💡 When does the World Cup Kick Off?

The tournament starts in Mexico on the 11th June 2026 with a game in the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, which will feature the hosts and another team yet to be drawn.

💡 How many 3rd placed teams qualify for the last 32?

The expanded format allows 8 of the 12 teams that finish in 3rd place to advance to the newly expanded last 32 knockout stage. These are ranked against each other on points and goal difference.

💡 Are the inter-confederation play-offs part of the 2026 World Cup?

No, although these will be played in the host nations the 6 teams that qualify for this stage will not be in the main draw for the World Cup. Only two teams will advance and the matches will be played in March 2026.

💡 Where can I watch the 2026 World Cup?

The majority of national TV stations will have a deal to show their nations and most matches on free-to-air TV. Many bookmakers will also offer streaming services of matches; there will be varying terms and conditions as to how you qualify to watch these, so check the terms and conditions carefully.

💡 How Often is the World Cup Held?

The FIFA World Cup is held every four years; the only exception to this was a 12 year hiatus between 1938-1950 before and after World War 2.

💡 When is the best time to place a bet to get the best odds?

The best time for odds is to make a bet early. While this is the best way to spot market inefficiencies and potentially gain higher odds it also comes with more risk as things can change with injuries or form as the match day or tournament approaches.

2026 Football World Cup Odds

By Saul Mumford | Last update at 2 September, 2025⏲️ Reading time: 21 minutes

Fact checked by Martins Lasmanis

Fact checked by

Martins Lasmanis

With more than 10 years of experience in online marketing, and special focus on the gambling affiliation sector over 5 years, Martin Lasmanis is a true expert in his niche. Today, Martin's vision is to build the largest lead generator company in the world. Fortunately, we have the perfect team to make his dream come true!

In the following article we are going to investigate the upcoming festival of football as the World cup hits the shores of North America, calling into Mexico for a third time, USA a second and Canada for the first time ever! With the 2022 World Cup seeing over 35 billion dollars wagered on it and the 2026 version being even bigger with its 12 team expansion and an extra 40 matches, you can rest assured every bookmaker will be striving for your business during June and July. This will take a couple of forms; obviously, many sites will want to entice you in by offering a good range of promotions and bonuses. Now as good as these can be, the most solid sportsbooks focus on giving their users the best ongoing odds on matches and markets. Odds are a bit like the price you pay for goods in a shop, think of it as the higher the odds the better value for money. In the following text we are going to look at the best sites for odds, what football odds are, what markets you can bet on, and answer any queries you have about the upcoming tournament.

What are Football Odds (and what types of odds are there)?

Football odds are an expression of the probability (in monetary terms) of an outcome occurring in a chosen event. The odds are determined by the Bookmaker by deciding how likely the chances are of a specific event. They determine this by assessing the strength of the teams, current injuries, past form, suspensions, and motivation for the match, etc, etc.

Betting odds can be displayed in many ways, but they will all have the same outcome. Deciding which ones best suit you is important. You can alter the way the odds are shown on a website via the preferences section or on the bet slip tab.

UK / Fractional Odds.

Fractional odds are mostly often used in the UK and Ireland, and are sometimes known as British odds. These are odds displayed as a fraction with two numbers written with a / or - symbol in the centre of them.

Odds of 2 profit for every 1 wagered would be shown as 2/1.

European / Decimal Odds.

These types of odds are most common on global sportsbooks and are also called European Odds. This form of odds is displayed as a decimal and is simply made by dividing the fractional odds by each other and then including the stake.

So 2/1 becomes 2/1 +1.00 = 3.00.

American Odds.

When gambling on American sports or bookmakers the odds are generally expressed with either a plus (+) or minus (–) symbol followed by an amount. The amount is how much is needed to win 100. The + symbol shows the profit if you were to place a 100 bet. The minus symbol shows the amount that you must bet to win 100.

How do we rate betting sites?

Our team of experts will carefully evaluate sportsbooks on a number of carefully chosen parameters. The sites that come out on top in the categories we pick will end up being crowned as our top bookmakers for you to join and gamble on the 2026 World Cup.

1
Best Odds
The better the odds the more value for money a bookmaker offers.
2
Number of Sports and Markets
The sites with the most sports and the greatest number of markets on those sports come out top.
3
Bonuses & Promotions
Bonuses help extend your bankroll and we love sites that offer these in abundance whilst keeping them fair.
4
Safety & Security
Sportsbooks should have the appropriate regulatory licences and procedures in place to protect users' data when they sign up.
5
Extra Features
We prefer sites that add in extra features for users like in-Play live betting and Betbuilder options.
6
Customer Service
The best bookmakers look after their account holders with excellent customer support.
7
Mobile Betting App
Apps should be available on both operating platforms iOS and Android and be bug-free.

Past Winners of the FIFA World Cup!

Since 1930 13 countries have played in a world cup final making it one of the hardest competitions to win internationally. From these only 8 nations have had the honour of lifting the famous Jules Rimet trophy while 5 have fallen at the final hurdle losing in the final match. All these teams were from South America or Europe, the two traditional powerhouses in this competition.

12 more teams have made it to at least the semi finals in the competition and competed in the 3rd/4th playoff match. 8 European nations, and 1 each from North America (USA), Asia (South Korea), Africa (Morocco) and South America (Chile).

All the past finalists are listed below.

Country	Won	Runners Up	Semi Finals
Brazil	5 (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)	2 (1950 *, 1998)	4 (1938, 1978, 1974, 2014)
Germany	4 (1954, 1974 , 1990, 2014)	4 (1966, 1982, 1986, 2002)	5 (1934, 1958 1970, 2006, 2010)
Italy	4 (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006)	2 (1970, 1994)	2 (1978, 1990)
Argentina	3 (1978, 1986, 2022)	3 (1930, 1990, 2014)	0
France	2 (1998, 2018)	2 (2006, 2022)	3 (1958, 1982, 1986)
Uruguay	2 (1930, 1950)	0	3 (1954, 1970, 2010)
England	1 (1966)	0	2 (1990, 2018)
Spain	1 (2010)	0	1 (1950)
Netherlands	0	3 (1974, 1978, 2010)	2 (1998, 2014)
Hungary	0	2 (1938, 1954)	0
Czech Republic	0	2 (1934, 1962)	0
Sweden	0	1 (1958)	3 (1938, 1950, 1994)
Croatia	0	1 (2018)	2 (1998, 2022)

Who are the 2026 World Cup Teams?

Qualifying is still ongoing for the 2026 World Cup but the teams below have already booked their spot and their odds are shown as of the current time in the European format..

NATION	REGION	PAST APPS	LAST APP	BEST FINISH	ODDS
Australia	AFC	7	2022	LAST 16	500/1
Iran	AFC	7	2022	GROUP STAGE	500/1
Japan	AFC	8	2022	LAST 16	80/1
Jordan	AFC	0	N/A	QUALIFYING	1000/1
South Korea	AFC	12	2022	SEMI FINALS	200/1
Uzbekistan	AFC	0	N/A	QUALIFYING	1250/1
Canada	CONCACAF	3	2022	GROUP STAGE	100/1
Mexico	CONCACAF	18	2022	QUARTER FINALS	40/1
United States	CONCACAF	12	2022	SEMI FINALS	40/1
Argentina	CONMEBOL	19	2022	WINNERS	8/1
Brazil	CONMEBOL	23	2022	WINNERS	13/2
Ecuador	CONMEBOL	5	2022	LAST 16	150/1
New Zealand	OFC	1	2010	GROUP STAGE	750/1

Who are the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup?

With qualifying still ongoing, odds are fluctuating a fair bit currently as we do not yet know the full 48 team line up for the finals. However there are a few teams that will be stand out contenders and should negotiate their qualifying groups with some ease. Let’s look over them in more detail.

1
Spain
That Spain have only ever won one World Cup in 2010 seems to be an almost insulting fact about the football mad nation. They have talent in abundance and bookmakers are making them the favourites in the betting at this stage. With Morata up front and a midfield that is bursting with talent in the likes of Gavi and Pedri they are certainly one of the teams to beat. They will acclimatise well in hot matches and won both the 2023 Nations League and 2024 Euros under coach Luis de la Fuente who will look to complete the hat trick in 2026.
2
Argentina
The holders may still have talisman Lionel Messi in 2026 who inspired them Maradona style to a thrilling victory on penalties in Qatar in 2022, though at 39 he is unlikely to still be the force he was 4 years ago. They still have a team that can compete with the world’s best without him. Players like Lautaro Martinez, Enzo Fernandez, and Alejandro Garnacho will all be available. Plus Emiliano Martínez in goal who will make them a tough team to beat. They will cope well in the heat of Mexico and the States as well and showed intent by coming top of the tough South American group, well clear of Brazil and Ecuador.
3
France
France have won two world cups in 1998 and 2018, and were so close to a third in that heartbreaking penalty shootout in Lusail four years previously. If anything the team will be older and wiser in June and they are probably one of the most exciting teams to watch in world football. This is due to their exciting attacking line led by Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé who shone in the recent Champions League final. They should not be far away this year.
4
Brazil
Brazil have won this tournament five times and used to be the favourites every 4 years. However, they have not won the world prize for 20 years now and they are still carrying the emotional scars of 2014 when on home soil they suffered a humiliating 7-1 semi final defeat to Germany. That being said you can not ever rule them out in a World Cup year and they always provide tonnes of attacking talent and intent on the pitch. Neymar should still just about make the squad and they have plenty of Premier League and La Liga stars in the squad too.
5
England
England have waited longer than anyone else to lift this trophy with their only triumph coming in black and white back in 1966.The team failed to deliver much for many years. However, they have recently proved themselves strong prospects in International competitions and finished 4th back in 2018 while losing to France in the Quarters in 2022. They have made the last two Euro Finals, possibly a tougher competition to excel in than the World stage so have to be contenders here. New German coach Thomas Tuchel is a proven winner and will look to gel a squad together through the qualifying campaign and go one better than his predecessor Gareth Southgate.

Best of the rest

While the world cup generally proves few shocks by the time of the actual final there are usually plenty of upsets on the road to that hallowed match. Quite a few teams have made surprise runs to the semis and quarters in previous editions such as Cameroon (QF) in 1990, South Korea in 2002 (SF), Croatia (FIN) in 2018 and Morocco (SF) in 2022. Could one of these unfancied sides make a mark on this tournament? Well Mexico and the USA have home advantage and some decent history in the competition. Elsewhere three times finalists Netherlands will look to finally get that star on their kits. Croatia and Italy have been there before and there is always a surprise package lurking somewhere in the draw. If your home nation has qualified as well it is likely you might fancy their chances!!

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World Cup Betting Tips

There is sadly no surefire way of winning every wager you make, if there was then it would not be called a gamble! However, below are some tips to remember and aid you in various markets when placing bets on the tournament.

1. Opening Matches are usually Close

Not a hard and fast rule, but often teams will play it safe in their opening games. A draw is never a bad result, while a loss puts the pressure on straight away. Look for draws and upsets in the first group matches. The upsets below are games where the lower-ranked team has won.

Year	Group Games	Draws	Underdog Wins
2022	16	6	2
2018	16	3	4
2014	16	2	3
16	16	7	3

2. Back Goals in Group Game 2

Game two is often make-or-break for teams and managers will need to send on attackers to get a result to stay in the tournament. In the last 4 years the 2nd group games have been the highest scoring on aggregate in two of them. Look at BTTS and goal markets for these games.

3. Final Group games are unpredictable

With elimination a threat, teams may go all out in the final game of the group. In the past teams could be eliminated or going home but with 8 of 12 third placed teams going through to the last 32 these games could be as tight as the opening fixtures. There is little data on this to go on from recent years focus on bigger teams to handle the pressure as they have players used to big game situations.

4. Back the Hosts

With 3 home nations in this edition, this should be good advice. A home crowd brings the best out of teams and many have performed well above expectations in cup matches down the years. Only a very poor Qatar side and South Africa have gone out in the group stage, South Africa on goal difference after beating defending champions France. Unfancied USA and Japan made the Last 16 against expectations at home. Furthermore Switzerland, Mexico, Chile, South Korea and Russia have all recorded their best results as a host nation. Whilst England, Uruguay, Italy and France all recorded their first ever wins on home soil.

Hosts	Group Stage	Last 16	QF	SF	FIN
23	2	2	6	5	8 (6 Won)

5. Use Bonuses to Your Advantage

Bookmakers will offer a multitude of special offers for the duration of the finals. Use these to your advantage and shop around for the best online offers to boost your bets. These can take the form of odds boosts, special bets or money back offers.

6. Penalties Happen

In the knockout stage penalties are now a regular occurrence. Extra time is often a nervy affair with both sides not prepared to take risks. A bet on the draw in a knockout match can represent good value whatever the result after spot kicks. Equally an in-play bet at 90 minutes on no goal to be scored or a draw would have been correct in 16 of 24 knockout matches in the last 4 World Cups.

World Cup	Knockout Games	Penalty Shootouts / Extra Time
2022	16	6 / 6
2018	16	4 / 6
2014	16	4 / 8
2010	16	2 / 4

7. Golden Boot Winners

Golden Boot winners are often flat track bullies - If you are unfamiliar with that term, it means they score lots of goals against poor opposition. Look for a quality striker with favourable games who is likely to play them all. Mbappe was the only Golden Boot winner who scored more goals in knockout matches than group games in the last 5 years. In 1994 Oleg Salenko won a share of the golden boot with 6 goals in group games.

Year	Golden Boot Winner	Goals	Group Stage Goals
2022	Kylain Mbappe	8	3 - Denmark (2), Australia (1)
2018	Harry Kane (ENG)	6	5 -Panama (3), Tunisia (2),
2014	James Rodriguez (COL)	6	3 - Greece (1), Ivory Coast (1), Japan (1)
2010	David Villa (SPA)	5	3 - Honduras (2), Chile (1)
2006	Miroslav Klose	5	4 - Costa Rica, Ecuador (2)

8. Back the Favourites in the Later Stages

There is a reason that only 13 of 206 total FIFA member nations have won this tournament; the big teams tend to handle the pressure better. They win the big games, back the favourites in the semi-finals and quarter-finals. Realistically, the only surprise finalists since 1990 have been Croatia. Squad quality and tournament fatigue often kick in for surprise packages at this stage. In 2026 the extra round might mean this happens at the last 16 stage.

In the table below the “underdog” is the lower-ranked team at the time of the match.

Year	Quarter Finals	Underdog Wins	Semi Finals	Underdog Wins
2022	4	2	2	0
2018	4	0	2	1
2014	4	0	2	0
2010	4	1	2	0
TOTALS	16	3	8	1

9. There's Usually Goals in the 3rd/4th Playoff

In twenty 3rd/4th playoff matches over the World Cup’s history a BTTS bet would have been correct in 15 of them. There have also been over 2.5 goals in all but three of them. These games are generally played out in a relaxed attacking atmosphere with both teams' players looking to finish the competition with a goal to remember it by and defence not a major concern.

Find Out More

World Cup 2026 Betting Markets

The World cup offers bettors a wealth of markets, and the big money that is gambled on the event every four years offers.

Outright winner

Easy to explain, this is a bet on who you think will win the 2026 World Cup. Your bet will win if the nation’s football team you pick wins the world cup. Some promotions may give you money back if they get to the final, or semi finals so keep your eye out for the best value you can find when placing these bets.

Golden Boot

The golden boot is awarded to the player who scores the most goals over the duration of the World Cup. You can bet on this market by choosing the player you think will achieve this and will win as long as they score the most goals. Some promotions will be offered on this market as well.

Golden Glove

The golden glove is the goalkeeper's version of the golden boot and awarded to the goalkeeper who concedes the least goals against minutes played. You will have a list of goalkeepers to choose from in this market and will win if your chosen keeper is the golden boot winner.

To win the group

A market available at the start of the world cup which can only be played during the initial group stage. The new group stage will have 12 groups of 4. You will just need to pick the group winner in any given group to win the bet. You can also make this an acca by choosing two or more group winners and hoping these countries win their respective pools.

Plus there will also be all your usual betting markets that come with football, the most popular of which are:

Match Odds

This is simple to explain. It is a bet on who you believe will win the match, or you can also cover a draw (before extra time or penalties in knockout world cup matches).This market can be known as a match result or full time result market. You will also get to qualify for the market by any method in World cup knockout matches.

Let’s say you want to bet on Brazil to beat Australia in the World Cup. You might choose to place a 1x2 bet or a Match Winner bet. You will win your bet if Brazil wins but if it ends in a draw or Australia wins you would lose your stake.

First Goal Scorer

This is a wager on who you believe will be the first player to score. This can be placed on a player from either side and you will have a list of all players from teams to choose from. Own goals will not be included, though may be a choice you can pick for the opening goal at some sportsbooks. There are a few promotions that can be run by sites but as a standard is that if your chosen scorer does not play or ends up being subbed on after the first goal is scored your bet is voided and stake returned.

England is playing Ecuador in the World Cup, and you choose Harry Kane to score first at odds of 5/1. He scores with a penalty in the 20th minute and you win your bet.

You can also bet “in-play” on a variation of this market, where you can opt for the next player to score once the first goal has gone in , this can be a fun market when an early goal has been scored in a match.

Over / Under 2.5 goals

This represents a bet on how many goals you think will be scored during the 90 minutes of the match. Do not be fooled by the .5 in the title this is just to make the market valid as a half goal cannot be scored in a football match. If a market was under 2 goals then an exact score of 2 goals would be neither a winner nor losing bet. Your bet is only on how many goals are scored in the game and does not matter how many either team scores.

You bet over 2.5 goals in the Germany vs Chile match and the score is 4-2, 6 goals have been scored so you win your bet.
You bet under 2.5 goals in the Spain vs Italy match and the final score is 1-0, 1 goal is scored so you win the bet.
This market can also be available in other denominations such as 0.5 goals, 1.5 goals, 3.5 goals and 4.5 goals.

Correct Score

A fun market that is a development of the old adage we often ask each other, what do you think the score will be! This bet does exactly what it says you need to successfully predict the score at the end of the 90 minutes. Extra time and penalties will not be included in this bet.

South Korea are playing Canada in the World Cup and you bet on South Korea to win 3-1. The final score is 3-0 South Korea and you lose your bet. You must match the exact score you predicted.

Conclusion

The 2026 World Cup is the largest ever held and just under 100 years from the first edition of this tournament it will show just how football is the most popular global sport. We are all mega excited about the competition and the betting bonanza that this is going to create. It can be easy to get carried away in the colours and excitement of the world cup but hopefully this article will give you some pointers when you are placing bets. Odds are probably the most important consideration you need to take into account when you bet on any sport. Shop around to find the best deals and use bonuses and odds boosts to increase your potential profits. The most important thing to remember is to gamble responsibly and within your personal limits and bankroll. If you take these factors into account you should have an enjoyable summer watching the World’s finest soccer (as those in the States will tell you!) players on the biggest stage of all. We wish you luck with your bets.

FAQ. Frequently Asked Questions

💡 When does the World Cup Kick Off?
The tournament starts in Mexico on the 11th June 2026 with a game in the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, which will feature the hosts and another team yet to be drawn.
💡 How many 3rd placed teams qualify for the last 32?
The expanded format allows 8 of the 12 teams that finish in 3rd place to advance to the newly expanded last 32 knockout stage. These are ranked against each other on points and goal difference.
💡 Are the inter-confederation play-offs part of the 2026 World Cup?
No, although these will be played in the host nations the 6 teams that qualify for this stage will not be in the main draw for the World Cup. Only two teams will advance and the matches will be played in March 2026.
💡 Where can I watch the 2026 World Cup?
The majority of national TV stations will have a deal to show their nations and most matches on free-to-air TV. Many bookmakers will also offer streaming services of matches; there will be varying terms and conditions as to how you qualify to watch these, so check the terms and conditions carefully.
💡 How Often is the World Cup Held?
The FIFA World Cup is held every four years; the only exception to this was a 12 year hiatus between 1938-1950 before and after World War 2.
💡 When is the best time to place a bet to get the best odds?
The best time for odds is to make a bet early. While this is the best way to spot market inefficiencies and potentially gain higher odds it also comes with more risk as things can change with injuries or form as the match day or tournament approaches.

World Cup Edition Number	23rd World Cup
Teams Qualified / Not Qualified	48 / 206
Hosts	Mexico, Canada, United States
Number of Stadiums	16
How Many Matches	104
Start Date	11th June 2026
Date of Final	19th July 2026