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2026 World Cup Predictions: Who Will Take the Trophy?

Updated: April 28, 2026, 07:00 AM ET
5 min read

World Cup 2026 is fast approaching and excitement is beginning to build in North America and beyond. We now know the identity of the 48 countries that will compete in the USA, Canada and Mexico this summer, as the world’s best national teams contest the biggest World Cup of all time.

Who will win the tournament? France, England and Spain look like three of the strongest sides from Europe, but Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal are also in the mix. As ever, Brazil and Argentina will aim to go far, while potential dark horses include Uruguay, Belgium, Norway, Colombia and Japan.

In this guide to World Cup 2026, we have taken a look at the latest betting odds, shared our top World Cup predictions, and provided all the must-know information about the upcoming tournament.

🏆 Our Top Choice
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  • World Cup 2026 will take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico

  • This will be the 23rd edition of the tournament and the first to feature 48 teams

  • Brazil, France, Spain, England, and Argentina are among the contenders to win

2026 World Cup Winner Predictions Odds

The odds for the winner of the World Cup 2026 are taken from the Caesars Sportsbook. Sign up for a Caesars account and claim your bonus using WSNDYW promo code: Bet $1, Double Your Winnings 10x

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TeamOdds
Spain+400
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France+600
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England+625
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Brazil+800
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Argentina+850
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Portugal+1200
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Germany+1200
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Netherlands+2200
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Norway+3000
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Belgium+3500
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Colombia+4000
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USA+5000
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World Cup 2026 Predictions Odds

World Cup 2026 Team USA Odds to Win

In the table below, you can find the latest odds for the USMNT at the World Cup, courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Bet on Team USA at BetMGM and claim your bonus: Get Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets*.

Stage of EliminationOdds
Group Stage+500
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Round of 32+130
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Round of 16+250
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Quarter-finals+500
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Semi-finals+1200
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Runner-up+3300
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Winner+4000
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World Cup 2026 Winner Predictions

France look like the best bet to win World Cup 2026. They have the most strength in depth of all 48 qualified teams, and Didier Deschamps knows what it takes to lead a team through a knockout tournament having taken France to the last two finals (winning one and losing the other).

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Who Were the World Cup 2022 Winners?

Argentina was the winner of the World Cup 2022. The Albiceleste lost their first match of the tournament, suffering a shock 2-1 defeat by Saudi Arabia. They proceeded to beat Mexico and Poland to finish top of their group, before eliminating Australia in the round of 16.

Argentina overcame the Netherlands on penalties in the quarter-finals and then beat Croatia 3-0 in the last four. A 2-2 draw after extra time in the final against France led to another shoot-out, which Lionel Scaloni’s side won 4-2.

France topped their group ahead of Australia, Tunisia, and Denmark. A 3-1 victory over Poland preceded a 2-1 defeat of England, before les Bleus booked their spot in the final with a 2-0 triumph over Morocco in the semis.

Which Teams Have Been Most Successful at the World Cup?

World Cup WinnersVictoriesMost Recent Victory
Brazil52002
Germany/West Germany42014
Italy42006
Argentina32022
Uruguay21950
France22018
Spain12010
England11966

Who Will Host the 2026 World Cup?

In June 2018, the USA, Canada, and Mexico were named hosts of World Cup 2026. They received 134 votes, while the rival bid from Morocco got 65. There were three abstentions and one non-vote.

FIFA had previously banned co-hosts after the World Cup 2002, which took place in Japan and South Korea. However, the expansion of the tournament to 48 teams necessitated a review of that policy.

Sixteen host cities have been chosen for World Cup 2026: two in Canada, three in Mexico, and 11 in the USA.

This is the fourth time the World Cup will be hosted in the region. Mexico staged the competition in 1970 and 1986, while the USA won the rights in 1994.

How Will the World Cup 2026 Work?

World Cup 2026 will be the first edition to feature 48 teams. Because of this, it also includes a special new World Cup 48-team bracket pairing. Those sides will be divided into 12 groups of four, and the top two in each section will advance to the knockout stage along with the eight third-place finishers with the best records.

A round of 32 will then follow, before the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place play-off and final. The total number of games will rise from 64 to 104, and the finalists will end up playing one more match than they did in the 32-team tournaments from 1998 to 2022.

To seamlessly accommodate these additional knockout rounds, the World Cup schedule has been stretched across an extended 39-day window.

Will the USA Be in the 2026 World Cup?

The three co-hosts, the USA, Mexico and Canada, automatically qualified for World Cup 2026. The USMNT will be hoping to reach the knockout phase of the tournament for a second edition in a row, having reached the round of 16 in 2022. With matches spread across North America,

How to Watch World Cup 2026 on TV

  • Dates: June 11, 2026 - July 19, 2026

  • Location: USA, Mexico, and Canada

  • How to Watch: Fox Sports, Telemundo

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Greg Lea WSN Contributors

Greg Lea

Soccer Betting Analyst

Expertise:
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Champions League
Bundesliga
La Liga
Betting Picks
Greg Lea is a freelance soccer journalist from London. He is the former editor of The Set Pieces, and has contributed to the Guardian, FourFourTwo, and ESPN. A Crystal Palace fan, he is a long-time subscriber to the belief that it's the taking part that counts.
Email: greg.lea@wsn.com
Nationality: American
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Politics
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