World Cup map was at France 98, a bittersweet memory. The team led by Herbert Prohaska competed with dignity in Group B, but they always had to go against the current, conceding the first goal in their three games. The only spark of hope came from the late goals, two in stoppage time to rescue draws against Cameroon and Chile, and another insufficient one against Italy (2-1 defeat), which finally left them out of the round of 16. That generation had as captain and reference Toni Polster, all-time top scorer, who reaffirmed his status as a national symbol by scoring the tying goal against Cameroon, a goal that came in added time.
Austria’s return has been based on the solidity and intelligent management of its coach, the German Ralf Rangnick. The qualifying campaign was notable, with key wins in Vienna against Romania and a vital away win against Bosnia and Herzegovina. They reached the final day with only one defeat, but the tension was maximum. In the decisive match in Vienna, against a Bosnia that was looking to hold on to second place, Austria started behind on the scoreboard. It was Michael Gregoritsch’s timely appearance late on that guaranteed a draw and, crucially, direct qualification, allowing them to avoid the dreaded UEFA play-offs.
If Polster was the icon of the 90s, the current team is supported by a backbone of elite players who succeed in the most important leagues in Europe. The undisputed leader is captain David Alaba, whose hierarchy, tactical criteria and technical quality have kept him in the elite of European football for more than a decade. Beside him, the midfield has enviable reliability with the energy of Konrad Laimer, the vision of Marcel Sabitzer and the emerging talent of Christoph Baumgartner.
In attack, veteran Marko Arnautovic has experienced a second youth, scoring eight goals in qualifying and, in the process, surpassing Polster as the country’s all-time top scorer. With a mix of experience and young talent, Austria arrives at the World Cup ready to leave a much deeper mark than almost three decades ago.
Haiti’s story in the World Cup is the most epic and moving of this quartet of comebacks. His only participation so far dates back to 1974, after winning the Concacaf Championship. The draw was not kind, sending them into a group of giants with Argentina, Poland and Italy. Although they suffered three predictable defeats, the two goals scored against Italy and Argentina left an indelible mark of pride in the Caribbean nation.
The undisputed hero of 1974 was Emmanuel Sanon. Author of the only two Haitian goals, his score against Italy is one of the most remembered. Beyond the beauty of the action—a powerful start and total composure to get around the legendary goalkeeper—the goal had historical weight: Sanon became the first player in more than two years capable of scoring against Dino Zoff in an international match. His figure represents the apex of Haitian football.
The road to this 2026 classification was a feat. After passing the second round, Haiti settled into a demanding third phase with regional powers such as Costa Rica and Honduras. Showing formidable resilience, the team earned four vital points against the Ticos, then secured their place with a decisive 2-0 victory against Nicaragua.
The new banner and architect of this surprising comeback is Duckens Nazon. He scored six goals in the qualifying phase, including a hat trick in the second half against Costa Rica that earned a decisive point. This soccer globetrotter became co-leader of scorers in the Concacaf qualifiers and is one step away from surpassing Sanon’s scoring record, a milestone that would symbolize the passing of the generational torch after 54 years of waiting.
For many, the last image of Norway in a World Cup is the surprise of France 98. After two draws against Scotland and Morocco, Egil Olsen’s team knew that only an unlikely victory against the all-powerful world champion Brazil would give them a place in the round of 16. And the miracle happened: a spectacular comeback with two goals in the final minutes to defeat Ronaldo and company. The race ended in the eighth, losing by the slightest difference to Italy, but the feat remained recorded.
Few teams arrive at the 2026 North American World Cup with a record as impeccable as Norway’s in their classification. Led by a golden generation, the team did not miss a single point, conquering Group I with overwhelming superiority. His scoring ability was historic, scoring 37 goals, seven of them in his matches against four-time champions Italy.
In 1998, despite having Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Olsen’s choice to lead the attack and direct play was Tore André Flo, Chelsea’s tall forward, who scored the first goal of the comeback against Brazil. Today, Norway’s benchmark has reached global proportions. Although Martin Ødegaard serves as captain and is one of the most creative midfielders of the moment, he himself would recognize that all the attention falls on Erling Haaland. The Manchester City striker, who at 25 has already become Norway’s all-time top scorer, was a force of nature in qualifying, scoring an astonishing 16 goals in eight games. Haaland has dragged his team back to the big world stage, promising a seismic impact.
Scotland has had a complex relationship with the World Cup, with eight previous qualifications always ending in the group stage. Their last appearance at France 98 was no different: they finished last in Group A with a single point, after losing by the slightest difference against Brazil, drawing 1-1 with Norway and being sentenced 0-3 against Morocco.
The qualifying phase for this World Cup was marked by performances that, in general, were considered discreet by their fans. However, the outcome was epic and dramatic. In the final match of the phase, Scotland produced an unforgettable victory over Denmark. A barrage of four goals – three of them high-scoring and two scored in added time – not only gave them the victory, but allowed them to overtake the Danes in the table and finish at the top of the group, an ending they rarely dared to dream of.
On Craig Brown’s 1998 team, there was no talismanic player. John Collins, a talented left-footed midfielder who had just won the French league with Monaco, was perhaps the closest to a leader, scoring the first Scottish goal in that tournament from a penalty, against Brazil.
The hero of this comeback is, without a doubt, Scott McTominay. Become a legend in Naples after being elected the best player in Serie A and lifting the Scudetto in 2025, the midfielder is an idol for the fans. McTominay, who had already been the team’s top scorer in the Euro 2024 qualifying phase with seven goals, demonstrated his power and ability at the most crucial moment. He opened the scoring in the decisive match against Denmark with a stunning bicycle kick, a goal that encapsulates the energy and determination that has returned Scotland to the summit.
The World Cup curtain is ready to rise, not only to crown new champions, but to celebrate the end of these long and emotional waits. The return of Austria, Norway, Scotland and Haiti adds layers of history, passion and hope to what promises to be an unforgettable tournament.
