Is Spain the Best Bet to Win the 2026 World Cup?

The latest 2026 World Cup odds have Spain favored to win it all this year. France, the runner-up in 2022, is a close second in the updated betting lines. 

You can bet on the World Cup at any time, but wagering on pre-tournament odds is the best way to lock in top value. Continue reading to see the opening odds for the 2026 World Cup and a closer look at the top contenders ahead of the Group Stage. 

2026 World Cup Winner Odds

Lucky Rebel provided the following 2026 World Cup winner odds. 

Spain is the betting favorite to win the 2026 World Cup. The Spanish men’s team won their first World Cup title in 2010 and are listed at +450 odds to win this year. 

At +450 odds, Spain’s implied win probability is 18.18%. 

France is a close second at 5-1 odds. The French team, led by Kylian Mbappé, finished second in 2022 after losing to Argentina in the Finals. Mbappé and company also won the silver medal at the 2024 Olympics in France. 

England (+750) and Portugal (+800) are also expected to be top contenders. Brazil and defending champion Argentina are tied for the fifth-best odds at +900.  

Lucky Rebel has dozens of markets for the 2026 World Cup, including exciting futures betting lines. Read our free Lucky Rebel review to learn more about this top World Cup sportsbook.

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Why is Spain Favored to Win the 2026 World Cup?

Spain had a disappointing showing at the 2022 World Cup, losing in the Round of 16 to Morocco on penalties, 3-0. The Spanish team did not take long to bounce back, though, and won gold at the 2024 Olympics, defeating host country France 5-3 in the final. 

Fermín López and Sergio Camello were a major part of Spain’s success in the Olympics, each scoring two goals in the gold medal match. 

López will miss the tournament with a fracture in his right foot, and Camello did not make the team. Despite being without two of its Olympic heroes, Spain is the top seed in the World Cup and has a clear path to its second title. 

Spain is in Group H and will start against three teams who failed to qualify for the 2024 Olympics: Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay. Cape Verde is making its World Cup debut, and Saudi Arabia has never won. Uruguay won the first World Cup in 1930, but its last title came in 1950. 

An easy group is not the only reason to believe in Spain. Overcoming the absences of López and Camello, two of their top three scorers from the Olympics, will be tough, but Spain is a veteran team that has proven itself time and again in recent international competitions.

More Top 2026 World Cup Contenders

• France (+500)
• England (+750)
• Portugal (+800)

France finished second at the 2022 World Cup and earned the silver at the 2024 Olympics, so it is not surprising that it has the second-best odds to win this year’s tournament. The French are listed at 5-1 odds, just ahead of England (+750) and Portugal (+800). 

France (+500)

France has been a dominant team in recent years but has fallen short of expectations since their 2018 World Cup win. 

Kylian Mbappé led all goal scorers at the 2022 World Cup with eight goals, including a hat-trick in the Final. Despite Mbappé’s efforts, France lost in a penalty shootout to Argentina. 

France also came up short at the 2024 Olympics, losing to Spain in the gold-medal game as the host city. 

Mbappé’s presence alone makes France a contender. His 12 goals are tied with Pelé for sixth all-time in World Cup history. Jean-Philippe Mateta has also been a force in international play, including scoring five goals, the third-most, in the 2024 Olympics.

England (+750)

England advanced to the Quarter-finals in the 2022 World Cup before losing to France 2-1. After skipping the 2024 Olympics, the England National Team went 7-1 in international play in 2025. 

So, 2026 has not been as friendly to the English team. They 1-1-1, with their only win so far coming against New Zealand. They have one last tune-up game, a friendly against Costa Rica, before group play starts. 

England is in Group L, where they will face Croatia, Ghana, and Panama in the Group Stage.  

Team Captain Harry Kane scored six goals during the 2018 World Cup, winning the Golden Boot. He has eight total in World Cup competition, putting him just two goals shy of Gary Lineker’s English record (10). The 32-year-old is still playing at a high level and is a top contender for the Ballon d’Or this year. 

Portugal (+800)

Rounding out the top four in the latest odds to win the 2026 World Cup is Portugal at +800 odds. 

This will be Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup, giving him and Portugal extra motivation to win their first World Cup. Ronaldo has eight goals in 22 World Cup matches, tying him for the 26th-most of all time. 

Ronaldo and fellow soccer legend Lionel Messi will become the first players to appear in six World Cups. However, Ronaldo and Portugal have not sniffed a Final since their fourth-place finish in 2006. 

The only other time Ronaldo and company finished in the Top 10 was their eight-place finish in 2022. They have also been eliminated in the Round of 16 twice (2010, 2018) and did not make it out of the Group Stage in 2014. 

Which Host Country has the Best Odds?

• Mexico (+6500)
• USA (+7500)
• Canada (+20000)

Mexico has the best odds of any co-hosting nation to win the World Cup at 65-1. The USA is next at +7500, while Canada is a distant third at +20000. 

Team Mexico failed to get past the Group Stage in 2022, ending a streak of seven consecutive Round of 16 eliminations (1994-2018). However, Mexico’s best performances came in 1970 and 1986, advancing to the quarter-finals both times while hosting the tournament. 

The USA and Canada have also struggled in the World Cup historically. Team Canada has only qualified for the World Cup twice, losing in the Group Stage in 1986 and 2022. The US finished third in the inaugural 1930 World Cup but has only advanced past the Round of 16 once since then (2002). 

Best 2026 World Cup Sleepers

• Morocco (+5500)
• Uruguay (+9000)

With a 48-team field, World Cup bettors have more sleeper options than ever before. My top dark horses for the 2026 World Cup are Morocco (+5500) and Uruguay (+9000). 

Morocco (+5500)

Morocco is listed at 55-1 odds to become the first African or Arab nation to win the World Cup. They have long odds, but Morocco has been a team on the rise in recent years. 

In the 2022 tournament, they set a record for the best finish by any team in the CAF, finishing fourth. 

The Moroccans won Group F in 2022, then went on to beat Spain and Portugal. However, they lost to France in the Semis and then fell 2-1 to Croatia in the third-place game. 

Morocco also had a great showing at the 2024 Olympics, winning a bronze medal. Soufiane Rahimi led all scorers in the Paris Olympics with eight goals, and he will be suiting up for Morocco again in the World Cup. 

Uruguay (+9000)

Another sleeper to watch is Uruguay, which is listed at +9000 odds to win the World Cup. This is Uruguay’s fifth straight World Cup appearance, and it has made it to at least the Round of 16 in three of its previous four appearances. 

It is unlikely Uruguay will beat Spain for the top spot in Group H, but it has a strong shot to earn the second spot in the Knockout Stage over Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia. If it does advance, Uruguay’s odds will shorten dramatically, offering a chance to profit by taking an early cash-out. 

2026 World Cup Predictions

Spain is the betting favorite, but my 2026 World Cup prediction is for France (+500) to win the tournament. 

Since winning in 2018, France finished second at the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics. Their team chemistry and Mbappé’s scoring ability will make France a tough out again in 2026. They will avenge their shortcomings from recent tournaments and win it all again this year.   

Where to Bet on the 2026 World Cup Winner

Lucky Rebel has the best odds for the 2026 World Cup. In addition to offering exciting odds on the winner, it also offers dozens of props and futures for the tournament. 

Sign up for a Lucky Rebel account today to bet on the 2026 World Cup. New members who make a qualifying first deposit can get up to $1,250 in extra funds for betting on the World Cup.