The 2026 FIFA World Cup betting market is taking shape as sportsbooks fine-tune prices on the world’s top contenders. With an expanded 48-team field, three host nations, and more depth than ever at the top, outright odds are being driven by more than name recognition alone.
Spain sit atop the odds board alongside England, France, Brazil, and defending champions Argentina, while several mid-tier nations and longshots are attracting early betting interest. Below, we break down the latest World Cup odds, what the market is signaling, and where value may still exist in the winner market.
FIFA World Cup odds 2026
| Country |  |
|---|---|
 Spain |
+400 |
 England |
+550 |
 France |
+700 |
 Brazil |
+800 |
 Argentina |
+800 |
 Portugal |
+1100 |
 Germany |
+1200 |
 Netherlands |
+1600 |
 Norway |
+2500 |
 Italy |
+3300 |
 Colombia |
+3300 |
 Belgium |
+3300 |
 Uruguay |
+4000 |
 USA |
+5000 |
 Mexico |
+5000 |
 Morocco |
+6600 |
 Ecuador |
+6600 |
 Croatia |
+6600 |
 Denmark |
+8000 |
 Japan |
+8000 |
 Switzerland |
+8000 |
 Sweden |
+10000 |
 Canada |
+15000 |
Odds as of 12-29.
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Market snapshot
- Favorites tightening: Spain and England continue to separate from the pack at the top of the market.
- Defending champs priced cautiously: Argentina remain among the top contenders, but sportsbooks are hesitant to shorten them further given the difficulty of repeating.
- Public vs. sharp split: Spain and England are drawing heavy ticket volume, while France continues to attract stronger handle share.
- Path matters: Several price shifts reflect projected knockout routes and perceived winners and losers of the draw.
Portugal World Cup odds: Ronaldo’s final tournament factor
Portugal remain priced inside the top tier of 2026 World Cup contenders, and much of that confidence is tied to squad depth rather than star power alone. Still, the possibility that this tournament represents Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup adds a unique narrative layer to Portugal’s outright price.
From a betting perspective, sportsbooks appear to be balancing Ronaldo’s diminishing on-field role with his continued influence in high-leverage moments. Any clarity around minutes or squad role closer to kickoff could impact Portugal’s odds, making this a market worth monitoring rather than rushing to bet early.
🚨 Cristiano Ronaldo: “I will retire soon… I did and gave everything for football in the last 25 years”.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 11, 2025
“It’s probably one or two years. For sure this will be my last World Cup, definitely”.
“I’m really enjoying the moment”, told Tourise in Riyadh. pic.twitter.com/reZO4PlLGk
Who has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
With 42 of 48 teams already qualified, the 2026 World Cup field is largely locked in. The final six places will be decided in March via intercontinental playoffs, after which sportsbooks will have the complete tournament lineup fully priced across outright and futures markets.
Our World Cup playoff draw pieces outline how those teams could slot into the final bracket and will determine the final six tournament entrants.
Automatically qualified Nations (hosts)
Three countries receive automatic entry as tournament co-hosts:
- United States
- Canada
- Mexico
All three will compete in the group stage as seeded nations.
Nations qualified through FIFA World Cup qualifying
- AFC: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan
- CAF: Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
- Concacaf: Curaçao, Haiti, Panama
- CONMEBOL: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
- OFC: New Zealand
- UEFA: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland
Total qualified: 42 of 48 teams.
How to bet on the World Cup
Betting on the FIFA World Cup is one of the most popular events in global sports wagering, with markets ranging from outright winners to player props and live in-game odds. Here’s a breakdown of how to bet on soccer in the most common ways:
- Outright winner: Pick which nation will lift the trophy.
- Group winner: Back a country to finish top of its group.
- Group exact finish: Predict the exact order of finish (1-4) for each group.
- Match bets: Wager on moneyline, spread, or totals for individual matches.
- Player props: Bet on tournament-long markets such as who will win the Golden Boot or Golden Ball, or individual match props like goals, shots, or bookings.
- To reach quarterfinals/semifinals: Back a country to go deep into the tournament without needing to win it.
Tip: Odds can fluctuate dramatically during the tournament, especially after injuries or upsets, so shopping around for the best line is key.
Past winners of the FIFA World Cup
Since the first tournament in 1930, only eight nations have ever lifted the World Cup. Brazil leads with five titles, followed by Germany and Italy with four apiece. The past decade, however, has seen the rise of new champions like France (2018) and Argentina (2022), signaling a shift in global soccer power.
| Year | World Cup winners | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Argentina | France |
| 2018 | France | Croatia |
| 2014 | Germany | Argentina |
| 2010 | Spain | Netherlands |
| 2006 | Italy | France |
| 2002 | Brazil | Germany |
| 1998 | France | Brazil |
| 1994 | Brazil | Italy |
| 1990 | West Germany | Argentina |
| 1986 | Argentina | West Germany |
| 1982 | Italy | West Germany |
| 1978 | Argentina | Netherlands |
| 1974 | West Germany | Netherlands |
| 1970 | Brazil | Italy |
| 1966 | England | West Germany |
| 1962 | Brazil | Czechoslovakia |
| 1958 | Brazil | Sweden |
| 1954 | West Germany | Hungary |
| 1950 | Uruguay | Brazil |
| 1938 | Italy | Hungary |
| 1934 | Italy | Czechoslovakia |
| 1930 | Uruguay | Argentina |
World Cup trends
- A host country has won the World Cup five times.
- There has only been one back-to-back World Cup-winning nation in history. Brazil accomplished the feat in 1958 and 1962.
- No African or North American nation has ever played in a World Cup final.
- Prior to 2022, the World Cup had been won by a European nation in the previous four tournaments.
Popular FIFA World Cup betting markets
🏆 World Cup Winner Odds
The most popular market where bettors pick which country will lift the trophy.
🎯 Golden Boot Odds
Bet on which player will finish as the top goalscorer. Past winners include Kylian Mbappé (2022) and Harry Kane (2018).
🌍 Group Winner Odds
Predict which team will finish first in its group during the opening round.
⏱️ Match Result (1X2)
Standard soccer bet: pick the home win (1), draw (X), or away win (2).
⚡ Live Betting
As the action unfolds, in-play odds update every minute — ideal for reacting to momentum swings.
FIFA World Cup 2026 betting splits
According to the latest report from BetMGM, Spain is the most-bet tournament winner with 13.6% of bets and 18.5% of handle.
2026 FIFA World Cup Winner
- Spain – 13.6% of bets, 18.5% of handle
- England – 9.5% of bets, 7.4% of handle
- France – 9.5% of bets, 11.4% of handle
- Portugal – 8.4% of bets, 9.7% of handle
- USA - 7.8% of bets, 5.5% of handle
Fellow hosts Mexico (+6600) has 3.1% of bets and 3% of handle, and Canada (+15000) has 1.2% of bets and less than 0.5% of handle.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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FIFA World Cup Odds FAQs
Spain enter draw week as the betting favorite at +400, with England, France, Brazil, and defending champions Argentina rounding out the top contenders. Odds will adjust once the official groups are revealed during tomorrow’s draw.
It depends on the market. Betting early can provide value on teams you expect to shorten as public interest grows, while waiting allows bettors to factor in injuries, squad announcements, and late market movement. Many experienced bettors split exposure — placing a small early bet and reassessing closer to the tournament.
Host nations often benefit from automatic qualification, regional familiarity, and fan support, but they are not guaranteed value bets. The United States, Mexico, and Canada are all priced as mid-tier or longshot contenders, with sportsbooks factoring in home advantage while still accounting for overall squad strength.
Brazil have won the most World Cups, with five, while Italy and Germany follow with four wins each.
Only Brazil have successfully defended a men’s World Cup title, winning consecutive tournaments in 1958 and 1962. No nation has repeated as champion since, which is reflected in how cautiously sportsbooks price defending champions like Argentina.
The 23rd edition of the World Cup will take place at 16 venues across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Argentina won the 2022 World Cup in penalty kicks over France.
