A Review of the World Cup 2026 Favourites and Outsiders
The World Cup 2026 kicks off on 11 June, with the US, Canada and Mexico jointly hosting the event. Holders Argentina will be looking to retain the trophy but they are certainly not the bookmakers’ favourites.
Spain, France, England and Brazil are all ahead of Argentina in terms of odds of winning the World Cup this time around, with star Lionel Messi arguably past his peak at 38 years old.
Here are the teams who are going into the tournament as favourites:
Spain (odds of around 9/2)
Spain have only won the World Cup once, in 2010 and only reached the round of 16 in 2022.
However, they were crowned champions of the Euros in 2024 and have built a strong squad with some exciting young players coming through the ranks.
Lamine Yamal and Pedri are expected to make their mark in the upcoming tournament, while more experienced players like Rodri and Ferran Torres have great form going into the World Cup.
France (odds of around 11/2)
France are World Cup specialists, with two wins and have been finalists on four occasions.
Mbappe has delivered incredible numbers of goal contributions at Real Madrid this year.
Plus, he will have the added motivation of not winning any trophies with his club team this season, and the memory of losing to Argentina in the last World Cup, despite scoring a hat-trick in that game.
Mbappe will be joined in the France squad by the likes of Dembele, Olise, Doue and Cherki, who have all been enjoying good form this season.
England (odds of around 6/1)
Despite a long drought of silverware for the England team, they are third favourites with the bookies.
Most England fans were not born when they last won the World Cup in 1966 but that has not affected their odds in the eyes of the bookmakers.
Harry Kane is currently the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or following another successful season at Bayern Munich and a strong World Cup tournament will likely clinch it but the same goes for Mbappe.
England manager Thomas Tuchel will also be looking to players like Bellingham and Saka to take England through to the latter stages but the squad does not seem as strong as Spain and France.
Brazil (odds of around 8/1)
At one time, Brazil were the team to beat in the World Cup but they have failed to win since 2002 and the current squad does not feature the same level of the prolific talent as years gone by.
Vini Junior, Raphina and Endrick are the standout players of the squad going into the tournament but poor performances in the last Copa America highlighted that the team no longer is the formidable force it once was.
You can bet on any of the teams using sites with competitive odds at https://www.kasinonetti.com/vedonlyonti/vedonlyontisivustot/.
Odds for Other Teams
Argentina – 8/1
Portugal – 11/1
Germany – 12/1
Netherlands – 20/1
A winner from outside the eight favourites would be a major shock but you never know, so there may be a surprise team to back for going far in the tournament.
