The 2026 FIFA World Cup is fast approaching, with this month’s international break a last chance for teams to tune up ahead of the tournament.
As we count down to football’s biggest event, which teams are the favourites to take home the trophy?
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2026 FIFA World Cup – Outright Winner Odds
Brazil – 9/1
Brazil endured an arduous road to World Cup qualification after a fifth-place finish in South America. The Selecao were beaten by France last week, their third defeat in their last six games, which also includes reverses against Bolivia and Japan.
However, the five-time world champions are not a team to write off. In Vinicius Junior and Raphinha, the South Americans have two of the world’s best attacking talents and a head coach in Carlo Ancelotti whose credentials are unmatched across the tournament’s dugouts.
Brazil’s last success on the world stage came in 2002, after scraping through the qualification phase. Could history repeat itself?
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Argentina – 17/2
The holders head into the tournament as fourth-favourites, as things stand. Argentina eased to qualification by winning South America’s qualification phase, boasting a nine-point advantage over the nearest challengers, Ecuador.
La Albiceleste leaned heavily on Lionel Messi’s brilliance to win the tournament in 2022, but the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will turn 39 during the summer.
Lionel Scaloni needs Messi’s supporting cast to step up alongside him, with Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez chief support. The core of the World Cup-winning team remains with many, including Alvarez and Enzo Fernández, having matured.
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France – 15/2
Les Bleus boast arguably the deepest depth of talent of any would-be contenders.
The firepower of the French is formidable, with Didier Deschamps somehow left to decide between Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Hugo Ekitike, Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki, and Marcus Thuram for his attacking roles. It’s a welcome headache.
After back-to-back final appearances, this group and head coach know how to go far, in what will be Deschamps’ last tournament. If France can navigate a tricky group that features an AFCON-stripped Senegal and a Norway side backed as dark horses, they’ll be tough to stop.
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England – 6/1
Can England end their 60-year wait for World Cup success? The Three Lions breezed through qualification with eight wins from eight games and zero goals conceded. It was a comfortable passage for Thomas Tuchel’s team, but England have been down this road before.
England reached the European Championship finals in 2020 and 2024 but failed to get over the line. Tuchel will aim to prove he is the coach to do it.
Spain – 5/1
Spain stormed to Euro 2024 success with a perfect record, and while La Roja did not set the world alight in World Cup qualification, the Spanish remain the team to beat.
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Lamine Yamal might just be the most ludicrously talented teenager we’ve seen for some time, and in Pedri, the national team have the perfect heir to World-Cup winning great Andres Iniesta.
There are selections to decide for Luis de la Fuenta, notably who starts at centre-back and who claims the gloves, with David Raya pushing established number one Unai Simon hard. That said, if you’re biggest issues are strong competition for places, you’re in pretty good nick.
Read – Midfield Magicians: Portugal’s playmaker supreme, Rui Costa
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