The 2026 FIFA World Cup is a special one, with 48 teams set to battle for the ultimate prize, a first of such in the history of the game. But that is not its only uniqueness.
This tournament will be played across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the first ever to be jointly hosted by three nations, with 104 total matches set to be played across 16 host cities.
Several nations come into this tournament with a good chance of winning it, though there is no clear favourite, only a host of star-studded squads that are hoping to find the right balance that will take them all the way, while there are also dark horses hoping to lay a mark.
MrFixitsTips takes a look at 2026 World Cup favourites, pointing out their strengths, helping you make an informed decision when you use our best World Cup betting apps.
Spain – The team setting the pace
Spain come into this tournament on the back of winning the 2024 European Championship title in dominant fashion.
La Roja comfortably topped a group that had Italy and Croatia, keeping clean sheets in all three group games, before defeating three heavyweights – Germany, France and England – in the knockout stages.
They have been consistent since then, with Luis de la Fuente leading the side to Nations League final, where they lost to Portugal via penalties, their only defeat in the last 28 matches across all competitions.
What makes Spain particularly dangerous is the balance between youth and experience. Players like Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Gavi are expected to bring energy and creativity, while experienced heads like Rodi and goalkeeper Unai Simon should keep things stable when matches become tight.
Having failed to make it past the round of 16 at the last two World Cup tournaments, La Roja are under pressure to go deep this time and all eyes are on their talented squad.
Verdict: The most complete team in the tournament right now.
Argentina – The defending champions
Argentina are the current world champions and still carry that edge, especially with Lionel Messi still looking like he could do bits in a record-breaking sixth World Cup tournament.
The core of the squad is intact, and there is a clear understanding of how to handle tournament football, having also won the two editions of the Copa America.
There are questions around Messi and his role at this stage, but Argentina are already preparing for life beyond him, with players like Julian Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez becoming leaders, while likes of Nico Paz and Giuliano Simeone are stepping into bigger roles.
Lionel Scaloni will hope to retain that mix of steel and flair that has brought success in recent years, but the enormity of the task before them cannot be overstated. Back-to-back World Cups has only been achieved twice in history, making it a monumental task for La Albiceleste.
Verdict: Not always spectacular, but extremely hard to stop.
France – Talent across the board
France probably have the most talented squad on paper, boasting of stars like Ballon d'Or holder Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise in attack.
Led by Didier Deschamps, who has taken them to the finals of the last two World Cup editions in 2018 and 2022, Les Blues have some of the most in-form players across in Europe in their team.
Olise has hit a new level of creativity at Bayern Munich, Rayan Cherki is coming off a successful debut season with Manchester City, Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola have kept Paris Saint-German firing, while Arsenal defender William Saliba has enjoyed success in the Premier League.
The only concern is coming up clutch in the biggest moments, as Les Blues have been a nearly side in recent tournaments.
Deschamps side lost the 2022 World Cup final to Argentina on penalties, before a Lamine Yamal-inspired Spain beat them in the semi-final of Euro 2024, with a repeat happening at the same stage of the Nations League last year.
Verdict: A major contender, especially if they find rhythm early.
England – A deep squad that is built to challenge
England are not short of ambition, and the appointment of Thomas Tuchel shows how serious they are about winning this tournament. The squad is packed with talent, from Harry Kane up front to a midfield of Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson that can control games against almost anyone.
There is a sense that this generation is ready to take the next step, but Tuchel must find the right balance, a major issue Gareth Southgate faced despite going deep in recent tournaments.
Pressure remains a factor for the Three Lions, with expectation high on the current crop of players, but it remains to be seen how Tuchel can help shut out the noise and make use of a clearly talented squad.
With set-pieces playing a huge role in the country's leagues this season, Tuchel must find a way to harness the quality deliveries of players like Rice and Bukayo Saka at the tournament to give them an edge from dead-ball situations.
Verdict: Strong enough to win it, but still something to prove.
Portugal – Genuine trophy hopefuls with a talented squad
Entering his historic, record-breaking sixth World Cup and sharing the honour with his arch-rival Messi, the 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo has his biggest opportunity yet to lift the trophy, given the impressive crop of players in the current squad.
Bruno Fernandes is coming off a stellar individual season with Manchester United, while he will be supported in midfield by PSG's talented and relentless duo, Vitinha and Joao Neves, alongside workhorse Bernardo Silva.
Nuno Mendes is arguably the best full back in the world right now, and he will be a big weapon at the World Cup, while City's Matheus Nunes has shown that he can be a reliable right full-back.
It has required penalties to send Portugal packing in the last tournaments they have played – Euro 2024 and the 2025 Nations League, while they have suffered just one defeat and drawn two of their last 11 games, a testament to Selecao das Quinas' recent resilience.
Verdict: One of the top favourites, but will need to ride the margins.
Brazil – Quality with question marks
Brazil are never far from the conversation, and even with an inconsistent run leading into the tournament, the squad is loaded with talent.
The biggest talking point is the return of the 34-year-old superstar Neymar Jr. to the final squad, despite his fragility nowadays – playing just 15 games this season – and an output that shows he is past his best. However, he remains as a symbol of inspiration and one that can unite a clearly talented squad in their quest to break a 24-year World Cup drought.
Even with Neymar's presence, all eyes will be on Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior and Barcelona's Raphinha to produce the goods, though there are still questions over who leads the line, especially since Chelsea's Joao Pedro did not make the squad.
With Carlo Ancelotti now at the helm, Brazil are expected to cut out some of lack of clear identity they have shown in recent tournaments, with their chances relying heavily on how quickly he finds the right balance.
History is also on their side, as South American teams have often performed strongly when the tournament is played in the Americas. Germany are the only non-South American team to win a FIFA World Cup held in the Americas, with Uruguay (twice), Argentina (twice) and Brazil (three times) having won the other editions hosted on the continent.
Verdict: A dangerous contender, but not the most reliable pick.
Germany – Never write them off
Germany may not sit at the top of the rankings, but that does not tell the full story, as they have a history of delivering in World Cups, and that counts for something.
Under Julian Nagelsmann, there is a shift towards a more modern and attacking approach, though it has yet to deliver, with Die Mannschaft failing to go past the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.
Since their triumph in 2014, Germany have failed to go past the group stage of the last two World Cups, and even if they fail to win this year, going deep in the tournament is important, else they might hit another reset.
There are still question marks around the team, especially at centre-forward where Arsenal's Kai Havertz and Newcastle United's Nick Woltemade have failed to convince, but Germany rarely stay down for long and they might push all the way this time.
Verdict: Not favourites, but capable of going deep.
Teams that could surprise at World Cup 2026
Beyond the main contenders, there are a few sides worth keeping on the radar. While these teams may not be favourites, but they can disrupt the tournament in a big way.
United States will have the advantage of playing at home, which has historically made a difference in World Cups, with six host nations having won the tournament in the past, and over half reaching at least the semi-finals.
Netherlands have quality and tournament experience, even if they have never won the trophy. The likes of Virgil van Dijk, Memphis Depay and Denzel Dumfries bring experience and quality to the table, while Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo can be reliable performers.
Croatia continue to punch above their weight, while Morocco have already shown they can compete with the very best having reached the semi-finals at the last World Cup, becoming the first African nation to achieve such feat.
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