Dani Olmo has picked out Egypt as one of the teams that most impressed him at the 2026 World Cup, while insisting his ambition at Barcelona is “to win everything” after his recent trophy-laden run with Spain.
The Barcelona and Spain midfielder was reflecting on the tournament in an interview with Spanish newspaper Diari de Terrassa, after helping “La Roja” lift the World Cup by beating Argentina in the final.
Olmo said several teams exceeded expectations in 2026, highlighting Cape Verde as the standout surprise but also singling out Egypt, Paraguay and Norway for praise.
“Cape Verde were the biggest surprise, but Egypt and Paraguay also surprised me,” Olmo said. “I also really liked Norway.”
Egypt’s campaign ended in agonising fashion in the last 16, where they were narrowly beaten 3-2 by eventual runners-up Argentina.
Spain’s World Cup secret: unity over individuals
Spain claimed the World Cup title after an exceptional tournament, going unbeaten and conceding only one goal across the entire competition.
Olmo stressed that collective strength and unity within the Spain camp were decisive in their run to the trophy, arguing that togetherness can be the difference-maker at the very top level.
“The group and teamwork are above everything,” he said. “At the level of the big national teams the margins are very small, so when the team becomes like a family – players, coaching staff and all the workers – that’s what makes the difference.”
The 26-year-old described winning the World Cup as the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition, explaining that Spain’s players felt not just hopeful but fully convinced they had what it took to become champions.
He underlined that belief inside the camp went beyond simple confidence, saying the squad were certain they possessed the quality required to achieve their goal.
After Spain’s treble, focus turns to Barcelona
Olmo’s World Cup triumph comes on the back of an extraordinary spell with the national team, during which he has also lifted the European Championship and the UEFA Nations League in the past three years.
Having completed that major international treble, the midfielder is now looking to replicate the same level of success at club level with Barcelona.
Asked about his objectives with the Catalan side, he made clear that his aims remain as ambitious as ever.
“The goal now is the same as in every season, to win everything with Barcelona and with the national team,” Olmo said.
Competition driving standards at Camp Nou
Olmo also addressed the growing competition for places at Barcelona, with recent signings adding depth and quality to the squad.
He believes those arrivals will only strengthen the team and raise standards across the dressing room.
“Competition always makes the group better,” he said, arguing that internal battles for starting spots are beneficial both for individual players and for Barcelona’s overall level.
While his focus with Spain has delivered an unprecedented sequence of major honours, Olmo’s comments make clear that his attention is now firmly on translating that success to Barcelona – all while keeping an eye on emerging forces such as Egypt, Cape Verde, Paraguay and Norway on the international stage.
