France enter the 2026 World Cup as one of the favourites to lift the trophy for the second time in eight years.
Les Bleus went all the way in 2018 and came close to consecutive triumphs at Qatar 2022.
Managed by veteran World Cup winner Didier Deschamps, the French boast one of the best squads in international football, spearheaded by skipper Kylian Mbappe and Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele.
Expectations are high and the pressure is on, but despite a poor first half in their opener against Senegal, they sent out a real statement in the second half by sealing a 3-1 win.
Read on for the latest odds, group details, squad news and manager analysis.
Read more: FIFA World Cup Draw: Find out who will play who in 2026
France odds to win the World Cup
France’s odds have shortened to 4/1 with the majority of bookmakers to lift the 2026 World Cup, following that statement win over a talented Senegal team. This makes them outright favourites to be crowned champions.
Les Bleus have reached the last two World Cup finals, winning the tournament in 2018 before suffering a penalty shootout defeat to Argentina in 2022. France could become only the third country to reach three consecutive finals, while victory would secure a third World Cup title.
It is worth noting, however, that France’s two World Cup triumphs did come on European soil
France odds to win Group I
France have been sorted into a difficult-looking Group I, where they will face a stern test of their credentials with matches against Senegal, one of the best sides in Africa, and Erling Haaland’s Norway, who are making their first appearance this century and the IC path 2 winners, Iraq.
Les Bleus have already passed one of those tests, beating a Senegal time stacked with the likes of Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson, Kalidou Koulibaly and more.
Bookmakers have installed France as short-priced 2/5 favourites to top the group, pricing them at a minuscule 1/150 to reach the knockout stages.
The last time France failed to escape the group stage was in 2010, when they collected just one point in a shock early elimination. Historically, little middle ground exists for Les Bleus: across the last seven World Cups, they have reached the final four on four occasions and won twice, but have also endured two group-stage exits in that span.
France stage of elimination odds
As outlined earlier, bookmakers price France at 4/1 to win the World Cup for a third time. Despite that, you can get the shortest odds on them exiting in the round of 16 in the stage-of-elimination markets.
If France top Group I as expected, they would face the best third-place finisher from Groups C, D, F, G or H in the last-32. Victory there could set up a huge last-16 clash with Germany, followed by a potential quarter-final meeting with the Netherlands.
A semi-final showdown with favourites Spain could then await, with the French priced at 9/2 to exit at this stage.
France have reached the final, and lost, in two of the last five World Cups, including Qatar 2022, with this outcome priced at 7/1.
| Stage of Elimination | Odds from Bet365 |
|---|---|
| Quarter-finals | 9/2 |
| Semi-finals | 9/2 |
| Round of 16 | 3/1 |
| Round of 32 | 5/1 |
| Runner-up | 7/1 |
| Winner | 9/2 |
| Group stage | 12/1 |
France World Cup top goalscorer odds
Bookmakers have installed Kylian Mbappé as the 9/4 favourite to win the top goalscorer award at the 2026 World Cup. Those odds have shortened after he netted a brace against Senegal, making him France’s all-time top goalscorer and the third all-time scorer at the World Cup (14).
Mbappe has netted 58 goals for France – overtaking the country’s previous record scorer Olivier Giroud – and boasts a stunning return of 14 goals in 15 World Cup matches across three World Cups. Meanwhile, only Harry Kane (6) bettered Mbappe’s tally in 2018 (4).
Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembele is likely to attract interest at a hefty 50/1 with Betfred. Bayern Munich star Michael Olise is 40/1. Jean-Philippe Mateta, Marcus Thuram and Desire Doue are all available at 50/1, while Bradley Barcola is a 100/1 outsider.
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