The 2026 FIFA World Cup was meant to be Donald Trump’s grand showcase - the biggest, flashiest, most extravagant tournament in history. But instead, it is slowly becoming the greatest underdog story football has ever seen. From tiny island nations like Cape Verde and Curacao, with populations smaller than Indian towns, to Panama’s redemption run and Haiti’s miracle amid chaos, this tournament is rewriting the very idea of global football. These teams have battled poverty, political instability, diaspora challenges, and decades of invisibility to reach the world’s biggest stage. Yet now they face a new adversary: America’s immigration bans that might keep entire fanbases out of stadiums. Can the “biggest” World Cup truly feel complete if the smallest nations can’t even cheer from the stands? Rupha Ramani gives you the full breakdown.