World Cup Odds & Predictions

Below, bettors can find World Cup odds for the 2026 tournament winner. Currently, 2024 European championship winner Spain (+400) is predicted to win the World Cup.

World Cup 2026 Odds

World Cup Group A Odds

Mexico’s current form leaves so much to be desired. In fairness to El Tri, they’ve consistently played difficult opposition. 

But Mexico played Korea in September, drawing 2-2, while Colombia beat Mexico 4-0. The nation also failed to win matches against Paraguay and Uruguay. 

Matches on home soil could aid Mexico’s quest to win the group. However, I’m not rushing to bet them at market favorite status. 

World Cup Group B Odds

So much of this group depends on the outcome of UEFA Playoff A. Italy, the favorites from that quartet, played Norway twice and lost 7-1 on aggregate. 

If they come through and are rated as market favorites to win, I’ll be looking at Switzerland to claim the group. 

Between now and March, I’ll have to take a closer look at Canada to evaluate their futures potential.

World Cup Group C Odds

Morocco, the favorites at AFCON and 2022 semifinalists, could prove a legitimate challenge to Brazil. Scotland could also prove a pesky underdog thanks to a decent attack. 

I love Brazil’s manager: Carlo Ancelotti. However, the team proved very inconsistent in qualifying. 

Brazil finished fifth in South American qualifying with six losses, but only one came under Ancelotti. 

Bottom line: I don’t know whether you’re betting a Brazil side that beat Senegal, or failed to win against Japan and Tunisia. They’re a hard team to trust at short prices in the market.

World Cup Group D Odds

An absolute dream draw for the United States. Anything worse than second for the United States qualifies as an unmitigated disaster. 

Australia and Paraguay enter the tournament as two of the weaker teams from Pots 2 and 3. Plus, the US beat both in recent head-to-head meetings. 

If Turkey somehow fails to come through from the playoff path, the US should win the group with ease. If Turkey advances, it becomes a trickier path to the top, but the US should still reach the knockouts.

World Cup Group E Odds

I’ll be fascinated to see if Ecuador can steal this group from Germany. That match will prove a clash of strengths as Germany’s attack looks to break down a strong Ecuadorian defense. 

Ivory Coast features some strong personnel. A positive performance at AFCON could lead to some interest getting out of the group.

World Cup Group F Odds

Keep a close eye on the outcome of UEA Playoff B. Poland, thanks to a reinvigorated defense, could prove a sleeper if they qualify. 

Japan, as evidenced by its performance in Qatar, will prove a pesky underdog in attack. 

This team just racked up three goals against Brazil on home soil and beat Germany and Spain in Qatar.

World Cup Group G Odds

Bettors should closely monitor how Egypt performs at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. 

Belgium lacks trust as a Pot 1 team because their defense is extremely vulnerable. That being said, the attack featuring Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Jeremy Doku is very good. 

Belgium *should* reach the knockouts. That said, if Mo Salah can keep the Egyptian attack on pace with Belgium, Egypt could steal the group.

World Cup Group H Odds

I’ll be shocked if Spain fails to win this group, as the odds indicate. 

Uruguay lacks consistency out of the South American confederation. Additionally, Marcelo Bielsa’s style of play doesn’t exactly lend itself to a tournament format. 

Saudi Arabia has struggled of late against good competition and lacks the defensive quality to advance. Say a prayer for Cabo Verde, which will do well to stay within seven against Spain.

World Cup Group I Odds

Here’s your Group of Death. France’s matchup against Senegal will draw a lot of eyeballs. But I’m fascinated by Senegal vs. Norway. 

This might sound crazy, but Senegal has the attacking pieces to keep up with Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard. 

Norway will be a popular team because of Haaland. However, the defense leaves so much to be desired that they’ll need to score three or four every match to advance. 

Senegal’s defense is quite reliable. The same is true of France. Prices on Norway and Senegal to advance will dictate my thinking about this group.

World Cup Group J Odds

This is a quietly difficult group for Argentina, especially if Lionel Messi doesn’t play. Bettors likely pay a tax on the World Cup holders to win the group, but I wouldn’t lay the price. 

Austria reached the round of 16 at the Euros, notching an impressive win over the Netherlands. Algeria’s viability depends a lot on their 2025 AFCON campaign. 

In the last two AFCON tournaments, Algeria failed to advance past the group stage.

World Cup Group K Odds

Look out for Colombia as a group winner over Portugal. Defense usually travels well, and Portugal lacks a cohesive defense in line with its ferocious attack. 

Colombia reached the 2024 Copa America Final, falling 1-0 to Argentina. That run included a draw against Brazil in the group stage. 

That finish represents a one-spot improvement from 2021 with Colombia failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. 

World Cup Group L Odds

England and Croatia likely emerge from this group, in that order. What’s worth noting about England – the team lost 3-1 to Senegal in a friendly. 

Croatia prides itself on a strong defense. The issue in this group is that England’s defense is, generally, quite reliable. 

In qualifying, England won every match without conceding. While that sounds impressive, the competition left much to be desired. 

What gives England an edge here is that the attack has the capability to run rampant against inferior defenses. That gives them an advantage against Panama and Ghana.

World Cup Predictions

Netherlands (+1800) to win the World Cup

If there’s a price that jumps out a year removed from the tournament, it’s this one by a country mile. 

Few nations have matched the Netherlands in terms of success at the World Cup. 

Ronald Koeman’s side exited in the quarterfinals three years ago after third- and second-place finishes in 2014 and 2010. 

At the 2024 Euros, Netherlands reached the semifinals. 

What leaves me encouraged about the Dutch is their recent performances against tournament favorites Spain. 

Across two legs at the UEFA Nations League, Netherlands drew La Roja twice. From an underlying metrics standpoint, Netherlands posted a +1.55 post-shot expected goal differential. 

The schedule softens quite a bit in the future. From Sept. 4 to Nov. 17, Koeman’s side faces six matches, none of which come against top-30 sides in the FIFA rankings. 

Presuming a light schedule entering the World Cup, the Dutch should enter the tournament in strong form. 

As a result, I like backing a side seventh in the world rankings at a steep price. 

Ecuador (+6600) to Win the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Argentina and Brazil draw most of the attention from the South American confederation. But Ecuador has quietly put together a strong qualifying campaign as well. 

Anchored by Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo, Arsenal’s Piero Hincapie and PSG’s Willian Pacho, the defense conceded only five times in 18 qualifying matches. 

New manager Sebastian Beccacece led Ecuador in 16 matches. He’s only dropped all three points once in those fixtures. 

That includes some impressive results against the aforementioned South American heavyweights. 

Beccacece faced Brazil and Argentina twice, taking points in both games. 

Brazil’s heavyweights managed only two shots on target and one big chance against Ecuador. Argentina, without Lionel Messi, failed to put a shot on target. 

With Messi’s World Cup status unclear, I can argue Ecuador enters the tournament as the second-best South American nation. 

At 66/1, Ecuador’s stout defensive record renders the nation a decent flier come June 2026. 

Switzerland (+10000) to Win the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Switzerland has reached the round of 16 in three straight World Cups. But the quarterfinals and beyond have eluded this team that features anchors at all three levels. 

A midfield partnership between Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler has held up well. The backline also features Man City’s Manuel Akanji, creating a strong spine through the middle. 

The defense allowed Switzerland to cruise through qualifying. Albeit against Kosovo, Slovenia and Sweden, Switzerland surrendered only two goals over six matches. 

What further encourages me about this team is their performance at the 2024 Euros. Switzerland reached the quarterfinals, exiting against England on penalty kicks. 

Murat Yakin’s squad played three matches against Germany, Italy and England at that tournament. 

Not once did they lose the post-shot xG battle at the end of 90 minutes plus injury time. Their defensive concessions against England and Germany came after the 80th-minute mark. 

The 2024 Nations League campaign is a concern. Switzerland took two points out of a possible 18. 

But two of those matches came against World Cup favorites Spain, one of which Xhaka missed. In the final four matches, Switzerland ran very unlucky against the underlying data. 

Given those factors and the recent defensive form, the nation is worth a flier at this price.

World Cup Public Betting Data

World Cup 2026 Stadiums

Games will be played at 16 different stadiums in the three host nations. All but five of those host venues are located in the United States.

Canada has the fewest venues: BMO Field in Toronto and BC Place in Vancouver. Three of the host stadiums are in Mexico: Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Estadio Akron in Guadalajara and Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

All 11 U.S. host stadiums primarily serve as NFL venues. Here’s where fans can find games in the U.S.:

• Gillette Stadium, Boston
• MetLife Stadium, New York
• Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
• Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
• Lumen Field, Seattle
• Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco
• SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
• Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
• AT&T Stadium, Dallas
• NRG Stadium, Houston

2026 World Cup Final Stadium

The 2026 World Cup Final will be hosted at MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Jets and Giants.

MetLife Stadium carries a capacity of 87,157 people. It qualifies as the largest stadium for the 2026 World Cup.

However, it carries a smaller capacity than the Rose Bowl, which hosted the final the last time the United States hosted a World Cup. In 1994, Brazil and Italy played in front of 94,194 people at the Pasadena venue.

World Cup 2026 Schedule

Play begins on June 11, 2026 with an expanded group stage. In 2026, 48 countries will feature in the group stage, a 16-nation increase from the last World Cup.

The group stage runs from June 11-27 with round of 32 matches spanning June 28 until July 3. The round of 16 begins on July 4 and runs to July 8 with quarterfinal matches set to feature from July 9-11.

Semifinal matches take place on July 14-15 with the third-place match taking place on July 18. The final takes place on Sunday, July 19.