The countdown is on to next year’s 2026 FIFA World Cup and with excitement already building, the USA, along with their co-hosts Canada and Mexico, are gearing up to stage what promises to be the biggest edition of the tournament in history.
Of the 48 nations preparing to compete at the World Cup, just a handful will travel with genuine trophy-winning intent and below, we have taken a closer look at some of the favorites, contenders and dark horses for World Cup glory in 2026.
World Cup 2026: The Hosts – Canada to ruffle feathers?
Traditionally, the host nation tends to do well at the World Cup, though next year, three countries will have the opportunity to harness home advantage, which should add a different dynamic to the 2026 edition of the competition.
Of the three hosts involved, Canada is the least-fancied outfit behind the USA and Mexico, and fans exploring World Cup winner markets or anyone planning visit Calgary for sportsbook promotions ahead of the tournament will see The Canucks listed at a whopping 150/1 in the outright stakes.
However, Canada’s run to third spot at the recent CONCACAF Nations League, which included a 2-1 playoff win over the USA, caught the eye and suggested Les Rogues could be worth tracking closely.
With master motivator Jesse Marsch at the helm and players like Jonathan David (Juventus), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) and Stephen Eustáquio (Porto) providing star quality, Canada could punch above their weight at the World Cup.
The Favorites – Spain (+500)
Favourites Spain continue to dominate World Cup outright markets on the back of their superb triumph at Euro 2024 and La Roja will be determined to make an impact stateside, having flopped badly at each of the last editions of the tournament.
Spain was eliminated in the Round of 16 at both the 2018 and 2022 iterations of the World Cup, though their unexpected failures in Russia and Qatar could be a source of extra motivation in 2026.
Winger Lamine Yamal provides the x-factor, though a talented supporting cast that includes Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, Dani Olmo, Pedri and Nico Williams gives the Spanish side a menacing look overall.
Spain has an impressive 75%-win rate under popular coach Luis de la Fuente since December 2022, so expect them to be hard to beat next year.
World Cup 2026: The Contenders
Brazil (+650)
With serial winner and legendary coach Carlo Ancelotti in the hotseat and a deep pool of talent to pick from, Brazil should be an intriguing prospect at next year’s World Cup.
Brazil has won the World Cup a record five times, however, their last triumph was all the way back in 2002 and four of their last five adventures in the competition ended at the quarter-final stage.
Ancelotti knows how to turn groups of talented individuals into winning teams however, and with the tactically astute Italian calling the shots, Brazil are likely to be a popular pick with any punters scanning the outright World Cup markets.
France (+650)
Beaten World Cup 2022 finalists France will return for another bash at international glory next year and few nations will travel to next year’s tournament with a stronger squad than Les Bleus.
Real Madrid talisman Kylian Mbappe will be the headline act again, though France has an abundance of quality elsewhere, with Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise and PSG trio Desire Doure, Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele all primed to make a splash.
Though they made it to the final in Qatar, France has generally had a habit of underperforming at World Cups that are held outside Europe, however. They were dumped out in the quarter-finals in Brazil 2014 and failed to make it past the group stage in South Africa 2010 and in Japan/South Korea 2006.
France is unlikely to befall the same fate next year however, and their players should be doubly determined to perform in a bid to give long-serving coach Didier Deschamps the perfect send-off, with the popular boss set to retire when World Cup 2026 is over.
England (+700)
Beaten finalists at each of the last two editions of the European Championships (2020 & 2024) and semi-finalists and quarter-finalists in the last two iterations of the World Cup, England has been threatening to end their lengthy wait for a first trophy since 1966.
However, with Gareth Southgate, who was in charge of the Three Lions for all of the above, gone and replaced by new manager Thomas Tuchel, England is at the rebuilding stage again and their prospects at World Cup 2026 could be impacted as a result.
In Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and the evergreen Harry Kane have some world-class individuals, though as always with the Three Lions, it could prove difficult for them to field a balanced team. Their position just behind the front-runners in the outright betting markets reflects that.
Dark Horses – Portugal (+1100)
Portugal has never won the World Cup, though their recent Nations League Final win over Spain in June felt like a significant moment for the Seleção, who will be itching to taste glory again next year.
Veteran Cristiano Ronaldo, who is likely to play on the World Cup stage for the last time in 2026, is the star attraction, though Portugal is far from a one-man show.
Portugal looks particularly strong in midfield, where Champions League-winning PSG duo, Vitinha and Joao Neves, can set the tempo, while the creative passing of Bruno Fernandes should ensure that a steady supply of chances continues to flow.
Do not be surprised if Portugal defies their underdog status at World Cup 2026.
Featured image credit: DepositPhotos.com
