
There’s a huge amount of betting opportunities every time the FIFA World Cup comes around, but the obvious place to start, even if you don’t have any betting experience, is going for the outright winner.
The ‘who will win the World Cup 2026’ market is a straightforward one, which often comes with generous odds, especially before the tournament begins. This guide is where we introduce the favourites to win and what gives them an edge in the competition. We also provide some betting tips for this market, and the latest odds, one month out.
The conversation about potential contenders has been ongoing since the final whistle blew for the last tournament. With the 2026 competition almost upon us, it’s time to take the discussion a little more seriously. Unsurprisingly, not much has changed in terms of rankings. Spain, France, England, and Argentina are still at the top, with the second tier made up of squads like Portugal and Germany.
Following Italy’s shocking exit during the qualifiers, teams like Norway, which went undefeated, have entered the discourse. Here’s what the Tournament Winner odds look like, one month out:
| Country | Odds |
| Spain | 9/2 |
| France | 5/1 |
| England | 6/1 |
| Brazil | 8/1 |
| Argentina | 8/1 |
| Portugal | 11/1 |
| Germany | 12/1 |
| Netherlands | 20/1 |
| Norway | 25/1 |
| Morocco | 50/1 |
It’s a pretty tight race between Spain and France, but La Roja edge out their closest challengers just a bit to take the top spot for tournament favourite. The Spanish team boasts as much depth as quality, and have been enjoying strong momentum following their triumph in the 2024 European Competition. Luis de la Fuente’s men are tenacious on the field, brutally chasing goals and often wearing their opponents down with relentless offensive pressure.
The well-rounded team also has a talented midfield and a solid defence. And at the front, young talents like Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams are capable of tormenting any backline. The former’s young player of the year odds also place him as the frontrunner for the individual achievement.
In reality, France has just as much chance of winning the competition as Spain, with insane talents like Kylian Mbappe at the attacking position, and current Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele also in the lineup. France won the competition in 2018 and reached the finals in 2022, so it wouldn’t surprise anyone if they made another deep run and took home the trophy by July.
This will be the last tournament for Didier Deschamps, who will be leaving his position as head coach. As such, the team will be eager to leave him a parting gift and take their all-time win tally to three.
England is due for the title at this point. The team almost always finds itself among the World Cup favourites, but are going on a 60-year drought since their first and only win in 1966. Consistency seems to be their major issue, as the squad displayed mixed form in recent performances.
However, the Three Lions have lots of experience going deep into tournaments, and with stars like Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane, and Cole Palmer, there’s no question that they have the quality to go all the way. There’s optimism that new manager Thomas Tuchel will be able to unlock the team’s full potential and inspire a breakthrough.
The reigning champions aren’t exactly the top favourite because it’s rare for a national team to record back-to-back wins. Only Italy and Brazil have done it in the past. Defending their title may be difficult, but not impossible. With the legendary Lionel Messi in the lineup and a blend of experienced and younger talent in the squad, Argentina are still clear contenders. Fans may also want to consider betting on Messi’s World Cup Golden Ball odds.
Brazil have struggled to reach the final stages of the competition recently, but this is a team that have lifted the World Cup five times – the most wins in the competition’s history. They may not have icons such as Pele, Ronaldinho, and Ronaldo anymore, but they’re still stacked with talent in the likes of Vinicius Jr., Raphinha, and Joao Pedro.
Renowned tactician Carlo Ancelotti was called in to fix the team’s overall cohesion and stability, which has been unconvincing of late. With a new experienced manager and a deep talent pool, the Seleção just need to find their balance to go back to being the powerhouse they once were on the world stage.
The name Cristiano Ronaldo is as big as it gets when discussing players in the world of football. The illustrious striker is 41 years old, which means this is likely his last World Cup, although it’s yet to be seen if the Portuguese captain actually has any plans of retiring. Besides Cr7, Portugal has a strong midfield with the trio of Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, and Bernardo Silva manning the middle. They can also depend on Rafael Leao for versatility and goal threat.
Portugal has the quality and squad depth. And their recent form has been strong under the guidance of Roberto Martinez, so things are looking up. This is the last trophy missing in Ronaldo’s collection, which is a big motivation for the team to press for gold.
Germany have historically excelled in this competition as four-time winners. But much like England, although they have what it takes to win the competition, they haven’t quite been able to make it click since winning in 2014.
The team has, however, shown some improvement in recent form, which means that whatever Julian Nagelsmann is doing might be working. The squad also has to its advantage a well-balanced mix of experienced players and gifted young talent, which is usually a recipe for serious contention. Key figures in the lineup include Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, and Joshua Kimmich.
The Dutch may not have had the cutting edge to win the trophy before, but they often dominate even the most elite challengers. They have made the World Cup final three times and regularly make it to the quarterfinals. Virgil Van Dijk and the team will likely come into this year’s competition as they always do – with a strong defence, the midfield creating opportunity, and an attacking lineup that can do big things. It wouldn’t be a big surprise if they won the competition because the Orange have the quality to produce results.
Norway finally returned to the global stage after nearly three decades away. And they thrashed 12th-ranked Italy (1-4) on the way to achieving this. Their performance throughout the qualifiers was impressive. They went undefeated and produced a stunning +31 goal difference. With this form, the team from Scandinavia may just be this year’s dark horse.
This is only their fourth World Cup appearance, with their best run being in 1998 when they made it to the Round of 16. Thanks to goal-scoring machine Erling Haaland leading the attack and Alexander Sorloth and Martin Odegaard providing quality and control, a scenario where Norway makes a deeper run than they did in 1998 is very possible. And if that happens, we could see Haaland’s World Cup Golden Boot odds shoot up.
Morocco already showed they were a dark horse in 2022 when they shocked the world by defeating Portugal and making it all the way to the semifinals. They’ve since climbed up the FIFA rankings and now sit in 8th place. They’re also coming off a very successful CAF run where they were handed the trophy, albeit controversially.
If they stunned heavyweights like Portugal and Spain once, they can do it again. The main strength of the team lies in their defensive structure and tactical discipline, but they also have world-class talents like Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui to bolster their campaign.
Tournament Winner is the most common betting market for this competition. Bets like these that are settled in the future have long odds, and offer more substantial payouts than other markets, which is part of their appeal. Before you decide to wager on this option, though, here are some things you should know:
Knowing how the tournament is set up and who’s likely to face whom can help you make more informed bets. This year, FIFA expanded the competition to 48 teams, so there are 16 more teams in the running, and many more matches to be played. As usual, the competition progresses from the round robin group stages to the knockout rounds, where it will be a single-game elimination format until the finals.
Betting on the tournament winner using a free bet or some other betting bonus can add value to your experience and also minimise potential losses. So look out for the best World Cup 2026 promo codes to lock in your picks.
Favourite odds shorten as the tournament approaches, and as games are played they reduce even more rapidly. Unless a dark horse rises from the lower ranks and becomes a favourite mid-competition, pre-tournament odds offer the best value for the Tournament Winner market.
While it’s risky betting on a dark horse to win outright, you can take advantage of the longer odds on these teams with each-way betting. Most bookies will pay out on the top two: winner and runner-up. If the dark horse wins, you can rake in a massive payout. If not, you still have your favourite in the race.
Tournaments like the World Cup may have a few surprise results and a shocking upset or two, but teams with the most talent and skill usually end up winning. Stick with the favourites if you’re new to World Cup betting.
The Tournament Winner market is the most straightforward way to bet on the World Cup, but it’s also the one where odds can shift quickly once the action actually starts.
This World Cup may be the most exciting one in a long time, not just because of the new format, but also because there are lots of teams with realistic chances of winning. Spain and France may have the best odds, but they’re not ahead by much. England, Argentina, Brazil, and the rest of the top 8 can also challenge for the title. Norway and Morocco may be outsiders, but they’re not teams to be taken lightly either. Keep in mind our tips when betting on who will win the World Cup in 2026 and pick from our banners above to snatch up the best odds available on this market.
Argentina are the winners of the 2022 World Cup. The final match was played against France and is considered one of the best finals of the competition. After a 3-3 tie in overtime, Argentina won narrowly in penalty shootouts.
Spain is the bookmaker’s favourite currently, and you’ll find the most competitive odds on any of the sites we recommend. Tournament winner odds aren’t the only ones available. You can also shop for other futures odds like World Cup Golden Glove, top goal scorer, and more.
The 2026 World Cup begins on June 11, 2026 and will run through July 19, 2026. The first match will take place in Mexico City, where the hosts will play South Africa in a Group A showdown.