World Cup 2026 Predictions, Odds & Picks: Who Will Take the Prize?

• 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 will take place in the USA, Canada and Mexico. It will be the first World Cup to be hosted by three countries after the joint-CONCACAF bid beat a rival proposal from Morocco.

This will be the 23rd edition of a tournament which was first held in 1930. Just 13 teams participated in that inaugural competition. In 2026 there will be 48 sides present for the first time, up from 32 in 2022.

The big kick-off for World Cup 2026 is now less than a year away and excitement is starting to build - not least in the USA, which will host the bulk of the matches. Spain are the favorites following their success at Euro 2024, while Brazil’s odds have been cut following Carlo Ancelotti’s appointment as manager.

France possess a wealth of options in virtually every area of the squad, but England have had a tough start under Thomas Tuchel. Argentina are the defending champions and Germany can never be written off, while Portugal won the UEFA Nations League in June. The Netherlands, Italy, Belgium and Uruguay are among the dark horses.

World Cup 2026 Odds

The odds for the winner of the UEFA Nations League 2026 can be found in the table below. The odds have been 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.

For more insights take a look at our list of the best soccer betting sites.

Who Were the World Cup 2022 Winners?

Argentina were the winners 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 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. 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?

FIFA has confirmed that the three co-hosts, the USA, Mexico, and Canada, will automatically qualify for World Cup 2026. There will be three additional spots available for other CONCACAF nations to fight over, with the likes of Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, Haiti, and Jamaica likely to be among the contenders.

Elsewhere, there are eight guaranteed places for Asia, nine for Africa, six for South America, one for Oceania, and 16 for UEFA. The final two spots will be awarded to the winners of inter-confederation play-offs.

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