The battle for global football supremacy continues in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
The 2026 World Cup finals are being staged across 16 venues in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with 48 teams split into 12 groups of four competing for the right to be crowned world champions.
Already the odds have altered though, with Spain being replaced by France as favourites with many of the bookmakers after a shock 0-0 draw with Cape Verde in Atlanta. The French secured a 3-1 win over Senegal, while holders Argentina also began with bang after Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 victory over Algeria.
The likes of Sweden and USA on the other hand have seen their odds shorten after thumping victories in their opening games.
Check out the latest World Cup winner odds and outright betting offers below.
The latest World Cup 2026 outright odds
Who will win the 2026 World Cup?
France
France have been installed as the new favourites to lift the trophy for the second time in eight years following a combination of their opening win over Senegal and spain’s shock draw to Cape Verde.
France came so close to retaining the trophy in Qatar, ultimately falling at the final hurdle against Argentina, despite Kylian Mbappe’s hat-trick.
Les Bleus did, of course, win the trophy in 2018, and their squad packs star quality and incredible strength in depth. Not only is there the captain, the phenomenal Mbappe, but even more incredible young talent now supplements the Real Madrid superstar, thanks to the emergence of Rayan Cherki, Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue.
In Didier Deschamps, they possess a manager who has experience and knowhow in international tournaments, and he ensures that experience continues out on the field with a healthy helping of players from the successful 2018 squad that continue to feature on a regular basis.
Group stage opponents: Senegal (20:00; 16 June), Iraq (22:00; 22 June), Norway (20:00; 26 June)
Spain
Spain’s odds have lengthened a tough afetr they were remarkably held to a goalless draw by debutants Cape Verde.
However, given their performance in winning at Euro 2024, we can’t rule them out just yet. This seems to be one of the more cohesive international teams of recent seasons, able to combine tactical intelligence with ingenuity in attack.
Of course, Lamine Yamal is the star boy for La Roja, and all eyes will be on the 18-year-old at his first World Cup. But he isn’t a lone ranger in this Spain outfit by any stretch of the imagination, as fellow Barca youngsters Pedri, Gavi and Pau Cubarsi will support him, among a host of other talented players.
The majority of this Spain squad played under head coach Luis de la Fuente at youth level, and that seems to have created an understanding and togetherness that can rarely be matched on the international stage. Expect La Roja to be very difficult to overcome in North America.
Group stage opponents: Cape Verde (17:00; 15 June), Saudi Arabia (17:00; 21 June), Uruguay (01:00; 27 June)
England
It’s been a case of what ifs and near misses for England in recent international tournaments as they’ve reached the quarter-final stage as a minimum in each of their last four campaigns under Gareth Southgate — including back-to-back European Championship finals. But there’s a new man at the helm as the Three Lions head to North America next summer.
Thomas Tuchel’s reign had an underwhelming start but has been gathering pace, and the Three LIons won all eight of their qualifying matches without conceding a goal.
There’s endless talent in the English ranks, but the most impressive thing about Tuchel so far has been the simplicity. He’s just put good players in their best positions, rather than trying to make allowances to force a star name into the lineup.
Having reached the final of the last two European Championships and failed to win either of them, the long-suffering England faithful will be hoping their long wait for an international trophy is finally set to come to an end in 2026.
Group stage opponents: Croatia (21:00; 17 June), Ghana (21:00; 23 June), Panama (22:00; 27 June)
Argentina
Argentina can be backed at 8/1 in the betting to win the World Cup this summer. Not only are they the reigning champions, but they’ve absolutely dominated Conmebol qualifying.
Lionel Scaloni remains in charge, and Lionel Messi, who scored a hat-trick against Algeria in their opening game, retains the captain’s armband.
Aside from Messi, there may be question marks over an ageing squad ahead of this World Cup as the likes of Nicolas Otamendi and Leandro Paredes are now the wrong side of 30 as well. But some supremely talented younger players will supplement them, including Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez and Real Madrid’s Franco Mastantuono – a potential breakout star of the tournament.
Group stage opponents: Algeria (02:00; 17 June), Austria (18:00; 22 June), Jordan (03:00; 28 June)
Brazil
It’s a new era for Brazil under former Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, and although the Selecao now have a manager with an undeniable pedigree, it seems a stretch that the bookmakers have installed them as fourth-favourites at this stage, given their difficulties during qualifying for the tournament.
Brazil finished fifth in Conmebol qualifying, 10 points adrift of leaders Argentina – though only one behind Ecuador in second. Defeat to Argentina and a draw against Venezuela at home and away defeats against Uruguay, Paraguay and Colombia were among the most disappointing results – though the 4-1 beating in Buenos Aires in March undoubtedly burned hottest.
The Selecao didn’t get their campaign off to the best of starts, drawing 1-1 with Morocco at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. They’ll expect to progress to the next round without any more issues though, with Haiti and Scotland still to come.
Group stage opponents: Morocco (13 June, Final Score: 1-1), Haiti (01:30; 20 June), Scotland (23:00; 24 June)
Portugal
Roberto Martinez will be hoping 2026 is the year he can finally lead Portugal to World Cup glory. The Selecao have demonstrated their capability for getting over the line, having won their second Nations League title last year.
Given the stature of their nation and the quality players they have produced over the years, Portugal’s World Cup record is surprisingly modest. Though Eusebio led them to a third-place finish on debut in 1966, only since 2002 have they been ever-presents at the finals. Their other World Cup semi-final appearance came in 2006 – albeit, another year ending in the number six. Could that prove a positive omen for them in their quest to go those extra couple of steps?
Their squad absolutely brims with world-class players, Champions League winners and league title winners. Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leao, Goncalo Ramos, Vitinha, Joao Neves, Ruben Dias – the list goes on. But all eyes will be on the evergreen Cristiano Ronaldo who, at 41, is set for his sixth crack at the World Cup – and what he hopes will be the one which finally proves successful.
Group stage opponents: DR Congo (18:00; 17 June), Uzbekistan (18:00; 23 June), Colombia (00:30; 28 June)
Germany
Germany were unable to give their supporters a trophy to celebrate on home soil at Euro 2024, but their run to the quarter-finals did at least feel like progress after back-to-back group stage exits at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, either side of a round-of-16 defeat to England at Euro 2020.
Julian Nagelsmann has brought a more effective pressing plan to Die Mannschaft, but their performances at the Nations League finals in June, where they fell to defeats against both Portugal and France, suggest they still have some work to do in order to compete with the very best.
Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala and Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz will be the two players expected to carry German hopes on their shoulders, but some of the more experienced members of the squad, like Leon Goretzka and captain Joshua Kimmich, will bring their own qualities to an undeniably talented squad.
Group stage opponents: Curacao (18:00; 14 June), Ivory Coast (21:00; 20 June), Ecuador (21:00; 25 June)
