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Peter Green - June 9, 2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has arrived. Forty-eight countries. Three host nations. The biggest football tournament in history is underway across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
With more participants, more group games and more chances for magic moments, the outright betting market for the World Cup 2026 is heating up.
Whether you are betting on a world powerhouse to win the whole thing or picking out a player prop bet, this is one of the most exciting markets in world sport.
As expected, France and Spain are among the co-favourites with most online sportsbooks. England, Brazil, Argentina and Portugal round out the next layer of the betting market. In the sections below we explain why we like the following bets ahead of and during the tournament.
The current world number one ranked country going into this competition is France and, on paper, they have the squad to match that billing. Kylian Mbappe leads the attack, arriving one goal short of Olivier Giroud’s all-time France scoring record of 57. Behind him, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise at Bayern Munich provide the width and creativity. Aurelien Tchouameni at Real Madrid anchors the midfield.
Didier Deschamps takes charge at his final tournament. He will not renew his contract when it expires after this competition. He won the World Cup as a player in 1998 and as a manager in 2018. He will be desperate to sign off with a third French star. France have reached three of the last six World Cup finals, winning in 2018 and losing to Argentina on penalties in 2022. They are grouped with Norway, Senegal and Iraq in Group I. The path to the knockout rounds is clear.
As reigning European champions, Spain come into this tournament as one of the best-organised teams on the continent. Luis de la Fuente’s side carry Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Nico Williams in the attacking positions, giving them a combination of pace, technical quality and creativity that no team in their group can match. Spain keep the ball better than anyone at this tournament.
It is hard to see how Spain do not reach the semi-finals. Placed in Group H alongside Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, they are well positioned to navigate the group stage and then advance through the knockout rounds. At 2.15, backing Spain to reach the last four is a safe and well-priced bet.
Haiti are perhaps the most underrated side among the 48 teams in this new format. Their fixture list in the group stage will put their attacking quality through a severe test. Given the limited exposure to high-level competition among this squad and the fact that they face stronger opponents in every game, Haitian coach Marc Collat is likely to set up in a defensive shape rather than an attacking one. At 9.00, Haiti to score the fewest goals in the group stage is a genuine value play.
Kane enters this World Cup as the most prolific striker in European football. He finished the 2025-26 Bundesliga season with 36 goals, winning the top scorer award for the third consecutive year and becoming the first player in Bundesliga history to achieve that in each of his first three seasons.
The England captain also scored 14 goals in 13 Champions League appearances and reached the milestone of 500 career goals for club and country in February 2026. He averages a goal every 66 minutes in the Bundesliga this season.
England have been grouped with Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L. It is the ideal draw for Kane to make an immediate impact. He won the Golden Boot in 2018. He arrives at this tournament in better form than he was then. Over 2.5 group stage goals at 2.65 is one of the best individual bets in this market.
Yamal turned 17 on the eve of Euro 2024 and his performances at that tournament announced him to the world. His goal in the semi-final against France was a moment of once-in-a-generation quality.
Two years on and a full season at the top of La Liga later, he arrives at this World Cup as one of the best players on the planet at the age of 18. He plays for one of the tournament’s strongest sides, which guarantees him opportunities in the later rounds where these awards are decided.
Young, expressive players on successful teams win this award. At 2.75, it is one of the best-priced bets in the tournament.
Portugal have ended up with one of the most favourable group assignments in the tournament, drawn in Group K alongside DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia. They arrive as current UEFA Nations League winners and the fifth-ranked nation in the world. Their attacking options include Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Leao, Goncalo Ramos, Joao Felix and Pedro Neto, all competing for places in the front line.
Portugal’s attacking depth against this level of opposition makes over 6.5 group stage goals a well-priced bet. In qualifying they scored nine goals in a single game against Armenia, a result that underlines the firepower available to Roberto Martinez when the group allows him to attack freely.
DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia represent very different levels of defensive resistance but none of them should be capable of keeping Portugal out across 90 minutes.
France have the best blend of quality, strength in depth and proven tournament pedigree of any team in this World Cup. They present the standout pick in the outright winner market at 6.00.
Mbappe arrives one goal from the all-time France scoring record and with the motivation of a final tournament for Deschamps driving the whole squad. The group draw is kind. The talent is extraordinary.
At the team level, Spain to reach the semi-finals at 2.15 represents real value. De la Fuente’s side dominated Euro 2024 and carry the same generation of players into this tournament. It is hard to construct a realistic scenario in which Spain do not reach the last four.
On the player markets, Kane’s over 2.5 group stage goals looks like a must-play given his record this season and England’s favourable draw in Group L. Yamal to win the Young Player award at 2.75 is a smart bet for anyone who watched him at Euro 2024.
And Portugal’s over 6.5 group goals against DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia is a well-reasoned play at 2.29. For those wanting a higher-priced option, Haiti to score the fewest group stage goals at 9.00 is worth a small stake.
For all our World Cup 2026 predictions, match previews and betting tips visit LeagueLane.
