World Cup 2026 Predictions & Betting tips
World Cup: our predictor bracket
Download our bracket in PDF format
For this World Cup in America, the SportyTrader editorial team is backing a third title for the French national team.
Why? What is the reasoning? We explain it all in our 2026 World Cup preview.
Best odds to bet on at the 2026 Football World Cup
If you want to follow 100% of the competition, our World Cup odds comparator is available free of charge, so as is our World Cup Livescore page. Perfect for enjoying the whole tournament!
2026 World Cup predictions: Full tournament overview
Welcome to the World Cup betting tips section at SportyTrader! Prepare your predictions on the 2026 World Cup matches with our football experts, and try to make the most of your sports bets with the bookmakers.
Held in Canada, the United States and Mexico between 11 June and 19 July, the 23rd FIFA World Cup promises to be magnificent, and there will be a huge number of betting opportunities available at online bookmakers.
After the successes of France in 2018 and Argentina in 2022, which nation will step up this time and claim the coveted World Cup trophy in 2026? What statistics do you need to know? We reveal everything on this page dedicated to predictions for the 2026 World Cup.
Sign up and bet on the World Cup with Stake
World Cup 2026 winner prediction: Who will win the World Cup?
Several nations can claim victory in the World Cup this year. Some teams are already standing out with the bookmakers, including of course France and England.
It will be 60 years since they won the World Cup in 1966. They have been consistent in recent tournaments, making a number of deep runs (fourth-place in 2018 and back-to-back runners-up finishes in the Euros) and are highly positioned at fourth in the latest FIFA rankings. Could 2026 be the year in which they finally break through and once again lift the trophy?
There are plenty of other contenders and at present, France are the current favorites. They won the title in 2018 and only lost the 2022 final on penalties in what was one of the wildest World Cup finals of all time. They always look like the team to beat and we believe they may well again be world champions in 2026. There’s a long way to go though before the finals are held so a lot could change.
Our 2026 World Cup winner prediction: France will be World Champion!
2026 World Cup winner odds and favourites
- Spain - 5.50
- France - 6.00
- England - 7.00
- Brazil - 9.00
- Argentina - 9.00
- Portugal - 11.00
- Germany - 15.00
- Netherlands - 21.00
- Norway - 26.00
- Belgium - 34.00
- Colombia - 34.00
- Japan - 51.00
- Morocco - 51.00
- USA - 67.00
- Uruguay - 67.00
- Switzerland - 81.00
- Mexico - 81.00
- Croatia - 81.00
- Türkiye - 81.00
- Ecuador - 101.00
- Senegal - 126.00
- Sweden - 126.00
- Canada - 151.00
Odds taken from Bet365.com
World Cup Top Scorer prediction: Who will win the Golden Boot?
As well as being able to bet on who will win the World Cup and all the individual matches, the bookmakers offer you the chance to predict who will be the competition's top scorer. While it may seem too early to make any predictions, here are a few names to keep an eye on before the tournament kicks off:
- Kylian Mbappé (France)
- Julian Alvarez (Argentina)
- Harry Kane (England)
- Erling Haaland (Norway)
- Lionel Messi (Argentina)
- Lamine Yamal (Spain)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
- Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)
- Nick Woltemade (Germany)
- Raphinha (Brazil)
In terms of predictions, the SportyTrader editorial team can only advise you to try the Mbappé. He was highly impressive in the 2022 World Cup and is likely again to be among the top scorers if France make it to the finals. Be sure to closely monitor the 2025-26 domestic season and ensure that the player you fancy for the golden boot is in good form coming into the tournament!
2026 World Cup Golden Boot odds & favourites
- Kylian Mbappe (France) - 7.00
- Harry Kane (England) - 8.00
- Lionel Messi (Argentina) - 13.00
- Erling Haaland (Norway) - 15.00
- Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) - 15.00
- Lamine Yamal (Spain) - 17.00
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - 21.00
- Ousmane Dembele (France) - 21.00
- Lautaro Martinez (Argentina) - 26.00
- Vinicius Jr. (Brazil) - 26.00
- Raphinha (Brazil) - 29.00
- Bukayo Saka (England) - 34.00
- Julian Alvarez (Argentina) - 34.00
- Luis Suarez (Colombia) - 34.00
- Mikel Merino (Spain) - 34.00
Odds taken from Bet365.com
World Cup 2026 group stage predictions
The 48 nations have been drawn into a total of 12 groups. Here is how they are made up.
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia
Right off the bat, Group A is looking like one of the most evenly balanced of the tournament. Mexico come in as group favourites, in large part down to their home field advantage of playing in the 87,500 capacity Azteca Stadium (now renamed to Estadio Banorte) and the Estadio Akron. We therefore envision El Tri being able to do enough to go through as one of the top two teams.
For second place, we give a slight edge to Czechia, who have a strong generation of players (Krejci, Schick, Sulc, Soucek, etc.) and performed well in the play-offs by beating Ireland and then Denmark.
South Africa and South Korea should then battle it out to finish among the best third-placed teams and try to reach the round of 16.
- Our prediction for Group A qualifiers: Mexico and Czechia will qualify!
Group A winner odds:
- Mexico - 1.90
- Czechia - 4.00
- South Korea - 4.00
- South Africa - 13.00
Odds taken from Bet365.com
Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
Here, two nations have, in our view, the edge on paper to take the top two spots. Switzerland appear to be a cut above their opponents and remain a formidable force in major tournaments.
Just behind them, Canada have a talented generation of players, spearheaded by Juventus striker Jonathan David, and have everything they need at home to secure the second spot.
Bosnia, who sensationally knocked Italy out via penalties in the play-offs, could finish among the best third-placed teams ahead of Qatar.
- Our prediction for Group B qualifiers: Switzerland and Canada will qualify!
Group B winner odds:
- Switzerland - 1.72
- Canada - 3.25
- Bosnia & Herzegovina - 5.00
- Qatar - 34.00
Odds taken from Bet365.com
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
In this third group, two favourites are also emerging! First up is Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil, who are determined to go all the way in this World Cup after years of drought and disappointment.
And, even for top spot, the Selecao will need to be wary of a Morocco side that has been playing its best football for many months now, and which has just won the Africa Cup of Nations (albeit a few months late following the lost final). After becoming the first African team to make a World Cup semi-finals in 2022, the Atlas Lions will be hoping to push the envelope even further this time around.
We see these two nations finishing in the top two places, whilst Scotland should see off Haiti to take third.
- Our prediction for Group C qualifiers: Brazil and Morocco will qualify!
Group C winner odds:
- Brazil - 1.20
- Morocco - 6.00
- Scotland - 13.00
- Haiti - 101.00
Odds taken from Bet365.com
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey
In this fourth group, we find the third and final host nation, the United States. It hasn't been the smoothest of sailing for the Stars and Stripes under head coach Mauricio Pochettino since the Argentine took over in September 2024. However, there's undeniably some seriously talented players in this USMNT, with the majority of their starting 11 playing in Europe's top leagues. With a manageable group, they should be among the qualifiers in the top two spots.
Joining them, we naturally see Turkey, who have made huge strides in recent months and boast some of the tournament's best young stars in Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz. The Crescent-Stars come into the 2026 World Cup having won six of their last eight fixtures and will be high in confidence.
In third place and likely to qualify for the round of 16, we see Paraguay rather than Australia.
- Our Group D qualification prediction: Turkey and the United States to qualify!
Group D winner odds:
- United States - 2.37
- Turkey - 2.75
- Paraguay - 4.75
- Australia - 8.00
Odds taken from Bet365.com
Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Die Mannschaft are clearly our favourites here to finish top of the group! After a string of disappointing recent tournaments, Germany are keen to bounce back and they have a formidable squad to do so.
As for the second spot securing direct qualification for the round of 16, this is sure to be a close battle between Ivory Coast and Ecuador. At the moment, we give the edge to Ecuador, who have become an incredibly difficult side to break down in recent years. The Tricolor have not lost a match since September 2024 and with a key core players that include Piero Hincapie, Moises Caicedo, Willian Pacho and Joel Ordoñez, it's easy to see why they are such a well-drilled defensive unit.
It’s hard to see Curaçao managing to compete for the full 90 minutes, so Ivory Coast should capitalise on this to go through to the next round as one of the best third-place finishing teams.
- Our Group E qualification prediction: Germany and Ecuador to qualify!
Group E winner odds:
- Germany - 1.28
- Ecuador - 5.00
- Ivory Coast - 8.00
- Curaçao - 101.00
Odds taken from Bet365.com
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
Moving on to a very intriguing Group F, the Dutch are our favourites to take top spot. They are also the bookmakers’ favourites and have a deep squad with talent throughout, though it remains to be seen whether they can reach the heights of the 2010 and 2014 World Cup teams, which finished second and third respectively.
Just behind them, we’re backing Japan for second place. It will obviously be a tough battle against the Tunisians and Swedes, who are tough, physical sides that won’t give an inch, but the Japanese are a tactically disciplined team that have been showing some great form for some time now, topped off with a 1-0 victory over England in the World Cup warm up friendlies.
And for third place, we reckon Viktor Gyökeres and his teammates will finish ahead of Tunisia.
- Our Group F qualification prediction: the Netherlands and Japan will qualify!
Group F winner odds:
- Netherlands - 1.72
- Japan - 4.00
- Sweden - 5.50
- Tunisia - 8.00
Odds taken from Bet365.com
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
There is very little doubt here that Rudi Garcia’s Red Devils will qualify after being handed one of the tournament's more straightforward draws.
Belgium no longer has the ‘golden generation’ it had in 2018, but the squad remains strong and the results over the last few months have been very encouraging. They should, therefore, get the job done and many will be backing them to get the full nine points.
Behind them, our experts give the edge to Egypt. They're a defensively sound team, with many of their starters familiar with one another through playing in the Egyptian Premier League. And of course, the star power up top with Mo Salah and Omar Marmoush forming a dangerous duo. On paper, they are well above Iran and New Zealand, who are likely to be locked in a two-horse race for third place.
- Our Group G qualification prediction: Belgium and Egypt to qualify!
Group G winner odds:
- Belgium - 1.36
- Egypt - 5.50
- Iran - 7.00
- New Zealand - 21.00
Odds taken from Bet365.com
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
This is a group where, in our view, the top two are almost a foregone conclusion.
It is hard to see how Spain and Uruguay could miss out here, as they appear to be far superior to the group’s other two opponents. La Roja should go through as group winners with three wins from three, while La Celeste is good value to grab six points from the other two fixtures.
Saudi Arabia, which has been developing its football for several years now, is likely to settle for third place, which could see them reach the last 16.
- Our Group H qualification prediction: Spain and Uruguay to qualify!
Group H winner odds:
- Spain - 1.20
- Uruguay - 5.00
- Saudi Arabia - 21.00
- Cape Verde - 41.00
Odds taken from Bet365.com
Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway
Now we're on to what many consider the 'group of death': Group I! France is of course still the favourite, with a tremendous amount of attacking talent. However, they'll have to be on top form right from the start.
Whilst there’s little doubt about Les Bleus' qualification, predicting who will take the second spot is much more difficult. Norway and Senegal appear to be very evenly matched, but we’d still give a very slight edge to the most recent winners (on the pitch, at least) of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Norwegians should still reach the round of 16 by qualifying as one of the best third-placed teams in this 2026 World Cup, and will be a dangerous side to whoever they draw in the round of 32.
- Our Group I qualifiers prediction: France and Senegal to qualify!
Group I winner odds:
- France - 1.40
- Norway - 3.75
- Senegal - 9.00
- Iraq - 41.00
Odds taken from Bet365.com
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Here we have the 2022 World Cup champions! Argentina will be defending their title at the 2026 World Cup and should top this group without too much trouble.
Behind them, whilst there is likely to be a close contest between Algeria and Austria, we give the Fennec Foxes the edge to secure second place.
Austria could then take third place and hope to progress to the next round. We, however, struggle to see Jordan competing over the three matches.
- Our prediction for Group J qualifiers: Argentina and Algeria to qualify!
Group J winner odds:
- Argentina - 1.33
- Austria - 5.50
- Algeria - 6.50
- Jordan - 41.00
Odds taken from Bet365.com
Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia
The penultimate group of this 2026 World Cup is a very strong one and features one of the title contenders, Portugal. The Selecao das Quinas should have no trouble qualifying directly for the round of 16, and are comfortable favourites to top the group.
Behind them, it will be a tight battle between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Colombia for second place, with the South American side having a slight edge. The Congolese are likely to have to settle for third place.
- Our Group K qualification prediction: Portugal and Colombia to qualify!
Group K winner odds:
- Portugal - 1.44
- Colombia - 3.50
- DR Congo - 11.00
- Uzbekistan - 29.00
Odds taken from Bet365.com
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
We finish with a strong group, which also features a high standard of play.
Here, we see England qualifying without too much difficulty, with Croatia likely to follow closely behind.
For third place, Ghana seem to have a slight edge over Panama and could therefore hope to reach the round of 16.
- Our prediction for Group L qualifiers: England and Croatia to qualify!
Group L winner odds:
- England - 1.28
- Croatia - 4.50
- Ghana - 11.00
- Panama - 51.00
Odds taken from Bet365.com
2026 World Cup format and qualification: How does it work?
Before looking in detail at the composition of the qualifying groups for the 2026 World Cup, let's talk about the essentials: the format and organisation of the competition.
World Cup format: groups, knockout rounds and rules
And there is some important information to bear in mind when it comes to the tournament itself, which could change everything when it comes to your future predictions on the competition or its qualifying matches.
For the first time in its history, 48 nations will qualify for the 2026 World Cup (previously 32). This means that all these nations will be divided into 12 groups (instead of 8) of four for the group phase. There had been talk of groups only having three teams but that has now been ruled out after the exciting group stages of the 2022 tournament.
The group stages will see each country playing each other once. The top two teams qualify for the knockout rounds. That sees 24 countries qualify and the eight best third placed sides will also go into the knockout phase of the 2026 World Cup. Therefore, out of 48 competing teams, only 12 will be eliminated after the group matches have been played.
The knockout rounds will be longer than in previous World Cups. A team will have to win five matches to win the trophy, one more than in the last tournament. The two losing semi-finalists will play in the third and fourth place play-off.
There are some great betting opportunities waiting for you with the World Cup, so don't hesitate to take a look at our analysis of the tournament. Every prediction is worth making in this edition.
You can already find great 2026 World Cup odds!
How to make reliable World Cup 2026 predictions?
To make reliable predictions on the tournament, there are several good practices you can adopt. Thus, we strongly advise you to:
- Analyse team form before betting
- Check key players form
- Know team line-ups and injuries
- Understand tactics and playing styles
- Analyse the last head to head results
- Match importance and team motivation
With these six best practices, you should be able to build more reliable analyzes around the 2026 World Cup matches, and thus increase your chances of success. Reading our excellent World Cup betting tips will also help a great deal. A short description of each best practice is given in the paragraphs below.
Analyse team form before betting
In order to bet on a match well, you must of course know the form of the two countries that are facing each other. You will also need to look at the line-ups that countries have been playing. It is unlikely that full strength teams will be played, especially in friendlies. Looking at results in the World Cup qualifiers, Nations League, AFCON, Euros and Copa America will show you just how good or bad teams have been playing. Look at statistics such as how many shots and chances teams have been creating and their defensive records. How many chances did the nations have? How many shots, corners, free kicks? All these questions will have to be studied.
Check key players form
Paolo Rossi in 1982 with Italy, Diego Maradona in 1986 with Argentina, Romario in 1994 with Brazil, Zinedine Zidane in 2006 with France or Luka Modric in 2018 with Croatia...the paths of nations are often dependent on the performances of their best players.
Therefore, it is essential to study the form of the major players of each nation, before betting on a match. If the best players aren't playing well, that can seriously affect their teams chances of success. If they are playing well, then that team has a good chance of success (for example, Son for South Korea, Mbappé for Les Bleus and Kane for England).
Don't forget that in modern soccer, there are no more "small teams" and that matches are often played on the differences created by star players.
If a nation does not have its best player in form, be very wary. Our World Cup 2026 betting tips will include details about the form of key players.
Know team line-ups and injuries
Before making your prediction, always take care to check theteam line-ups. Suspension, injury, choice of coach... the reasons for a major absence can be numerous during a FIFA World Cup. So don't get trapped when placing your sports bets online for the 2026 World Cup.
In this regard, we strongly advise you to wait to know the official composition of the teams before validating your prediction. Even if you haven't bothered to find out beforehand, you'll be able to spot the absence of a major player in a matter of moments.
Is Kane unavailable for The Three Lions? Courtois for Belgium? Memphis Depay for the Netherlands? They won't be the same teams for sure. So always take the time to check whether or not there are any absentees for the match you want to bet on.
Understand tactics and playing styles
4-4-2, 4-3-3, 3-4-3 or 4-2-3-1...the tactics used by the coaches can differ widely in a competition such as the World Cup.
Therefore, it will be important to know how each team usually plays, to determine the chances of them being able to dominate their opponent.
For example, against a nation that likes to play defensively and come out on the counter, a team that is not used to playing the game could have difficulty finding the break. The same reasoning applies to a nation that rarely resists the pressure imposed by its opponents. Paraguay, for example, who have less technical players than the top European teams, could find it hard to resist a team with aggressive and intense attack style.
To help you make the best possible football prediction, take an interest in the tactical aspect of each team. This will enable you to refine your predictions and therefore accumulate as many winning bets as possible.
Analyse the last head to head results
Although there are always new blood come to the tournament every year, it's a fact that we often see the same teams involved in the World Cup finals.
England, Spain, France, Brazil, Germany, Argentina... the historic giants are often in the World Cup line-up, and this means that some teams are eagerly awaiting a reunion.
Neymar and his teammates, for example, still have in mind the humiliation of 2014 against the Germans (1-7), while the Belgians will always want revenge against Les Bleus, since the famous semi-final loss in 2018. As you will have gathered, the aim is to observe the latest encounters between each nation with a view to detecting a certain animosity, a desire for revenge or quite simply an inferiority complex.
Taking a look at the last duels played will give you a better idea of the psychological context of the match, and therefore enable you to make the best possible prediction for your match. Never forget this check.
Match importance and team motivation
Finally, the sixth good practice to make good predictions will consist in considering the mental and psychological aspect of the match. In other words, you must know the motivation of each player and each team, the pressure that surrounds them (fans, journalists, president ...), their ability or not to shine in the competition, and their experience at the highest level.
When it comes to betting on knockout matches, for example, it is always preferable to predict the success of an experienced nation, even if they have not played as well as their opponents since the start of the event. From Jorginho and Antoine Griezmann to Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo, the 2026 World Cup could well bring together many experienced players on both sides. These players will be real assets to their national teams as they prepare for the tournament.
From this psychological context to the usual tactics, not to mention the form of the key players and the possibility of absentees - several factors can influence the outcome of a match. So, make it a habit of always studying them, if you want to make better and better sports predictions.
Sign up and bet on the World Cup with Melbet
What not to do with your World Cup 2026 football predictions
In addition to the good practices mentioned above, you should know that there are also some behavior that you should totally avoid. Not doing so will limit your chances of success.:
- Betting without doing any research - learn as much as you can before placing your bet.
- Betting on short odds for no reason - these don't always win.
- Prioritizing too many combined (multi) odds - the high odds are attractive but reduce your chances of winning.
- Chasing your losses - this can lead to further losses being incurred.
- Placing too many in-play bets - these can often be made rashly and without thought.
Unfortunately, many novice bettors often fall into one of these traps during a major competition like FIFA's premier event. So do everything you can to avoid making these mistakes.
Remember that in sports betting, it is the quality of the analysis and the odds that are important, not the quantity. A good sports analysis and a bet on odds of 2.25 will always be more profitable than 10 bets placed on odds of 1.50 without having taken the time to look into the events. To succeed in sports betting, research is so important.
2026 World Cup: statistics you need to know
Now that you know the best practices for betting, it's time to look at the useful statistics of the World Cup. In order to make the most successful FIFA World Cup 2026 predictions, you need to know the key figures of the competition, which will help you build the most accurate analysis. Our 2026 World Cup betting tips will all include excellent statistical information.
To help you make the best possible bet during this tournament, our soccer experts have been busy looking at the key statistics, based on the 2022 World Cup. Enjoy reading!
2026 World Cup key betting statistics (taken from previous edition)
- Average number of goals: 2.68
- + 0.5 goals: 89.1%
- + 1.5 goals: 73.4%
- + 2.5 goals: 46.9%
- + 3.5 goals: 25%
- + 4.5 goals: 18.8%
- "Both teams to score: yes": 46%
- Quarter-hour with most goals: 76-90 (24.4%)
- Quarter-hour with the fewest goals: 0-15 (8.7%)
- Goals in first half: 39%
- Second-half goals: 61%
- Top scorer: Kylian Mbappé (8 goals)
- Number of players with more than 3 goals: 4
So, after reading these different statistics, the World Cup should have no more secrets for you. Of course, these figures may differ from one edition to another, but they are still consistent with what we have seen for many editions of the competition. So, don't hesitate to use them when making your predictions on each match of the 2026 tournament.
That brings us to the conclusion of this page dedicated to the FIFA World Cup 2026. For even more analysis, we invite you to consult our predictions on each match of the World Cup earlier on this page. They have been studied, thought through and written by a team of passionate experts. You can read and use them as inspiration for your success with the bookmakers. Good luck!
Sign up and bet on the World Cup with Stake
Our latest 2026 World Cup predictions
Our World Cup predictions and betting tips will be available soon. Check back regularly for the latest insights.
