As the Marvel Cinematic Universe grew over the course of the decade-long Infinity Saga, the shared continuity primarily focused on the formation of teams like the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy, who joined forces in the climactic Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame to take on the threat of Thanos.

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As the MCU prepares to explore new stories in a world without those same Avengers, a number of clues as well as possible story rumors have pointed towards a few other Marvel teams that could arrive in the next phases of the MCU to join upcoming groups like the Eternals and Fantastic Four, which we'll be exploring further today.

10 The Champions Of Xandar Assembled To Defend Their Home Planet

Marvel's Champions of Xandar

While there are other versions of the Champions in the Marvel universe that include new MCU heroes like Ms. Marvel, the version that is currently more likely given the revealed story points of the MCU are the Champions of Xandar, a team that formed around the young Earth hero Richard Rider/Nova.

Xandar and the Nova Corps first appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy, though Xandar was revealed to have later been destroyed by Thanos. This could potentially lead to Rider's debut as the surviving Nova, who returned to their home planet alongside other powered survivors - Powerhouse, Comet, Protector, Crime-Buster and Diamondhead - to form the Xandarian Champions.

9 Members Of The Young Avengers Have Already Appeared In The MCU

Marvel's Young Avengers

The Young Avengers - Patriot, Wiccan, Hulking, Stature, Kate Bishop and later Speed - were brought together by Iron Lad based on their abilities and unrevealed connections to the Avengers, which he determined using stolen files from the future. Iron Lad was actually the teenaged version of Kang the Conqueror, who will appear in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. 

Stature is actually Cassie Lang, who will also return for the third Ant-Man movie, while Wiccan and Speed also recently appeared as Billy and Tommy Maximoff on WandaVision. Kate Bishop will also be appearing on the upcoming Hawkeye series on Disney+, which further teases the arrival of the Young Avengers in the MCU.

8 Previously Established MCU Villains Could Return As The Masters of Evil

Baron Zemo and his Masters of Evil

The Avengers was a grouping of Marvel's most powerful superheroes, so it only made sense that the villains would catch on and form up together, which led to the debut of the recurring threat known as the Masters of Evil.

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The first roster of the villainous team was put together by Baron Zemo, who will be returning on Disney+'s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. There are a number of MCU villains like Abomination and Ghost who could join Zemo to form the MCU's very own Masters of Evil, so hopefully, there will be an Avengers team of some kind to challenge them.

7 The Exiles Are A Team Of Alternate Reality Heroes Who Repair The Multiverse

Marvel's multiversal Exiles

There have been a couple of versions of the Exiles team that have appeared over the years, though most share the same goal of repairing events in damaged alternate realities in order to prevent the destruction of the multiverse.

The upcoming Spider-Man 3 is rumored to introduce multiversal elements while Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness promises the same, so it's possible the Exiles could make their appearance in the MCU, especially since one roster of the team includes a version of the MCU's Valkyrie.

6 Norman Osborn Put Together His Own Villainous Team Of Dark Avengers

Marvel's Dark Avengers

While Norman Osborn/Green Goblin may be better known as one of Spider-Man's main villains, he did play a major part in the Secret Invasion storyline's battle with the Skrulls, which will be adapted as an upcoming Disney+ series. Osborn was made the new Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. which gave him the resources to assemble his own team of Dark Avengers.

Villains like Bullseye, Moonstone, Venom, and Daken masqueraded as Hawkeye, Captain Marvel, Spider-Man and Wolverine while Osborn suited up as Iron Patriot to lead the team. With the current state of the MCU Avengers unknown, it's possible Zemo could take Osborn's place, or Osborn himself could be introduced to take advantage of their absence and replace them.

5 Marvel's Powerful Illuminati Secretly Attempted To Manipulate Cosmic Events

Iron Man and Marvel's Illuminati

The secretive Illuminati first formed shortly after the events of the Kree/Skrull War, as it was revealed that the different leaders of Marvel's various factions each had important information that could have helped prevent the danger that almost befell Earth.

Iron Man, Mister Fantastic, Doctor Strange, Black Bolt, Namor the Sub-Mariner and Professor Xavier were on the initial roster as they attempted to manipulate events that ultimately caused more problems, including Secret Invasion. While Iron Man has died in the MCU and other characters have yet to appear, there have been other versions of the secretive cabal that could still appear.

4 The Midnight Sons Worked With The Darkhold Redeemers Against Supernatural Threats

Marvel's Midnight Sons and the Darkhold Redeemers

The mystical book known as the Darkhold was recently officially introduced to the MCU on WandaVision, which unlocked a number of potential supernatural threats for the MCU to face in the next phases, including vampires which could lead to the possible introduction of Mahershala Ali as Blade in the previously announced reboot.

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Blade worked with multiple teams in the comics including the Darkstalkers, who then formed the Midnight Sons alongside characters like Ghost Rider, Morbius, and Doctor Strange. The Midnight Sons also worked with the Darkhold Redeemers to stop the dark prophecies of the Darkhold, which could be something the future MCU needs to prepare for in the next phases.

3 The Thunderbolts Were A Team Of Villains Disguised As Heroes That Eventually Reformed

Marvel's Thunderbolts

Following the Onslaught event that led to the sacrifice of Marvel's greatest heroes like the Avengers and the Fantastic Four, a new team of costumed heroes known as the Thunderbolts appeared to fill the void and keep New York City safe. They soon won the public's trust, though it was revealed that the Thunderbolts were actually a disguised roster of Masters of Evil formed by Baron Zemo.

While Zemo planned to use their newfound trust to take over the world, the rest of the Thunderbolts were changed by their heroic lives and rebelled on Zemo in an attempt to reform. Both Hawkeye and Winter Soldier have led the Thunderbolts in the comics, and the MCU has always attempted to reform villains when possible which could help bring the team into the MCU.

2 Captain Marvel And Monica Rambeau's Work In Space Could Tease Alpha Flight's Debut

Captain Marvel and Alpha Flight

Captain Marvel 2 has been announced for a while, though no details have been revealed about the sequel. However, it's likely to take place in space as Avengers: Endgame revealed she still spent her time helping other planets. It's also likely to tie in with Nick Fury's adventures in space with the Skrulls in Secret Invasion that was teased in Spider-Man: Far From Home.

WandaVision then teased Monica Rambeau's future in space alongside Fury that could reunite her with Captain Marvel. That could lead to the debut of Alpha Flight, which started as a Canadian superteam that included members like Puck, Sasquatch and Aurora before it was refitted as a space defense organization led by Captain Marvel and S.W.O.R.D.'s Abigail Brand.

1 They Could Also Form The MCU's Version Of The Cosmic Defenders Known As The Ultimates

Captain Marvel and the Ultimates

Carol Danvers and Monica Rambeau's friendship in the comics led them to work together on a couple of teams, though it was the incredibly powerful grouping of characters known as the Ultimates that are most likely to make their appearance in the MCU in some form.

While the team's main founder Black Panther might not be able to be included given the death of Chadwick Boseman. both Captain Marvel and Rambeau/Spectrum worked on the team alongside America Chavez (who will make her MCU debut in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) and Dr. Adam Brashear/Blue Marvel, who would be another great addition to the MCU.

NEXT: 10 Best Marvel Stories To Read In Preparation For The Falcon And The Winter Soldier Series