2026 World Cup Odds: Who Will Take the Trophy?

World Cup 2026 Winner Odds

Our Top Pick: France

When analyzing the current World Cup winner odds, France stands out as the best pick to win the competition. Winners in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, les Bleus know what it takes to go far at this tournament. They have strength in depth in every part of the pitch, while Didier Deschamps is an experienced manager at international level.

Top World Cup 2026 Contender Breakdown:

• Spain (+450): Leading the World Cup 2026 betting odds favorites. Spain are the reigning European champions and their possession-based style will allow them to dominate many matches this summer.

• France (+450): France have extraordinary strength in depth throughout their roster, and in Didier Deschamps they have a manager who knows what it takes to negotiate knockout tournaments. They deserve to be joint-favorites.

• England (+650): England have made huge strides over the last eight years, and are now looking to take the final step by winning a major trophy. Thomas Tuchel is an elite coach who makes England more competitive.

• Brazil (+800): Brazil have not even reached the semi-finals of an overseas World Cup since their last victory in 2002. Their squad is hugely talented and Carlo Ancelotti is one of the best managers of his generation.

• Argentina (+800): The defending champions are aiming to make it back-to-back World Cup triumphs. The fifth-favorites in the betting markets at present, they will not give up the trophy without a fight.

• Germany & Portugal (+900): This is not one of the strongest Germany squads we have ever seen, but Julian Nagelsmann will not mind the reduced pressure on his side. Portugal’s traveling party contains a significant amount of quality in virtually every part of the field.

Odds to Reach World Cup Final

It will not be a surprise to learn that the top seven teams who dominate World Cup predictions are the top seven teams to reach the World Cup final.

World Cup 2026 Underdogs to Reach Final Breakdown

Now, we have already analyzed the top contenders, so let's look at some World Cup teams that can surprise us and may actually reach the final..

• Belgium & Netherlands: Not many 2026 FIFA World Cup predictions mention Belgium, but the draw was kind to them and they have some talented players in their squad. The Netherlands will not concede many goals, which could help them reach the latter stages.

• Norway: With Erling Haaland leading the line, Norway are capable of going far this summer. This is their first World Cup of the 21st century, but the Norwegians do not intend to merely make up the numbers in North America.

• Colombia & Ecuador: Ecuador finished second in South American qualifying, outperforming everyone but Argentina. They are solid at the back and will be tough to play against. Colombia are possible challengers too, especially if Luis Diaz is in form.

• Uruguay: Two-time World Cup winners, Uruguay have a track record of punching above their weight. They will play a brand of high-pressing, dynamic soccer under their manager Marcelo Bielsa.

• USA & Croatia: With home advantage on their side, the USA are dreaming of a successful summer in front of their own fans. Croatia have reached the semi-finals in the last two World Cups, so they should be taken seriously at this tournament too.

Dark Horse World Cup Betting Odds

Our Top Dark Horse Pick: Japan

In any comprehensive set of World Cup 2026 predictions, finding a high-value dark horse is essential. Japan is arguably the best national team on the planet outside of Europe and South America. They play an eye-catching brand of technical soccer, and after beating Spain and Germany at the last tournament, their World Cup odds 2026 make them a highly attractive outside pick.

Keep an Eye On:

• Turkey: Vincenzo Montella has done a terrific job in charge of Turkey, leading them to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals. With a favorable draw in Group D, the Crescent-Stars have a highly realistic path to the knockout stage, with dreams of replicating their run to the last four of World Cup 2002.

Outright Winners of Group Stages

When looking beyond the tournament champion, the World Cup 2026 group winner odds offer another exciting market to explore. The teams that finish first and second will automatically advance to the round of 32, along with the eight third-place finishers with the best overall records.

The table below reveals our predicted winner for each of the 12 groups at the tournament, alongside their current prices to finish at the top of the table.

Host Nation Team Chances

The current World Cup betting odds show the USA as the likeliest North American champion, followed by Mexico, and then Canada. All three teams were placed in Pot One ahead of the draw, ensuring easier group matchups.

• USA: Mauricio Pochettino’s side have improved in the last 12 months, and their offense looks particularly dangerous. The USA will also benefit from the fact that the vast majority of matches are being played on their turf.

• Mexico: This is the third time World Cup games will be held in Mexico, after 1970 and 1986. El Tri will have their fanatical supporters behind them, but this is not a vintage Mexican roster. 

• Canada: The least favored of the trio, but Jesse Marsch has made Canada tougher to play against during his time as their head coach. They are outsiders overall, but a first win at the World Cup is eminently achievable

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?

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 eleven 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