Exactly one year from today, the world’s biggest soccer spectacle will kick off. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to run from June 11 to July 19 and will feature an expanded field of 48 teams — each searching for football immortality.
Matches will be hosted across 16 cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City will host the tournament’s opening match, while MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will stage the grand finale.
Though many teams are still battling through qualifiers, betting odds are already shaping the narrative as to which country will be lifting the trophy. The countdown is on, so here are the 12 favorites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
2026 FIFA World Cup Odds
Odds via BetMGM
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Spain | +500 |
| France | +650 |
| Brazil | +650 |
| England | +700 |
| Argentina | +800 |
| Germany | +900 |
| Portugal | +1400 |
| Netherlands | +2000 |
| Italy | +2200 |
| Uruguay | +2500 |
| Colombia | +3300 |
| USA | +3300 |
Spain +500
Spain is among the sport’s elite. The reigning European champions recently reached the Nations League final, but fell to Portugal in a tense penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw. Their World Cup qualification campaign begins in September against Bulgaria and Turkey. With rising star Lamine Yamal leading a deep, talented squad and coach Luis de la Fuente installing an aggressive, possession-based style, Spain looks poised for a major run.
France +650
France, the 2018 World Cup runners-up, rank just behind. Kylian Mbappé remains their unstoppable force and supported by the likes of Ousmane Dembélé and Aurélien Tchouaméni. Didier Deschamps, at the helm since 2012, has kept France competitive at the highest level.
Brazil +650
Brazil’s ranking is perhaps the biggest shock, given their turmoil in recent years. Carlo Ancelotti’s appointment aims to reinvigorate the five-time champions, who currently sit fourth in South American qualifiers. With Neymar sidelined by injury and no clear starting lineup, Brazil faces an uphill battle to reclaim its former dominance.
England +700
England’s placement in the fourth position may surprise some. Despite boasting world-class talent led by Harry Kane, the Three Lions have struggled to convert promise into trophies since their only World Cup win in 1966. Additionally, their 1-0 away victory over Andorra in qualifiers raised more doubts than confidence among fans.
Argentina +800
Argentina, Brazil’s fierce South American rival, sits fifth. As the reigning world champions and winners of the past two Copa América tournaments, Lionel Scaloni’s side has already secured their 2026 spot with dominant qualifying performances. This World Cup will be especially poignant as it marks Lionel Messi’s farewell on the biggest stage.
Germany +900
Germany, the four-time world champions (most recently in 2014), come in next at +900. Julian Nagelsmann’s team finished fourth in the recent Nations League, but is focused on rebuilding, blending seasoned stars with young talents like Florian Wirtz.
Portugal +1400
Portugal’s odds should improve after they clinched their second Nations League title. With Cristiano Ronaldo still competing at age 40 and Roberto Martínez at the tactical helm, Portugal boasts an exciting mix of experience and youthful flair, featuring players like Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva.
Netherlads +2000
The Netherlands remain haunted by their World Cup Final curse as they’ve reached the final three times, but have yet to win. They opened qualifiers strong with a 2-0 win over Finland, but face stiff competition in a group that includes a tough Poland side.
Italy +2200
Italy’s ninth-place odds feel generous considering recent setbacks. The Azzurri missed the past two World Cups and began their latest qualifying attempt with a 3-0 loss to Norway and a 2-0 win against Moldova. After dismissing coach Luciano Spalletti, the team is under pressure to turn things around fast.
Uruguay +2500
Uruguay, with two World Cup titles in their storied history, faces a rebuilding phase under Marcelo Bielsa. Currently fifth in South American qualifiers, Uruguay may have to navigate a playoff to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
Colombia +3300
Colombia's best World Cup performance came in 2014, when it reached the quarterfinals. The team has plenty of talent to be excited about and Luis Díaz, in particular, stands out. Reaching the final in the most recent Copa América was a major boost of confidence. However, Colombia has been inconsistent throughout World Cup qualifying and its true strength remains uncertain.
USA +3300
The United States benefits from home-field advantage, though history shows that hasn’t always been enough. They hosted the last Copa América, but failed to make it out of the group stage, and in the 1994 World Cup, also on home soil, they were knocked out by Brazil in the Round of 16. While they now have an experienced manager in Mauricio Pochettino, the United State has lost its past three matches and is still struggling to find its rhythm.
