Betting on the 2026 World Cup Winner – Early Odds and Top Pick to Win
- We are 3 years away from the next World Cup, and France is seen as the No. 1 favorite to win.
- Defending champion Argentina will likely be without the soccer GOAT Lionel Messi at the 2026 World Cup.
- Italy (+1800) looks determined to win the trophy after missing two straight World Cups.
We might be three years away from the next FIFA World Cup, but some online betting sites have already published their 2026 World Cup odds.
You can back your favorite team immediately; we guarantee you will get great odds. This includes the 2026 FIFA World Cup odds for the main favorites as well.
France, Brazil, England, and Argentina all come with lucrative prices, which I don’t think will happen in 2024. The favorites’ odds will shorten as the greatest tournament in the soccer universe approaches.
If you’re considering making a long-term investment, now is the time to bet on the 2026 World Cup.
Early Odds to Win the 2026 World Cup
There are seven teams with odds of under +1000 at BetUS S. Among those are Argentina and France, the two teams that played in the Final of the last World Cup.
Brazil is also there, the nation with more World Cup trophies than anyone else on the planet.
The other four national teams with the 2026 World Cup odds coming in the form of a three-figure number are England, Germany, Spain, and Portugal.
When it comes to notable underdogs, Italy mustn’t be overlooked with the odds of +1800. Further, the three World Cup hosts – the United States, Mexico, and Canada – all have odds longer than +2000.
BetUS offers a generous welcome bonus and provides a well-rounded gambling experience. Still, you can learn more about that by reading our BetUS review, or if you’re feeling daring, placing a bet on the 2026 FIFA World Cup odds.
Why France Is the 2026 World Cup Favorite
It would be crazy not to think of France as the No. 1 favorite to win the 2026 World Cup.
First, this team won the 2018 tournament and finished second in 2022 after losing to Lionel Messi’s Argentina on penalties.
Speaking of Messi, the GOAT probably won’t participate in the 2026 event. It’s just the opposite when it comes to France’s key men. Most of them will travel to North America in three years.
If you look at the players who played for France in the 2022 Final, you’ll see that most of them are still very young. In fact, 13 of the 18 players featured in the spectacle at Lusail Iconic Stadium will be under 30 in 2026.
Other Potential World Cup Contenders for 2026
With the 2026 World Cup winner odds, Argentina is the second favorite to win the trophy. However, I’d recommend staying away from this team at all costs.
The real reason why Argentina’s 2026 World Cup odds are just +500 is that this is the world’s reigning champion. But you need to remember that “La Albiceleste” won the trophy in Qatar thanks to Lionel Messi.
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi is a serial winner.
— Sholy Nation Sports (@Sholynationsp) May 23, 2023
🏆 U20 World Cup (2005)
🏆 Summer Olympics (2008)
🏆 FIFA World Cup (2022)
🏆 Copa América (2021)
🏆 Finalissima (2022)
Lifting trophies is his forte. 🐐👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/pJdEPZdMn3
Their captain was nothing short of brilliant in the 2022 tournament, with his performances helping his teammates lift their game to a whole new level. The evidence of Messi’s brilliance in Qatar is that Argentina’s captain won the World Cup MVP award (The Golden Ball).
Born June 24, 1987, Messi will turn 39 during the next World Cup. So even if Argentina’s coaches persuade him to unretire from the national team, no one should expect to see magic from “The Messiah” in 2026.
Without Messi, Argentina stands no chance against other World Cup contenders like England, Germany, Spain, or Portugal. I think all of those should have way shorter 2026 FIFA World Cup odds than Argentina.
In fact, I think there’s one +1800 underdog that deserves the 2026 World Cup odds that are shorter than those of the defending champion. The team in question is Italy.
My Favorite 2026 World Cup Sleeper
With the 2026 World Cup betting odds of +1800, Italy is seen as one of the underdogs. However, I think it’s only temporary.
Italy’s World Cup 2026 odds are guaranteed to shorten drastically within the next three years.
The four-time World Cup winner failed to qualify for the last two tournaments. But “Gli Azzurri” just can’t miss it for the third time in a row.
Not only am I certain they’ll qualify, but I also think they will go very far, possibly even to the Final. Their current roster is made up of relatively young players with plenty of experience playing at the highest level.
2026 World Cup Betting Strategy
The World Cup history teaches us that the public knows best.
Ahead of the 2022 tournament, Brazil was the team with the shortest odds, but the highest betting volume was on Argentina. A huge number of bettors put their money on Messi & Co., whose odds were somewhere in the ballpark of +700.
The reason I’m telling you all this is to make you forget about the 2026 World Cup odds when making your betting decision.
Another piece of advice I have for you is to start betting on the World Cup ASAP. This goes especially for those who want to back underdogs like England, Germany, or Italy.
It’s because their 2026 World Cup odds are bound to shorten in the future.
Further, I also advise you to explore all the available soccer betting markets for the 2026 tournament.
Instead of just sticking to the 2026 World Cup winner market, why not consider betting on things like top scorer (e.g., Kylian Mbappe), best North American team (USMNT), best goalkeeper (Gianluigi Donnarumma), and others).
Early 2026 World Cup Winner Prediction
As of right now, France looks certain to lift the trophy in 2026.
The World Cup 2026 odds of +400 are decent, so if you want to quadruple your investment in three years, put some money on “Les Bleus.”
I also think it’s very likely that Kylian Mbappe will win the top scorer award, with Gianluigi Donnarumma being crowned the best goalie of the tournament.
On top of everything, I also expect Team US to go far.
Last time, the Americans had their journey cut short by the Netherlands, but in 2026, I think they will get farther.
Although we have a bit of time before the next World Cup, the women’s World Cup will take place this summer in Australia and New Zealand. Be sure to check out those odds below.
Footnote:
- Tournament information is taken from the official FIFA website.