World Cup betting tips: Outright selection for 2026

It is just over two months until the first ball is kicked at the 2026 World Cup, which will be the biggest in the tournament’s history as 48 teams head to the USA, Mexico and Canada for five weeks of intense football action to discover who is the best team on the globe.

While more sides that ever will be competing in the summer extravaganza, it is the usual names who can be found at the head of the market, with European champions Spain leading the way at 4/1.

England, who were beaten by La Roja in that final two years ago, are 6/1 as they look to end their 60-year wait for a major trophy, with France, who were runners-up in Qatar four years ago, available at 7/1.

Holders Argentina and five-time winners Brazil should lead a strong South American challenge and both are 8/1, while Scotland, who have qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1998, are 200/1 for outright glory.

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World Cup Winner – France to win @ 7/1

All the teams at the top of the market have strong claims this summer and that can be extended to Portugal (12/1) and Germany (14/1), who come next in the betting, but it is France who catch the eye.

Didier Deschamps’ team came within a penalty shootout of retaining their world crown last time in a thrilling final against Argentina and there is a strong chance they could be even stronger this time in what will be their manager’s final tournament after 12 years at the helm.

Kylian Mbappe, who became only the second player to score a hat-trick in the World Cup final in Doha, continues to stake his claim to be the world’s best player and, at the age of 27, he could be coming to his peak, especially as he leads the Spanish La Liga scoring charts with 23 goals for Real Madrid.

However, Les Bleus are so much more than a one-man team and Deschamps has developed a team that is resolute defensively and strong in midfield, where the Real pair of Eduardo Camavinga and Aureline Tchouameni are arguably the best engine room around.

There are also a galaxy of flair players including Warren Zaire-Emery, Michael Olise and the Premier League pair of Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki and Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike, both of whom have had excellent seasons in England’s top-flight.

Add to that the reigning Balon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele and you have a fearsome squad heading over the Atlantic in search of global glory.

They have some difficult group games. Norway striker Erling Haaland will have to be contained and they know all about the dangers of underestimating Senegal after the West Africans stung them 1-0 in South Korea when France were hot favourites to win the World Cup in 2002.

However, they will be thinking a lot further down the line and Les Bleus are well-equipped and good value to send Deschamps off into the sunset having claimed their third World Cup.

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Odds correct at time of publish and subject to change*

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