wsn-newsletter

2026 World Cup Winner Predictions: Who Will Take the Prize?

Updated: February 12, 2026, 10:29 AM ET
4 min read

World Cup 2026 is fast approaching as 48 national teams from all four corners of the globe get ready to descend on the USA, Canada, and Mexico this summer. Excitement is beginning to build as the big kick-off gets ever closer.

The draw for World Cup 2026 was held late last year, so we now know who will be facing whom in the group stage. Spain, England and France are among the leading European contenders, while Brazil and Argentina will hope to take the trophy back to South America.

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

🏆 Our Top Choice
Image for Sleeper Sleeper
CODE: WSNSLEEP  
Claim Now
21+ Terms and Conditions Apply.
  • 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

World Cup 2026 Winner Odds

The odds for the winner of the World Cup 2026 are taken from the bet365 sportsbook. Register at bet365 with our promo code WSN365 and claim the following welcome bonus: Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose.

Read more about this promo in our bet365 Sportsbook review.

TeamOdds
Spain+450
BET HERE
England+550
BET HERE
France+800
BET HERE
Brazil+800
BET HERE
Argentina+800
BET HERE
Portugal+1100
BET HERE
Germany+1200
BET HERE
Netherlands+2000
BET HERE
Norway+2500
BET HERE
Italy+3300
BET HERE
Belgium+3300
BET HERE
Colombia+5000
BET HERE
Uruguay+6600
BET HERE
Mexico+6600
BET HERE
USA+8000
BET HERE
Morocco+8000
BET HERE

For more betting opportunities, take a look at our list of the best World Cup betting sites.

Best 2026 World Cup Betting Site Bonuses

How We Rate
Affiliate Disclaimer
21+

Biggest Payouts

Sleeper 1

Sleeper

4.2/5

Verified in February
Sleeper Review

$100 Deposit Match

CODE: WSNSLEEP
Claim Now

21+ Terms and Conditions Apply.

Show more Information arrow
Betr 2

Betr

3.8/5

Verified in February
Betr Review

$200 Deposit Match + $10 on Signup

CODE: BETRWSN
Claim Now

21+ T&Cs Apply

Show more Information arrow
FanDuel 3

FanDuel

4.5/5

Verified in February
FanDuel Review

100% Deposit Match up to $100

21+ | Min Deposit $10. T&Cs apply

Show more Information arrow
OwnersBox 4

OwnersBox

4.5/5

Verified in February
OwnersBox Review

$100 Deposit Match Bonus

Show more Information arrow
Wanna Parlay 5

Wanna Parlay

4.1/5

Verified in February
Wanna Parlay Review

Deposit Match up to $250

CODE: WSNPLAY
Claim Now
Show more Information arrow
World Cup 2026 Predictions Odds

World Cup 2026 Team USA Odds

In the table below, you can find the latest odds for the USMNT at the World Cup 2026, courtesy of bet365 sportsbook. Bet on Team USA at bet365 and claim your bonus: Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose.

Stage of EliminationOdds
Group Stage+333
BET HERE
Round of 32+187
BET HERE
Round of 16+275
BET HERE
Quarter-finals+450
BET HERE
Semi-finals+900
BET HERE
Runner-up+3300
BET HERE
Winner+8000
BET HERE

World Cup 2026 Predictions

Brazil looks like the best bet to win World Cup 2026. A Seleção squad is never short of talent, but this roster has the added bonus of the managerial skills of Carlo Ancelotti, who is an expert at coaching star-studded sides. Brazil can add a sixth star to their jerseys this summer.

Bet $5 at bet365 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets

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.

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.

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

tip_r

Responsible Gambling

If you or someone you know needs support or wants to speak with a professional about responsible gambling, seek out the correct resources. Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER to get help, or visit 1800gambler.net for more information. WSN is an advocate for safe gambling practices. Visit our Responsible Gambling Center for more details.

Greg Lea WSN Contributors

Greg Lea

Soccer Betting Analyst

Expertise:
Premier League
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
Favourite Sportsbook: bet365 Sportsbook
Favourite Casino: BetMGM Casino
Experience: 10 years
We've been featured on:
espn logo
reuters logo
cbs-news logo
forbes logo
entrepreneur logo
entrepreneur logo
We only list licensed sportsbooks

We support responsible gambling. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. If you need help, call 1-800-Gambler, players in Washington to contact 1-800-547-6133.

WSN.com is managed by Gentoo Media. Unless declared otherwise, all of the visible content on this site, such as texts and images, including the brand name and logo, belongs to Innovation Labs Limited (a Gentoo Media company) - Company Registration Number C44130, VAT ID: MT18874732, Quad Central, Q4 Level 14, Central Business District, Triq L-Esportaturi, Birkirkara, CBD 1040, Malta.

Advertising Disclosure: WSN.com contains links to partner websites. When a visitor to our website clicks on one of these links and makes a purchase at a partner site, World Sports Network is paid a commission.

Copyright © 2026