Betting on the Winner of the 2026 Football World Cup: Odds and Predictions

Long-term bets on the World Cup winner are always very challenging. But if you love to take risks, you surely know that such bets hide real value. The odds for the winners start at 5.00, which gives the opportunity to hit a decent jackpot with a detailed analysis.

We have gathered useful information about the odds and chances of teams to win the 2026 World Cup. Below you will find a reasoned forecast from our editorial team.

In short:

• Brazil is the most titled team in the world. The Brazilians have won the Cup five times.
• Argentina are the current world champions. In 2022, the Argentines beat France in the final.
• Only Italy and Brazil have won the World Cup twice in a row.
• Only eight countries have won the World Cup throughout history – five from Europe and three from South America.
• Spain, France, and England are the main favorites to win according to bookmakers.

Odds for the 2026 World Cup Winner

Playoff format: In 2026, with the expansion of the number of tournament participants, there will be a 1/16 final stage, although for many years teams started the playoffs from the ⅛ final. The path to the trophy is now longer, and determining the winner is more difficult. The teams of Spain, France, and England are considered the bookmakers' favorites to win the 2026 World Cup final.

The odds are approximate, may vary in different bookmakers, and are current at the time of publication

Favorites to win the 2026 World Cup

The bookmakers' odds demonstrate the approximate balance of power for the championship. The main favorites for the trophy are the teams of Spain, France, and England, slightly less bookmakers believe in the teams of Brazil, Argentina, Portugal, and Germany. The top 10 favorites also include the teams of the Netherlands and Norway.

Which teams have most often won the World Cup

• Brazil – 5 wins
• Germany, Italy – 4 wins each
• Argentina – 3 wins
• France, Uruguay – 2 wins each
• England, Spain – 1 win each

Interesting facts about World Cup winners

• Uruguay won the first World Cup in history. The country with a population of 4 million people remains one of the most successful football nations in the world.
• Brazil is the most titled team in the history of the World Cup. Seleção won five World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002). The team remains the only one in the world that has participated in all World Cups since 1930.
• Italy was the first in history to defend the World Cup title. The Squadra Azzurra won the 1934 and 1938 World Cups, becoming the first team to win two World Cups in a row. Later, only Brazil achieved this in 1958 and 1962.
• Spain became the first European World Cup champion to win the tournament outside Europe and America. The Furia Roja won their only title at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
• England has only won the World Cup once – the country has been waiting for a second title for over half a century. Despite being the birthplace of football, the only World Cup the English won was in 1966 at their home tournament. Since then, the team has not even reached the final.

How to bet on the World Cup winner

Study the team's composition and experience

Often, the coveted trophy is lifted by teams not with a star-studded lineup, but with a more experienced roster and a clear coaching game model. It's important not to forget about the experience of major international tournaments, considering that star youth is good, but more often the World Cup champions were teams with a higher average age and leaders who have been through more than one major final.

Consider possible slip-ups of top teams

In 2026, the playoffs became one game longer due to the expansion of the number of participants and the introduction of the 1/16 final stage. For top teams and mainThe first round of the playoffs may be a walkover for the trophy contenders, but then they will have to face at least four more matches against much more serious opponents. Slip-ups can occur at any stage.

Prediction for the 2026 World Cup Winner

Bookmakers do not even rank the Portuguese national team among the top five main contenders for the trophy for winning the World Cup. Although a year ago, virtually the same team won the UEFA Nations League, defeating the teams of Germany and Spain in the decisive matches. But regardless of previous results, it's important to pay attention to the state of the Portuguese.

The midfield is simply an incredible powerhouse. Bruno Fernandes received the best in the Premier League award, Vitinha and João Neves carried PSG to victory in the Champions League all season, and the former even became the main player of the final. In defense, experienced Ruben Dias, João Cancelo, and Diogo Dalot have been joined by Nuno Mendes in recent years. At the end of the club season, he is in stunning form. The attack has a huge selection – from Cristiano Ronaldo to Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leão, Gonçalo Ramos, and João Félix. The weakest point is the goalkeeping line. Although there is one important point – Diogo Costa is now in his prime, and only two goalkeepers in the world are more expensive than him.

Roberto Martinez instills character and a championship mindset in the team – just look at the clash with the Chileans in a meaningless friendly match. Portugal's path to the final will definitely not be easy, as they are likely to face Argentina and Brazil from the quarterfinals. But Portugal is capable of beating the favorites – since 2021, the Portuguese have only lost once in regular time to a top team – Spain in the group stage of the Nations League. The main thing is to endure less powerful opponents like Colombia or DR Congo and catch a wave in games with the top teams. The editorial prediction – Portugal will become the world champion. The odds for such a choice are 11.00.

Predictions for all matches of the 2026 World Cup are available in the tournament section.