The World Cup, international football’s showpiece event, returns in 2026 with 48 teams competing across 16 venues in the USA, Canada and Mexico for the right to be crowned world champions.
An expanded tournament of 48 teams split into 12 groups of four will kick off on June 11, with co-hosts Mexico playing against 2010 hosts South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City — one of only two venues to have previously hosted two World Cup finals.
Will Argentina retain their crown with Lionel Messi earning a second World Cup winners’ medal? Will there be a new challenger to the throne in the shape of Lamine Yamal and Spain? Can Kylian Mbappe lead France to victory after their heartbreaking defeat in the final last time out? Check the latest World Cup winner odds below.
The latest World Cup 2026 outright odds
Who will win the 2026 World Cup?
Spain
As things stand, Spain are the favourites to lift the trophy at World Cup 2026, and given their performance at Euro 2024, it’s not difficult to see why. 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 he’ll be supported by fellow Barca youngsters Pedri, Gavi and Pau Cubarsi, 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)
France
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 is packed with star quality and incredible strength in depth. Not only is there the captain, the phenomenal Mbappe, but the Real Madrid superstar is now supplemented by even more incredible young talent 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)
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 for them to have been installed 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 current Brazil squad is far from a vintage one, but Marquinhos, Alisson Becker and Casemiro bring a wealth of experience, while the likes of Vinicius Junior and Raphinha can offer genuine star quality in attack. They’re something of an enigma going into the tournament.
Group stage opponents: Morocco (23:00; 13 June), Haiti (01:30; 20 June), Scotland (23:00; 24 June)
Argentina
It’s perhaps surprising to see Argentina as far out as 8/1 in the betting to win the World Cup next summer, as not only are they the reigning champions, but they’ve absolutely dominated Conmebol qualifying.
Lionel Scaloni remains in charge, and Lionel Messi retains the captain’s armband. But is there perhaps a feeling that the great man is no longer the player he once was, given he now plies his trade in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami rather than in one of Europe’s top leagues? He performed phenomenally to help the Herons win the MLS Cup, scoring some outrageous goals. So probably not.
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 they will be supplemented by some supremely talented younger players, 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)
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 is absolutely littered 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)
