So...from most to least likely:
1) POLAND
2) Assyria
3) Portugal
4) The Zulu
5) Native American Civ (The Sioux, The Cherokee, or The Comanche seem to be most likely, possibly The Anasazi, but I would love to see The Inuit)
6) Another African Civ (prob Kongo, possibly Nubia
)) or Ashanti)
7) Brazil
8) Another European Civ (Italy
)), Hungary, Holy Rome, Belgium
mad
)
9) Dark Horse (Majpahit, Timurid, The Khmer, Israel, Phoenicia, Sumer, The Hittites, any excluded from above list)
You may notice the 'Dark Horse' list has many Asian civs; I am unsure if the 'Asia' category is a lock like the others.
On Portugal: Simply too impactful to be excluded; I see them as Europe's last GLARING omission (though I would LOVE to see Italy too)
On The Zulu: They are a civ tradition and I knew there would be more to come after G+K had no Zulu civ. I simply can't see them being excluded.
On Italy: Italy had an immense impact on history from Rome to the Renaissance and beyond and the 'historical merit' factor is THERE. However, this is an amalgamation of the varied Renaissance city-states which shared quite the cultural bond, but if Greece/Macedonia (NOT THE SAME) and Polynesia were mashed together Italy makes just as much sense in this regard.
On Belgium: Belgium had a very small impact on history compared to its neighbors and the only reason it even makes an appearance is the SfA scenario. I simply don't see justification for ANOTHER European civ.
On Native America: I see The Sioux as the best candidate, but I would really be open to all options. The one thing is, more than one new native civ seems to be unnecessary, especially with the Iroquois. The Inuit would be super fun
![[party]](/images/smilies/partytime.gif "Party [party]")
as a SNOW civ, something never seen before. The Anasazi could make an appearance as Mesa Verde CS/Wonder, but a city list could be troublesome.
On Africa: Personally, I see Nubia as the best choice (they conquered Egypt for a century, see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-fifth_Dynasty_of_Egypt 
) and the two are not as similar as many claim. The Kongo seem to be a more popular choice and I would also like to see them but they were less significant in history IMHO.
On Brazil: It isn't as modern as its critics claim: it is a colony as old as the US. Saying Brazil is like Portugal is like equating America with England/Britain, Mexico with Spain, Carthage and Phoenicia, or Belgium and the Congo, to name a few
. Also, it could be a civ focused toward the new aspect of tourism, which Brazil has no shortage of.
On Mesopotamia: Mesopotamia was one of history's most important regions and I never thought Babylon was enough. I would argue for Sumer as it was the 'first' civilization in history and they were in the Ancient Wonders scenario, but it was lots of city-states (not a problem IMHO). The Hittites would be an easy choice but maybe too similar to Assyria and Mesopotamia's kinda crowded esp. if Sumer makes it. I'd vote for Sumer but like both. Phoenicia could be another alternative especially with the expansion's trade theme, but I see Israel as too controversial.
Thoughts?
