World Cup 2026 odds: England made early second favourites
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World Cup 2026 odds – the main contenders
There have been six different World Cup winners since 2002 and it looks like an open field for next year's Fifa World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
There will be 48 nations competing across 16 host cities and there is not a lot to choose between the main contenders when it comes to the odds for next summer's tournament.
Here is a look at how the nations involved compare and who could offer some value in the World Cup 2026 outright betting.
Brazil – 6/1
The Selecao are record five-time World Cup winners but the last of those came in 2002 and they have exited at the quarter-finals stage in each of the previous two tournaments.
Nonetheless, Brazil go into the 2026 World Cup as joint favourites at 6/1, with decorated head coach Carlo Ancelotti appointed as manager in May 2025 after leaving Real Madrid.
It will, however, be Ancelotti's first experience of international management and the current Brazil side, who could not make it past the last eight of the 2024 Copa America, leave plenty to be desired, with the team lacking in the full-back and centre-forward positions.
France – 6/1
Joining Brazil at the top of the World Cup 2026 odds are France, who lifted the trophy in 2018 before losing a pulsating 2022 final to Argentina on penalties after a 3-3 draw in Qatar.
Les Bleus still possess enviable depth with established talents such as Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele complimented by exciting youngsters such as Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue and Lucas Chevalier.
This will be the last major tournament in which Didier Deschamps takes charge of France and he will want to go out with a bang, so it is fair to say they are worthy World Cup joint favourites.
Spain – 6/1
Spain took down Germany, France and England en route to Euro 2024 glory and it is easy to see why they are also at the head of the 2026 World Cup odds.
La Roja have thrived in a pragmatic and direct system under Luis de la Fuente while Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has shown he can make his mark on the biggest stages.
Their wealth of midfield options is a major advantage, although Alvaro Morata is not the deadliest of strikers and there will be a lot of pressure on makeshift striker Mikel Oyarazabal to lead the line.
England – 7/1
Bet365 is offering a bet boost on England to win the 2026 World Cup, with punters able to back Thomas Tuchel's team at 8/1 instead of 7/1.
Gareth Southgate left his post as England manager last year despite overseeing a run to the Euro 2024 final and it is Tuchel who has been tasked with leading the Three Lions to glory next year.
The German's contract expires after the tournament and he will be feeling immediate pressure to get results while playing more enterprising football given England's array of attacking talents.
Striking a balance between defence and attack could, however, be problematic, and England are lacking star quality in the centre-back positions in particular.
Argentina – 8/1
Many would have expected Lionel Messi to call time on his international career after guiding Argentina to the 2022 World Cup but the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner remains the captain of a strong squad.
La Albiceleste showed that their Qatar triumph was no fluke when they won a second successive Copa America title in 2024.
They should be well suited to conditions in their neighbouring continent and are arguably the best of the South American sides involved, offering better value than 6/1 Brazil.
A new generation of Argentinian talent is coming through with Franco Mastantuono and Nico Paz both ones to watch but their core of experience could carry them over the line.
Germany – 10/1
There is a slight jump to the next nation in the World Cup 2026 odds with Germany priced at 10/1 to win a record-equalling fifth title.
In the previous two editions of the tournament, Die Mannschaft have underwhelmed, crashing out in the group stage in 2018 and 2022, but since Julian Nagelsmann's appointment two years ago, things have started to turn around under the innovative young coach.
A quarter-final exit on home soil at Euro 2024 was not the ideal base to build on but Germany at least took the tournament's standout side Spain to extra time and they could be dark horses.
Best of the rest World Cup 2026 odds
Two-thirds of the metronomic midfield that helped PSG to Champions League glory come from Portugal, who are next on the list of World Cup 2026 odds at 12/1.
Joao Neves and Vitinha are part of a star-studded Portugal squad, which also features the likes of Manchester United talisman Bruno Fernandes and experienced Manchester City pair Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva.
A 40-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo still leads the line and at least proved his worth in the recent Nations League, although Roberto Martinez will need to establish more authority over the five-time Ballon d'Or winner for Portugal to be a success going forwards.
Italy will attract interest at 20/1, although they have not appeared at a World Cup since 2014 and are not the same side they were when they won Euro 2024.
The Netherlands would be the more appealing pick at the same price. They were semi-finalists at Euro 2024, losing 2-1 to England, and they boast a brilliant blend of youth and experience.
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