As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, we\u2019ve been taking a look at some of the notable teams and players of tournaments past in our special warm-up series, and in this feature, the competition\u2019s most impactful debutants are under the microscope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year, players from Jordan, Uzbekistan, Cape Verde and Curacao will sing their national anthems and play at the World Cup for the first time ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make no mistake, their appearances this summer will be significant historical moments for each of those new qualifying nations, and while they are unlikely to feature in any World Cup winner odds comparison<\/a>, their presence on international football\u2019s biggest stage will still be celebrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If Jordan, Uzbekistan, Cape Verde or Curacao need any extra inspiration, then they have several trailblazing counterparts to draw it from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the last century, a number of first-time World Cup qualifiers have made incredible instant impacts, creating lasting memories that are still recounted with fondness today. Let\u2019s take a look at some of them now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ukraine finally emerged from the post-Soviet breakup to qualify for their first-ever World Cup in 2006, having topped their tricky qualification section ahead of Turkey, Denmark and Greece in the UEFA region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coached by the vastly experienced Oleg Blokhin, Ukraine\u2019s squad was largely made up of players from the country\u2019s top domestic division, however, in AC Milan\u2019s Ballon d\u2019Or winner, Andriy Shevchenko, they had one of the planet\u2019s best players at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Placed in Group H alongside Spain, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia, the Ukrainians were presented with a favourable-looking route to the knockout phase, and they rebounded brilliantly from a heavy 4-0 defeat to La Roja on matchday one to finish second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ukraine danced to a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia on matchday two and booked their place in the next round with a 1-0 victory over Tunisia in their third group game, thanks to a crucial second-half penalty from Shevchenko.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Advancing to the Round of 16, they faced Switzerland in a tense, tactical and ultimately goalless affair, though they held firm in the subsequent penalty shootout, recovering from Shevchenko\u2019s early miss, to prevail. That was the first time Ukraine had won a knockout match at a major international tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The quarter-final against eventual champions Italy proved a step too far, ending in a 3-0 defeat, but reaching the last eight on their debut was a remarkable achievement for a nation still building its football identity, and really, Ukraine were in bonus territory by then, surpassing all expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re looking around for where to bet on World Cup 2026<\/a>, you\u2019ll have noticed Ukraine\u2019s absence from the markets. They have failed to qualify for every World Cup since their tournament debut, making their achievements in 2006 all the more remarkable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n5. Ukraine (2006) \u2013 Quarter-Finals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n