3 Jun 2026 | Sportsbetting
2026 World Cup Favorites: These Teams Are in the Running for the Title
Who are the favorites for the 2026 World Cup? A brief look at Spain, France, England, and others. Featuring current betting odds and analysis from MERKUR BETS.
approx. 5 min.
2026 World Cup Favorites: These Teams Are in the Running for the Title
Spain and France lead the pack of World Cup favorites with the lowest odds: the field hasn’t been this close in a long time. Behind them, England, Brazil, Argentina, Portugal, and Germany form a tightly packed group of contenders. Seven nations, all with realistic chances of winning the title, but all with different strengths and weaknesses.
World Cup titles have so far been won exclusively by teams from Europe and South America. Europe dominated for long stretches from 2006 to 2022, until Argentina recently broke that streak and brought the title back to South America. Now Argentina and Brazil want to keep the trophy on their continent. On the other hand, Spain, France, and England want to reaffirm the dominance of European soccer. The clash of the continents runs like a thread through World Cup history and is likely to be the central theme in North America as well.
2026 World Cup: Favorites
- Spain
- France
- England
- Brazil
- Argentina
- Portugal
- Germany
The odds for the favorites
| Spain | Odds: 5.50 |
| France | Odds: 6.00 |
| England | Odds: 7.00 |
| Brazil | Odds: 9.00 |
| Argentina | Odds: 9.00 |
| Portugal | Odds: 12.00 |
| Germany | Odds: 13.00 |
| Odds: 5.50 |
| Odds: 6.00 |
| Odds: 7.00 |
| Odds: 9.00 |
| Odds: 9.00 |
| Odds: 12.00 |
| Odds: 13.00 |
2026 World Cup: A Brief Look at the Favorites
Spain
Spain heads to North America as the reigning European champion and is widely regarded as the top favorite to win the title. The squad is a top-notch mix of young rising stars like Lamine Yamal and experienced key players. In World Cup Group H , the opponents are manageable: Uruguay is the only real hurdle. Spain should breeze through the group stage and be fully ready for the knockout rounds.
France
France boasts the most expensive World Cup squad and has reached the last two World Cup finals. A record that speaks for itself. However, World Cup Group I, featuring Senegal and Norway, is the toughest of all the groups. France must stay focused from the start, but with the individual quality of Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, and the rest of the squad, they should be able to beat any opponent.
England
England finished qualifying without conceding a single goal: a sign of defensive stability under Thomas Tuchel. In World Cup Group L, Croatia awaits as a tough opponent. England has been waiting for its next World Cup title since 1966. With this squad, the conditions are better than they have been in a long time.
Brazil
Brazil has signed Carlo Ancelotti, one of the most experienced and talented coaches in the world. The record-holding world champions rely on tactical discipline and experience. However, their qualifying campaign was very inconsistent. In World Cup Group C , Brazil will face Morocco, among others. If Brazil makes it through the group stage, the team will be tough to beat once the knockout rounds begin.
Argentina
Argentina is the defending champion and has a roster that has hardly changed since 2022. The team plays well together, but the squad has lost some of its freshness. Lionel Messi is facing his final World Cup. World Cup Group J, featuring Austria, Algeria, and Jordan, is not a major hurdle. Whether Argentina can actually win the title again depends heavily on how the experienced regulars hold up physically over the long tournament.
Portugal
Portugal has recently made a comeback with two Nations League victories in 2019 and 2025, demonstrating that the team has grown together. World Cup Group K, with Colombia as the main challenger, is no easy task. The squad impresses with a good mix of experienced players and young, up-and-coming talents.
Germany
Germany isn't among the top five World Cup favorites in the betting odds—a reasonable assessment given the results of recent tournaments. Under Julian Nagelsmann, however, the team showed at the 2024 European Championship on home soil that it can once again be a tournament-winning side. With Curaçao, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador, World Cup Group E is one of the most manageable groupings of all. Germany should advance from the group stage without any problems and will need to find its stride in the knockout rounds.
Which favorite has the most potential?
The favorites for the 2026 World Cup, ranked by current betting odds:
Our seven dark horses, from the hottest bet to the biggest underdog:
- Spain: European champions, best squad, manageable group
- France: World No. 1, most expensive squad, difficult group
- England: A generation at the peak of its powers, solid group opponents
- Brazil: Record-holding world champions with a new coach, mixed qualifying campaign
- Argentina: Defending champions with a well-oiled team on the field
- Portugal: Nations League winners, with underrated title chances
- Germany: Easiest group of all the favorites, on an upward trend under Nagelsmann
Which team is your favorite to win the 2026 World Cup? Check out the latest odds for all the title contenders at MERKUR BETS .
FAQ – Favorites for the 2026 World Cup
According to current bookmaker odds, Spain and France are the joint favorites. Spain arrives as the reigning European champion, while France is ranked number one in the world and boasts the most expensive squad in the tournament.
It's possible, but it will be a challenge. The team is well-established, and Messi is heading into his final World Cup. At the same time, the team has lost some of its spark and is no longer the clear favorite. Group J is manageable; everything will come down to the knockout rounds.
The results of recent tournaments have shaken confidence in the DFB team. However, the 2024 European Championship, hosted on home soil, has shown that the team is back on track under Nagelsmann.
Germany has the most manageable group of all seven favorites, facing Curaçao, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador. Things are tougher for France, which will face Senegal and Norway in Group I: the toughest group in the group stage among the title contenders.
A major weakness—this is a risk for almost all top teams. If Kylian Mbappé is sidelined for France, the team loses its most important game-changer. England without Jude Bellingham or Harry Kane would be a significantly weaker side. Spain is best equipped to handle absences thanks to its depth. For Argentina, a lot depends on Lionel Messi, but Portugal has recently shown that the team can function even without a single superstar. Anyone picking a favorite should keep an eye on squad news right before the tournament starts.
