Summary
The 2026 World Cup is just over a year away.
According to current betting odds, dark horses Morocco, Croatia, and Denmark have the ability to advance in the competition.
Spain are the current favourites to win, with England and Brazil close behind.
The World Cup is football’s ultimate grail, the pinnacle that every nation strives to capture. And, while 2026 may appear to be a long way off, the sands of time will pass through the hourglass faster than you might imagine. Before we know it, the United States, Canada, and Mexico will be laying out the red carpet for the greatest sports event on the planet.
The qualifying stage is well underway, with some teams punching their tickets to the main tournament. But, with plenty of twists, turns, and potential upsets ahead on the rough path to success, it’s never too early to see what the bookmakers are saying.
Argentina won the title in Qatar in 2022, with Lionel Messi finally completing the last gap in his trophy cabinet. But who are the favourites this time? Are the odds pointing to a change of guard, or could La Albiceleste be prepared to go back-to-back?
20-11: All three host nations feature.
The United States, Canada, and Mexico have already guaranteed their places in the World Cup as hosts. But, with none of them currently holding the football championship, it’s safe to assume they won’t be shaking the foundations of European or South American powerhouses. Having said that, teams like Morocco, Croatia, and Denmark have demonstrated that they could be the dark horses capable of surprising over the pond next summer.
Morocco startled the world with a semi-final appearance in the 2022 World Cup, while Denmark advanced to the Euro 2020 semi-finals, demonstrating that they are no strangers to flying under the radar following their historic 1992 European Championship victory. Croatia’s golden generation may be coming to an end, with many of their top players having reached their peak performance in the 2010s.
Then there’s Japan and Switzerland, two growing powers anxious to continue climbing the ranks of international achievement. Meanwhile, Colombia and Uruguay, despite lacking the star power of the past, nonetheless bring a lot of grit and effort to every game. Their enthusiasm and determination make them formidable opponents, and they completely embrace the South American notion that football is more like a religion than a sport.
World Cup odds: (20-11)
Team
Odds
Canada
80/1
Switzerland
66/1
Morocco
66/1
Japan
66/1
Mexico
50/1
Denmark
50/1
Croatia
50/1
Colombia
40/1
USA
33/1
Uruguay
28/1
=9. Italy.
Current odds are 25/1.
Surprisingly, Italy has not won a World Cup knockout match since its title-winning victory in 2006. That was 20 years and four tournaments ago, when Zinedine Zidane was still playing, and they will have waited a long time to return to North America next summer. Given their past, it’s astonishing to see them among the top ten of the bookies’ early odds.
However, the Azzurri improved significantly in their most recent outing, and with a young squad that includes talents such as Destiny Udogie, Matteo Ruggeri, and Daniel Maldini, as well as seasoned players such as Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alessandro Bastoni, and Nicolo Barella, Italy can never be underestimated. After all, their four World Cup titles in the past demonstrate that they still have the expertise and know-how to compete at the highest level.
=9. Belgium.
Current odds are 25/1.
For what seems like an eternity, the media has praised Belgium’s golden generation, which was destined to win a major tournament, whether in the European Championship or the World Cup. However, as with earlier so-called golden generations, the commentator’s curse appeared to haunt the Red Devils, stopping them from ever truly achieving glory.
Now that Romelu Lukaku, the nation’s all-time leading goalscorer, has passed the age of 30, as have Kevin De Bruyne, Thomas Meunier, and Thibaut Courtois, it may be time to moderate the little European nation’s high expectations. However, 2026 could be their last chance to achieve that long-awaited breakthrough.
8. The Netherlands
Current odds: 16/1
With a squad spine as strong as the Netherlands’, who recently advanced to the Euro 2024 semi-finals before being narrowly defeated by England, there will always be optimism and a genuine sense of impending resurgence engulfing the Clockwork Orange, especially when total football student Ronald Koeman is also in the dugout.
Virgil van Dijk, Frenkie de Jong, and Cody Gakpo are among the world’s greatest players in their respective positions. The one question mark remains over their ability to get past the more experienced teams, as they have failed to pass a major litmus test during the last decade or so.
7. Portugal
Current odds are 14/1.
There’s always a way with Cristiano Ronaldo. At 40 years old, no one is more experienced on the pitch than the great former Real Madrid and Manchester United player. Ronaldo will try to turn back the clock to his incredible Euro 2016 campaign, using that wonderful summer as inspiration to finally complete his trophy collection, much like his long-time rival Lionel Messi did in the previous tournament.
Roberto Martínez has a talented team, including Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leao, Joao Neves, and Nuno Mendes, who can lead Portugal. The team will be aiming to improve on its Euro 2024 quarter-final exit from the previous summer and demonstrate that they can still keep up with their Iberian neighbours, Spain, who are locked in one of the most intense rivalries in international football.
6. Deutschland
Current odds are 10/1.
Gary Lineker famously stated, “Football is a simple game.” “22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes, and the Germans always win.” While this has not been the case in recent years, there are significant indicators that the efficient, ruthless Germany of old is resurfacing, much to the dismay of its adversaries.
They started the last major international event in spectacular style, with Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala blasting through defences with ease. While their voyage was cut short by eventual champions Spain in the quarterfinals, the experience definitely taught them vital lessons. Under the leadership of Julian Nagelsmann, Germany will prepare to make a real push in 2026, as they continue to look for the key to their trophy cabinet, which already includes three European Championships and four World Cups.
5. Argentina
Current odds: 9/1
If the bookmakers’ predictions are true, Argentina will not continue their reign of terror, which has seen them win two Copa Americas and a World Cup in the last five years. However, at 9/1 odds, Lionel Messi and his teammates will be very confident of making the tournament’s final rounds again.
Under Lionel Scaloni, La Albiceleste never tore past opponents, instead boasting the serene and assured play of champions, which may explain why they aren’t the favourites this time around, just as they weren’t last summer. Winning by razor-thin margins has become a Qatari tradition, and it is certain to continue if the country adds another star in North America.
=3. France.
Current odds are 13/2.
Ahead of last summer’s European Championship, all eyes were on France and their remarkable squad depth, which meant even their fourth-choice players appeared capable of winning the title. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be, exactly like the previous World Cup, despite Kylian Mbappe’s hat-trick in the final.
Nonetheless, their squad depth is as robust as ever, putting them in a terrific position to finally right the blunders of recent close calls. France might perhaps go all the way in North America. Mbappe will be the main player once again, but he can rest assured that he will be supported by players such as Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann. Furthermore, Ibrahima Konate and William Saliba create a powerful defensive combination.
=3. England
Current odds are 13/2.
Will England finally overcome 60 years of heartache next year? Bookmakers presently give Thomas Tuchel’s team a 13/2 probability of winning silverware on his first attempt. It would be a powerful way for the Three Lions to add a second star to their badge, especially after failing to get to the European Championship finals in two consecutive years.
Many people believe the country is in a better position than ever to win a major trophy; it’s only a matter of someone stepping up and making it happen. The true task will be to strike the correct balance between big names and system players. Right now, however, it appears highly doubtful that players such as Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, and Cole Palmer will all start together, providing its own set of challenges for the incoming German manager.
2. Brazil
Current odds: 6/1
Brazil is the most successful nation in World Cup history, having won a record five trophies. While their glory days may seem like a distant memory, the current squad feels they have what it takes to recapture the magic of their previous victories. Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior believes he should have won the Ballon d’Or last year and will almost probably line up in attack alongside Raphinha, one of the favourites for the 2025 prize.
While it may be strange that Brazil is second in the betting odds, especially given their difficult qualification campaign, which featured a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Argentina, they still have a lot of star power.
1. Spain.
Current odds are 11/2.
It almost feels like a throwback to 2010. Back then, Spain won two European Championships and one World Cup. They won their fourth European title in 2024 and are now favourites to win another World Cup.
With Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Dean Huijsen, Martin Zubimendi, and Pau Cubarsi, there’s every reason to believe La Roja is about to enter another golden age. They’ve demonstrated they can do it; the question now is whether they can maintain their dominance in world football or if they will become a victim of their own success.
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