2026 FIFA World Cup Winner Odds and Predictions – Who Lifts the World Cup Trophy?

• World Cup Wins: 1 (2010)
• 2022 World Cup: Round of 16
• Manager: Luis de la Fuente
• Key Players: Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Rodri, David Raya

Spain seems to be back after a down period that followed an incredible 2008-2012 run where they won the World Cup, and back-to-back European Championships. They’ve gone out in the Round of 16 in each of the last two World Cups, but they’re coming off a terrific run through Euro 2024, where they won.

Lamine Yamal in a 1994 Spain shirt is just the right mix of old and new 📸 pic.twitter.com/83FF2fn3ud

— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 4, 2025

All eyes will be on Lamine Yamal, who will turn 19 in the middle of the 2026 World Cup. The Barcelona wonderkid is one of the favorites in the Ballon d’Or odds, and he won Young Player of the Tournament at Euro 2024.

But it’s not just Yamal, as Spain had six players in the Team of the Tournament. 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri marshals the midfield, but he’s battled injury over the last year. The same goes for Pedri’s Barcelona’s 23-year-old do-everything midfielder. If everyone is healthy, it’s difficult to find a better midfield in the world than “La Roja”.

The defense is my concern with Barcelona. Goalkeeper David Raya is having an exceptional season at Arsenal, and is very underrated. But the defense in front of him with Spain isn’t as good as Arsenal’s. Pau Cubarsí is solid, but he’s still 18. Marc Cucurella leads a decent fullback group, but Spain can be soft in the middle of the back four.

However, manager Luis de la Fuente has a marvelous set of attacking talent, and that’s why Spain sits at the top of the FIFA World Cup winner odds!

• World Cup Wins: 1 (1966)
• 2022 World Cup: Quarterfinals
• Manager: Thomas Tuchel
• Key Players: Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice

The World Cup hasn’t come “home” to England since 1966, but they’re coming off their second consecutive runner-up finish at the Euros, losing to Spain 2-1 in 2024. They lost in the quarterfinals of the 2024 World Cup to France by a score of 2-1.

Ending the year in an England shirt with a win and a perfect World Cup qualifying campaign 💪

A big 2026 coming up and we’ll be giving it our everything. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/YZlWrNDR4U

— Harry Kane (@HKane) November 16, 2025

Harry Kane was not fully fit in Qatar in 2024. When he is, the Bayern Munich star may be the best striker in the world with his goal-scoring ability, but also his willingness to drop deep and pass the ball around. Bukayo Saka is emerging as one of the best players in the world at Arsenal, and club teammate Declan Rice might be the best midfielder on the planet.

Jordan Pickford will have the gloves in goal, and he’s been excellent for England behind a solid defense. Manager Thomas Tuchel’s (who took over for Gareth Southgate) biggest issues are Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold. The Real Madrid teammates have been up and down, but Bellingham was England’s best player in 2024, and he was also excellent in 2022. Alexander-Arnold has battled injuries since moving from Liverpool to Madrid, but with his passing, Tuchel has to find a way to use him.

This is one of the most talented English teams ever, and on their day, can beat anyone. But they have to prove it, and that’s why the “Three Lions” second in the World Cup odds for 2026.

• World Cup Wins: 2 (1998, 2018)
• 2022 World Cup: Runners-Up
• Manager: Didier Deschamps
• Key Players: Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, William Saliba

France has been very successful in recent World Cups, winning in 2018, and losing to Argentina on penalties in 2022. They also went to the Euro 2024 semifinals, where they lost to Spain.

🚨🗣️ Thibaut Courtois: “Kylian Mbappé is unstoppable. In a moment during the match, I said to myself woah, how lucky am I to play with him and not have to face him except with France. Kylian is on another level.” pic.twitter.com/naoVapLYFZ

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) December 4, 2025

Forward Kylian Mbappé leads the Ballon d’Or odds after a scorching start for Real Madrid, and is already second on France’s list of all-time goalscorers with 55. “Les Bleus” also have Ousmane Dembélé, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, although he’s been injured much of this season. The midfield is strong with Real Madrid duo Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouameni, and Michael Olise has blossomed for Bayern Munich.

William Saliba is spectacular for Arsenal in defense, where he’ll probably partner with Dayot Upamecano. Keeper Mike Maignan is one of the most underrated shot-stoppers in the world.

Manager Didier Deschamps will leave his post after his tournament, and has been brilliant for France. Can he leave on a high note? With Mbappe leading the way, France presents a considerable value with their 2026 FIFA World Cup winner odds!

Brazil hasn’t won the World Cup since 2002, which means it’s a crisis for the “Selecao”. They went out in the quarterfinals in 2022, and even lost in the quarterfinals at the 2024 Copa América!

Brazil replaced Dorival Junior with Carlo Ancelotti, the former Real Madrid manager who has won virtually anything, but is trying his hand at a national team. Ancelotti will be tasked with getting the best out of Vinícius Júnior, who played his best under Ancelotti at Madrid. The mercurial forward joins Barcelona’s Raphinha, although keep an eye on Estevão, the 19-year-old who is playing extremely well for Chelsea.

Bruno Guimaraes leads a midfield that is short on depth, but Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhaes should be a great central-defensive pairing. However, fullback is a weak position. Liverpool’s Alisson should be their #1 keeper, but he’s struggled with Liverpool.

I think Brazil’s FIFA World Cup winner odds at +800 are overpriced, but I do see hope with Ancelotti at the helm. However, I don’t think they should be above the next two teams I’ll examine.

• World Cup Wins: 3 (1978, 1986, 2022)
• 2022 World Cup: Winners
• Manager: Lionel Scaloni
• Key Players: Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Alexis Mac Allister, Cristian Romero

Lionel Messi finally won a World Cup with Argentina to add to his GOAT resume as he led them to the 2022 title. He then captained “La Albiceleste” to the win at the 2024 Copa América.

Lionel Messi was asked if Argentina can go for the World Cup again 👀 pic.twitter.com/4W34sfxNpj

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 4, 2025

Messi has been coy about playing in this World Cup, as he’ll turn 39 during the tournament. But I’m going to assume he’ll be there, barring injury. However, manager Lionel Scaloni has to find a way to take pressure off Messi, and that should be Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez. Martinez led Copa América in scoring, while Alvarez scored four goals at the 2022 World Cup. Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister are set in midfield, but I have questions after them.

The defense is also a concern as Nicolás Otamendi will be 38 in February, and Cristian Romero is inconsistent. Furthermore, will Emi Martinez be the starter in goal? He has been under Scaloni, but Martinez hasn’t been good with Aston Villa this season.

I still think Argentina is better than their bitter rivals from Brazil. But Argentina needs a lot to go right, or Messi to play like he did in 2022, to beat these World Cup soccer odds.

• World Cup Wins: 0
• 2022 World Cup: Quarterfinals
• Manager: Roberto Martinez
• Key Players: Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Rúben Dias

Portugal has yet to lift the World Cup, and they’ve lost in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup and at Euro 2024.

Manager Roberto Martinez has to figure out what to do with Cristiano Ronaldo. He’ll be 41 in February and still scoring goals in Saudi Arabia and for Portugal. But he demands a lot of the ball, while Portugal has the likes of Rafael Leao and Pedro Neto, who would offer more mobility up front. The midfield might be as good as Spain’s, led by Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, and Joao Palhinha.

If Rúben Dias is healthy and focused, he’s a fantastic option at the back, although I’m not sure who his partner will be. Diogo Costa is the main man between the sticks.

But the spotlight will be on how Martinez handles Ronaldo. Will he be afraid to drop him? I believe that is the key to the FIFA World Cup odds for the “Selecao das Quinas”.

• World Cup Wins: 0
• 2022 World Cup: Quarterfinals
• Manager: Ronald Koeman
• Key Players: Cody Gakpo, Tijjani Reijnders, Frenkie de Jong, Virgil van Dijk

The Dutch have a long soccer pedigree, but they’ve never won the World Cup! They crashed out in the quarterfinals in 2022, and lost in the semifinals of Euro 2024.

Manager Ronald Koeman will look to build his team from the back. He has three solid options in the middle of defense with Virgil van Dijk, Matthijs de Ligt, and Micky van de Ven. They also have solid fullbacks, led by Jurrien Timber, and Bart Verbruggen is a steady keeper.

Tijjani Reijnders and Frenkie de Jong lead a dynamic midfield. But outside of Cody Gakpo, the “Oranje” are thin up front. That makes me skeptical of their FIFA World Cup winners, because I don’t know where the goals are going to come from.

• World Cup Wins: 0
• 2022 World Cup: Didn’t qualify
• Manager: Ståle Solbakken
• Key Players: Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard, Alexander Sorloth, Kristoffer Ajer

The Netherlands should speak to Norway about a swap, as Erling Haaland is, arguably, the best striker in the world. Haaland led Norway back to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, when they lost in the Round of 16.

Erling Haaland scored in EVERY game of Norway’s World Cup qualifying campaign, as his country qualified for their first World Cup since 1998! 🤖🇳🇴 pic.twitter.com/5fIzOVk7i3

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 17, 2025

The hopes of the “Rode, Hvite, Bla” rest on Haaland’s shoulders, although he’ll have help from Alexander Sorloth up front. Martin Odegaard pulls the strings in midfield, alongside Sander Berge.

But the Norwegian defense is a massive concern against big-time competition. Keeper Orjan Nyland hasn’t played a lot for Sevilla, but is the de facto starter. Manager Stale Solbakken has to hope his attack is firing on all cylinders, because I think they could give up plenty of goals!

• World Cup Wins: 0
• 2022 World Cup: Group Stage
• Manager: Rudi Garcia
• Key Players: Romelu Lukaku, Jeremy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois

Belgium has not finished better than third at the World Cup, which was in 2018, and they fell out in the group stage in 2022. They went out in the Round of 16 at Euro 2024.

Forward Romelu Lukaku and midfielder Kevin De Bruyne are the last of Belgium’s “Golden Generation”, which failed to deliver. They get one more shot, but Belgium’s best player might be Jeremy Doku. The tricky Manchester City winger can beat anyone in the world one-on-one, and he’ll be key to any attacking threats Belgium has.

The defense can be shaky, but Thibaut Courtois is still one of the best keepers in the world. It’s an uphill climb. But at +5000, Belgium provides a great return on their 2026 World Cup odds!