FAVORITE VS. UNDERDOG: THE MENTAL ADVANTAGES OF BOTH ROLES
The World Championship is approaching. Social media is flooded with predictions, favorite rankings, and medal forecasts. One team is expected to win. Another team is expected to "only surprise." And this is exactly where two completely different psychological worlds begin to emerge: the world of favorites and the world of underdogs. At first glance, being the favorite may seem like a huge advantage. A stronger roster, more experience, higher quality. But the role of a favorite often comes with something we cannot see in statistics or rankings: enormous pressure. An underdog, on the other hand, enters the tournament with fewer expectations from the outside world, and that can become a powerful psychological weapon. Because in sport, success is not determined only by ability. It is also determined by what happens inside an athlete's mind.
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF A FAVORITE: WHEN YOU "HAVE TO WIN"
When a team enters a tournament as the favorite, they do not carry only their own ambitions. They carry the expectations of an entire country, the media, the fans, and even their own locker room. Every mistake becomes more visible. Every lost period feels like a problem. Every failure is immediately followed by criticism. This is where the psychological trap of being a favorite begins. Instead of thinking, "Let's play our game," the mind slowly starts to shift toward, "We cannot fail." And there is a huge difference between these two mindsets. An athlete who competes with the belief that they cannot make a mistake often loses their natural flow, creativity, and courage. They begin to play more cautiously, avoid risks, and lose the freedom that allows them to perform at their best. Pressure does not only affect the body. It affects decision-making. That is why we sometimes see teams that look dominant on paper, but on the ice they appear restricted, heavy, and without their usual spark.
A favorite team often feels pressure not because they believe they are not good enough, but because everyone expects them to succeed. Players are not only facing their opponents. They are also facing the fear of failure. Instead of focusing on the game itself, their attention shifts toward the result, possible criticism, and what will happen if things do not go their way. This is where a Mental Performance Coach becomes essential. For a favorite team, the role of a Mental Performance Coach is primarily about building stability. The goal is not to increase emotions, but to regulate them. They help athletes return to the present moment, focus on the process rather than the outcome, and handle mistakes without unnecessary panic. A Mental Performance Coach may use breathing techniques, reset routines after conceding a goal, short mental anchors between shifts, or individual work with key players who carry the greatest amount of pressure. For favorites, simplicity is often the key. A reminder that the goal is not to win the entire tournament in one game, but to handle the next shift. Because these small moments often decide whether a team stays calm or begins to collapse under pressure.
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF AN UNDERDOG: THE FREEDOM OF HAVING NOTHING TO LOSE
An underdog enters the game from a completely different position. Nobody expects too much from them. Every good moment feels like a bonus, and every surprise becomes a success. Lower expectations can actually free the mind and allow athletes to perform with more courage. Underdogs often play with more freedom, take more risks, are less afraid of making mistakes, and gain confidence with every successful moment. One goal. One great save. One successful power play. Sometimes that is all it takes to completely change the energy of a game. That is why major tournaments are often full of surprises. Not because underdogs always have the better team, but because sometimes they have the freer mind.
However, the role of an underdog also has another side. If respect turns into fear, a team can defeat itself mentally before the opening face-off even begins. Players stop being proactive. They start only reacting. Instead of playing their own game, they become focused on the opponent. This is where a Mental Performance Coach also becomes important. Their role is not to convince the team that they are the best in the world. Their role is to help athletes work with the reality of their situation in the right way. With underdogs, the focus is often on building courage and removing unnecessary fear. The team learns to focus on their own performance rather than the names on the other side and to maintain belief even during difficult moments. The most important work often comes through simple but powerful messages: You do not have to be perfect. You have to be brave. It is not about the opponent's history. It is about this specific game. A Mental Performance Coach can work with visualization of successful situations, team communication, short-term goals during the game, or strengthening positive self-talk. With underdogs, the goal is to maintain energy, courage, and belief throughout the entire game - because that is often where their opportunity is created.
SO WHAT REALLY DECIDES THE OUTCOME?
The interesting thing is that both underdogs and favorites can lose their original roles during a tournament. An underdog starts winning, and suddenly the pressure begins to grow. A favorite struggles early, starts doubting themselves, and their confidence begins to disappear. Roles are not permanent. They are dynamic. They constantly change depending on results and emotions. Neither role guarantees success. Being an underdog brings freedom. Being a favorite brings experience with pressure. True mental strength does not come from the label a team receives. It comes from whether they allow that label to define their performance. Because the biggest games are often decided by the teams that do not lose their identity, even under the greatest pressure.