The 2026 World Cup will be the biggest ever with an expanded field of 48 countries playing a total of 104 matches. The most spectacular sporting event in the world returns to its traditional summer schedule after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was held in November and December to avoid excessive heat. Host countries United States, Mexico and Canada earned an automatic invitation. Group play begins on Thursday, June 11 with a match between South Africa and Mexico and concludes on Saturday, June 27.
Just like every major sporting event there are multiple ways to bet on the footballers. There is of course the standard outright winner bet with Spain the early favorite to capture its second World Cup crown.
There has been a different winner in each of the last six World Cups with Argentina the defending champs and one of five teams on the early board with shorter than 10/1 odds. The 2026 championship match will be played on Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
The 48 clubs are broken down into 12 groups of four with the top two teams in each group and the eight best third place teams advancing to the knockout stage. Markets are open for each group with odds on a group stage winner as well as the two clubs from each group to advance to the knockout stage. The United States has never played in a championship match reaching the top four just once back at the inaugural World Cup in 1930. The Americans are well down the odds board to win the World Cup outright but could be a solid bet to advance to the knockout stage.
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2026 FIFA World Cup Odds at Bookmaker
Spain +485
France +535
England +605
Brazil +870
Argentina +870
Portugal +1100
Germany +1500
Netherlands +2500
Norway +3100
Belgium +4500
Colombia +4500
USA +5250
Morocco +6000
Japan +6000
Uruguay +7500
Mexico +9000
Switzerland +9000
Turkey +9000
Croatia +9500
Ecuador +12000
Senegal +12000
Sweden +12500
Canada +17000
Austria +17500
All other countries listed at +20000 and higher
2026 World Cup Favorites
Spain +485
A dominant showing in Euro 2024 where the Spaniards won all 7 matches outscoring opponents 15-4 set the stage for a spectacular run. Spain carries a 28-match unbeaten streak into a June friendly with Peru ahead of the World Cup. The core of the team remains together with a blend of experienced talent like Rodri and youthful exuberance shown by Lamine Yamal. The fast, aggressive attack coordinated by manager Luis de la Fuente works because of superior depth and unmatched midfield quality.
France +535
Having experienced success and deep runs in the last two World Cups has France back in the hunt. Navigating the extended Cup format takes depth, and France is among the deepest in the field with some pundits calling them stronger than Spain. France won their second World Cup in 2018 beating Croatia 4-2 and returned to the title game in 2022 falling to Argentina on penalty kicks. The unmatched offensive talents of Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele put France in the mix for another title.
Argentina +870
England and Brazil both have experienced rosters and are considered strong contenders. However defending champion Argentina slides into this spot following their 2024 Copa America win. Even without Lionel Messi the Argentines are more than capable with the core of the 2022 championship team on board. Few national teams have had the continuity at the top with Lionel Scaloni leading the team to multiple titles while considered among the best tactical coaches in the game. Messi has yet to confirm his participation in the World Cup, but according to sources the team expects him to play.
2026 World Cup Long Shots
USA +5250
Playing on home soil and backed by the positive enthusiasm of new coach Mauricio Pochettino makes Team USA worth a look. Listed in the middle of the pack on the early odds board it’ll be a challenge for the Americans to win the World Cup. Inconsistent form recently hasn’t helped the squad. They lost friendlies last month to Belgium and Portugal and top attacker Christian Pulisic is in a slump. He hasn’t scored in eight straight Team USA matches and the squad badly needs him in top form.
Norway +3100
Not as deep as the favorites any damage to the roster will impact Norway’s realistic chances of winning the World Cup. What they do have is an elite attacking team that was on display in strong qualification matches. EPL star Erling Haaland can put the ball in the net and Martin Odegaard is a world class playmaker. The team has improved significantly under coach Stale Solbakken, but a suspect defense could be penetrated by world class opponents.
Turkey +9000
In a way Turkey has already won by returning to the World Cup after a 24-year absence. But I don’t think the team is going to stop there. While not among the favorites, many insiders consider Turkey a strong dark-horse contender with a blend of youth and experience. They qualified by overcoming the European playoffs forging a strong team identity led by young stars Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz.
2026 World Cup Prediction: France
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