The article explores how teams that didn't win the World Cup can still achieve success through overperformance.It highlights historical examples like France (1998) and Italy (2006), which exceeded expectations despite not lifting the trophy.Modern overachievers such as Croatia and Uruguay, with small populations, consistently finish in the top ten.

The 2026 tournament saw record-breaking performances, including Cabo Verde's historic run, where they defeated top-ranked teams like Spain and Uruguay.The piece also discusses the financial rewards of participating, with prize money reaching a record $871 million.Smaller nations like Cabo Verde benefited significantly, with their $23 million payout representing 0.75% of their GDP.

The article emphasizes that success in the World Cup isn't solely defined by winning, but also by exceeding expectations and creating memorable moments.