2026 World Cup Picks: Staff Predictions, Tournament Odds, and Expert Plays

The 2026 World Cup is finally here, bringing a month of drama, unforgettable moments, and no shortage of betting opportunities.

With 48 teams chasing soccer’s biggest prize, there are countless ways to attack the tournament markets, from outright winners and group-stage bets to player awards and long-shot futures.

To help narrow the field, we asked five Covers experts to share their favorite World Cup picks. 

Here are the picks they believe offer the best value in the World Cup odds before the opening whistle.

World Cup staff picks: Who we're backing to win it all

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2026 World Cup Predictions: Who will win

Chris Vasile: Argentina

The market seems to be slightly underrating Argentina because of Lionel Messi's age and the difficulty of repeating as World Cup champions. But this team is more structurally sound than many realize.

Argentina conceded just 10 goals throughout qualifying, are comfortable winning low-event matches, and have already proven they can navigate the pressure of a deep World Cup run together.

They also landed in a favorable group alongside Jordan, Algeria, and Austria, giving them an opportunity to build momentum early. At +900, the defending champions offer value.

Odds: +900 at bet365

Sam Farley: France

I’ve backed France to win this for, quite literally, years, and I still think they will. However, the closer we’re getting, the more I like England.

I like what Thomas Tuchel is doing there, and I think they’ll be very pragmatic, albeit not exciting. Still, France have the depth, quality, and tournament pedigree to get over the line and lift the trophy.

Odds: +500 at bet365

James Eastham: France

The purists’ choice, France possess the most formidable array of attacking talent in the tournament.

Back Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, and Desire Doue to fire Les Bleus to their second World Cup triumph in the last decade.

Odds: +500 at bet365

Jason Ence: Spain

Spain possess more world-class depth at more positions and fewer weaknesses than any other nation.

Their Euro 2024 title showed this young core already knows how to win, and Pedri and Lamine Yamal could be the difference-makers once again.

Odds: +450 at bet365

Emmanuel Rosu: Spain

Spain are playing the best football entering the tournament and look like the most complete side in the field. Rosu is hoping for a South America-versus-Europe final and believes Spain have what it takes to meet Argentina with the trophy on the line.

Odds: +450 at bet365

World Cup predictions: Who is a 2026 sleeper?

Chris Vasile:  Ecuador

Ecuador quietly finished second in South American qualifying, ahead of Colombia, Uruguay, and Brazil, while conceding just five goals in 18 matches.

That's an elite defensive foundation. Germany remains dangerous on talent alone, but they enter this tournament with questions, while Ivory Coast are difficult to trust consistently. If Ecuador can carry their qualifying form into the World Cup, they have the profile of a team capable of surprising people and making a deep run.

Odds: +10000 at bet365

Sam Farley:  Japan

Japan have been consistently strong for years, but this version feels a step ahead. They are organized, hardworking, technically sound, and capable of controlling possession when needed. While they may lack a world-class striker, they have enough quality across the pitch to surprise some of the tournament favorites.

Odds: +5000 at bet365

James Eastham: Switzerland

Switzerland impressed at Euro 2024, landed in one of the easier groups in the tournament, and have lost just once in their last 14 matches. Their consistency and experience make them a more dangerous dark horse than the market suggests.

Odds: +8000 at bet365

Jason Ence: Netherlands

Ronald Koeman has absurd defensive talent at his disposal, and the Dutch haven't lost a World Cup match outside penalties since 2010. If Donyell Malen's form carries over from Roma, their outstanding midfield can provide him enough service to get wins. 

Odds: +2500 at bet365

Emmanuel Rosu: Norway

Norway are back at the World Cup for the first time in 28 years and arrive with one of the most talented squads in their modern history. With Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard leading the way, Rosu believes the Norwegians can make noise well beyond the group stage.

Odds: +2500 at bet365

More World Cup picks from Covers

• World Cup odds
• Golden Boot odds
• World Cup AI predictions
• World Cup group standings

World Cup predictions: Who takes home the Golden Boot?

Chris Vasile: Harry Kane

There’s a lot to like about Harry Kane’s chances of winning the Golden Boot. He already owns one after scoring six goals at the 2018 World Cup and arrives in outstanding form following a 60-goal season across all competitions for Bayern Munich.

Kane is England's captain, primary penalty taker, and one of the most clinical finishers in world football. Just as importantly, England's group-stage schedule provides opportunities to get off to a fast start, and in a market where every goal matters, that early scoring burst can be the difference.

Odds: +650 at bet365

Sam Farley:  Kylian Mbappe

If France reach the final, Mbappe will have every opportunity to contend for another Golden Boot. Despite criticism during his first season at Real Madrid, he continued to produce elite numbers and remains one of the most dangerous scorers in world football.

Odds: +550 at bet365

James Eastham: Harry Kane

Kane says he is in the best mental and physical shape of his career. After a prolific season with Bayern Munich, the England captain enters the tournament with proven World Cup pedigree and the added benefit of taking penalties.

Odds: +650 at bet365

Jason Ence: Mikel Oyarzabal

While much of the attention falls on Lamine Yamal, Oyarzabal keeps finding the back of the net. He scored six goals in six European qualifiers and should continue benefiting from the space created by Spain's creative stars.

Odds: +1200 at bet365

Emmanuel Rosu: Erling Haaland

Haaland could build an early lead in the Golden Boot race thanks to favorable group-stage opposition. If Norway advance, the Manchester City striker should have enough opportunities to remain among the tournament's leading scorers.

Odds: +1400 at bet365

World Cup predictions: Our experts' favorite prop

Chris Vasile: Portugal to reach the quarterfinals

Portugal might have the widest range of outcomes of any team in the tournament. When everything clicks, they look capable of winning the World Cup. More importantly for this bet, they should dominate Group K and set themselves up with one of the softer knockout paths in the bracket.

A group win would likely earn Portugal a Round of 32 matchup against a third-place qualifier, followed by a Round of 16 opponent from a section featuring Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Switzerland, or another third-place team. The quarterfinals feel like the floor rather than the ceiling.

Odds: +100 at bet365

Sam Farley: Netherlands/Japan Group F exacta

The Netherlands and Japan look comfortably stronger than the rest of Group F. Farley expects both sides to finish with at least six points and believes the market is undervaluing their chances of locking down the top two spots.

Odds: +125 at bet365

James Eastham: Folarin Balogun top USA goalscorer

Balogun closed the club season in excellent form, scoring 11 goals in his final 14 starts for Monaco. He has also looked sharp in recent U.S. friendlies and is well-positioned to lead the Americans in scoring on home soil.

Odds: +350 at bet365

Jason Ence: Over 10 own goals

Euro 2024 produced 10 own goals, and the expanded 48-team World Cup creates even more opportunities for deflections and defensive miscues. More matches and more overmatched teams could make this quirky prop surprisingly valuable.

Odds: +150 at bet365

Emmanuel Rosu: England eliminated in the QF

It's not coming home, I guess. England look to be lacking polish ahead of the North American World Cup, and I can't see them reaching the top four this time around.

Odds: +400 at bet365

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