The most recent international break is over, and now national teams are getting down to the business of planning for the long awaited 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In the lead-up to the tournament in the U.S, Canada, and Mexico, a number of countries have shown remarkable skill, strong individual performances, and impressive tactical intelligence. Though historical giants like Brazil and Argentina are still strong contenders, new teams like Italy and Portugal have a lot of talented players.
Argentina won in Qatar 2022, mostly because of Messi’s unwavering determination and exceptional skill. La Albiceleste thrashed Bolivia 6-0, and La Pulga scored a hat trick to prove he is still a unique player at the best level. However, the next World Cup will see Lionel Messi in his 39th year.
We think Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina team will have a hard time defending the title since they are so dependent on one of the greatest players of all time.
As the next World Cup comes around, our expert, Kate Richardson reveals the best teams in the world and assesses their chances of winning.
World Cup 2026 Odds: Expert Prediction of Teams That Will Most Likely Win the Next FIFA World Cup
It might interest you to know that the 2026 World Cup will have more fixtures than any other tournament in the past. With 48 nations now participating (was 32 in 2022), the expanded tournament will feature 104 matches — 40 more than what we had in Qatar — and a single-elimination knockout round with 32 teams.
Below is a table of odds for the 2026 World Cup, provided by some of the best online betting platforms:
| BetMGM | DraftKings | Bet365 | Caesars | |
| Brazil | +600 | +600 | +600 | +650 |
| Spain | +650 | +600 | +600 | +550 |
| France | +600 | +600 | +600 | +600 |
| England | +700 | +650 | +650 | +750 |
| Germany | +900 | +1000 | +1000 | +1100 |
| Argentina | +900 | +800 | +1000 | +1100 |
| Portugal | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 | +1600 |
| Italy | +2500 | +2000 | +2200 | +2000 |
| Netherlands | +1600 | +1600 | +2000 | +1800 |
| Uruguay | +2000 | +2000 | +2500 | +2800 |
Top Contenders for the 2026 World Cup
Worldwide, football fans are getting more and more pumped up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. While some countries have already started preparing, others are still looking for ways to get involved.
For countries that did not qualify to the Mundial, the most probable way of participating is backing one of the favorites to win or even betting on the games. Bettors in countries like Bangladesh and other parts of South Asia that have no representatives at the World Cup have an opportunity to enjoy safe and secure betting experience with a sprinkle of fun.
If you fall into this category, the tournament is a good time to engage leading bookmakers and win some bucks on your predictions. Unsure of which sportsbooks to try, MightyTips has compiled the most popular in Bangladesh that offer exciting options for bettors. Beyond football, you can also enjoy other sports betting markets when the World Cup is over.
But for now, let’s take a look at some of the top contenders for the 2026 World Cup below:
France
The fact that Didier Deschamps left captain and star performer, Kylian Mbappe, out of his October call-up demonstrates his authority and resolve.
According to the Daily Mail, the Real Madrid legend was reportedly “flabbergasted” by a rape and sexual harassment charge, as he witnessed his team’s dominance in the previous international window.
Even without Mbappe, France beat Israel and Belgium in UEFA Nations League games, showing that they are the better team. Not only that, Les Bleus also proved they could still win without their long-time heroes.
As soon as the 2024 European tournament disaster hit France, Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann announced their retirement from international football.
But now that Ousmane Dembele and Marcus Thuram are playing well for their country, the future of the two-time world winners is safe.
Spain
This may seem like an odd pick, but Spain’s recent comeback and dedication to helping young players grow make them strong competitors for the World Cup.
There was no stopping Luis de la Fuente’s overachieving team as they won the Euro 2024 title. They played amazing football and had great team spirit, which helped them win.
With Rodri in the middle of the pitch, the attacking pair of Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal proved to be unstoppable. There were also efforts from Gavi, Plus Pedri, and Martin Zubimendi, all of whom we expect to play major roles in Spain’s future success.
The diverse range of La Furia Roja’s team’s imagination, vision, and technical skill makes them a formidable force.
Brazil
After their performance at the 2024 Copa America, it comes as a surprise to find Brazil featuring on this list. In fact, just before the games, the legendary Ronaldinho said “I’m not going to watch any of the games. Everything is missing, determination, joy, not playing well. I’m not even going to watch one game.”
To be clear, Brazil has a global standing thanks to its record five World Cup victories.
But they didn’t do well at Copa America, struggled in World Cup qualifying, and by the next tournament, it will have been 24 years since they last made a World Cup final. Still, it’s Brazil, they’re incredibly popular, and they have a tonne of talented young attackers.
England
After a disappointing October, England appointed Thomas Tuchel, a former Chelsea manager, to replace Gareth Southgate permanently.
The FA’s trial run with caretaker boss Lee Carsley exposed the necessity for a more seasoned figurehead.
With Tuchel in charge, the Three Lions should gain a lot of useful experience and strategies, especially when things get tough.
To say that England has the best football team in the world would be too much of an exaggeration.
In theory, this squad, which includes, looks formidable:
- Phil Foden
- Harry Kane
- Cole Palmer
- Jude Bellingham
But they have often failed to achieve outstanding results at important tournaments. With Tuchel, that might change.
Germany
Even after their 1-0 victory over the Netherlands despite many key players sustaining injuries, Julian Nagelsmann said the dressing room feels very energised and excited. In his words, “We’ve got the ambition to keep going. There’s a supercharged atmosphere in the dressing room – they want to win,”
According to Nagelsmann, Germany performed their finest first half of the season, and it seems like things are only going to get better from here. Perhaps something unique is in the works.
Argentina
We daresay that Argentina’s got better chances than many other countries on this list. Current champions of the World Cup, Copa America, and South American qualifiers – if those aren’t enough proof, then we wonder what is. Although after losing to Paraguay, many began to question whether or not this ageing team has what it takes to pull stunts in 2026.
Portugal
Every move Cristiano Ronaldo makes in the game is driven by his strong desire to win the World Cup before he retires.
Though he will be 41 years old, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will undoubtedly give it his best to add one final trophy to his impressive collection.
Cristiano motivates his team with his unwavering drive and hard work, both on and off the game.
Now that players like Rafael Leao, Bernardo Silva, and Diogo Jota are at the top of their game, he can count on a bright group of support players to help Portugal’s prospects on the world stage.
But if the Selecao can’t shift their attention away from Ronaldo and towards building a strong team, they’ll be making a huge error.
Previous World Cup winners and Host Nations
Check out our list of winners from 1986 till the 2022 World Cup below. With Brazil still the only country to have won five, and Italy and Brazil being the only nations to have won consecutive titles, can Argentina successfully defend their title in 2026?
| Year | Host | Winner |
| 1986 | Mexico | Argentina |
| 1990 | Italy | Germany |
| 1994 | USA | Brazil |
| 1998 | France | France |
| 2002 | Korea and Japan | Brazil |
| 2006 | Germany | Italy |
| 2010 | South Africa | Spain |
| 2014 | Brazil | Germany |
| 2018 | Russia | France |
| 2022 | Qatar | Argentina |
| 2026 | North America | TBD |
Final Thoughts on Predictions for the FIFA World Cup 2026
This 2026 mundial is the first time the FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by three nations, so, of course, there are a lot of expectations. Only about six countries have dominated the tournament in the last 40 years.
Will one of these perennial winners steal the spotlight again or will a new nation arise? All roads lead to the USA, Canada and Mexico next year to find out.
