Norway: Norway tops the ranking of AI-identified dark horses for the 2026 World Cup with 548 mentions, according to an analysis by media monitoring and PR firm APA-Comm, released Monday.

According to APA-Comm, Japan, with 547 mentions, and Morocco, with 529 mentions, follow closely behind, almost tied. Colombia and Ecuador rank fourth and fifth, with 357 and 288 mentions, respectively, while Austria holds the sixth position with 242 mentions.

The study involved leading AI models like ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, and Perplexity, which were presented with a catalog of 25 questions about potential dark horse teams every other day over a three-week period. Top favorites for the title were deliberately excluded from this analysis.

The AI models consistently identify both Norway and Japan as teams with the potential to surprise established football powerhouses. For Norway, the focus is primarily on the individual talent surrounding Erling Haaland and the team’s strong qualifying campaign. Japan impresses the AI systems with its tactical discipline, technical skill, and quick transitions.

Morocco also ranks highly as the current Africa Cup of Nations champion, joining Norway and Japan at the top of the AI dark horse list for the 2026 World Cup.

According to APA-Comm, the results indicate that generative AI systems do not always provide a consistent picture. Their responses offer insights into which images, terms, and weightings emerge, and how these shape the perception and prioritization of topics.

“AI results must always be viewed critically and contextualized, as AI systems are prone to hallucinations,” the company said.