The 2026 World Cup field has expanded from 32 teams to 48 teams. That has given many more countries a chance to compete on soccer’s biggest stage. It has also made it much more possible for a team to go on a Cinderella run deeper into the tournament. However, the cream always rises to the top. Despite more teams in the field, only a few countries have a realistic chance of lifting the trophy. Here’s a look at all of the teams with a real shot at winning this tournament.

Futures odds on every team, group, the Golden Boot, and much more are all available on DraftKings Sportsbook.

2026 World Cup Favorites

France (+500)

France has been the clear powerhouse over the past two World Cups. They won the 2018 World Cup and reached the final again in 2022. There is no reason to think that Les Bleus will not be back in the final for the third consecutive World Cup. Didier Deschamps remains at the helm after guiding the team to back-to-back finals. The team still has superstars like Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele. However, there are also rising stars like Michael Olise, Desire Doue and Rayan Cherki who are beginning to establish themselves as some of the best players in the world at their positions. This roster is loaded from top to bottom, and it will take a Herculean effort to beat them.

Spain (+500)

France has been the more successful team at World Cups, but Spain is the reigning European champion. They will be a massive threat at this World Cup, led by their teenage phenom Lamine Yamal. Spain also has some veteran players who have won massive trophies for club and country, and bring a lot of experience to the team. That group includes Rodri, Dani Olmo and Marc Cucurella. They also have two great goalkeepers, David Raya and Unai Simon. Spain has not advanced past the Round of 16 since winning the 2010 World Cup and will be determined to deliver a better showing this time around.

England (+650)

Could this be the year that football finally comes home? England has not won the World Cup since 1966. However, they have consistently performed well at both the World Cup and the Euros this century. They were runners-up at the Euros in both 2021 and 2024. England reached the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup and the semi-finals in 2018. They have reached the group stage in six of the past seven World Cups. Those are great results, but they can’t quite get over the line to lift a trophy. This will be England’s first major tournament without Gareth Southgate since the 2016 Euros. Only time will tell if Thomas Tuchel can be the man to take them to the next level.

Brazil (+800)

Brazil has gone through multiple phases as the world’s best nation in international soccer. Most recently, there was a stretch in the late 90s and early 2000s when this team seemed untouchable. They won the 1994 World Cup, were runners-up in 1998, and won it again in 2002. During that same period, they won four out of five Copa Americas from 1997 to 2007. However, they have only reached the quarter-finals at the World Cup once since winning it in 2002, and that was in 2014 as the host nation. That being said, Brazil has reached at least the quarter-finals in 10 straight World Cups, an incredibly high floor. This time around, one of the greatest managers in history, Carlo Ancelotti, will be leading them. Ancelotti could be the man who finally brings that World Cup trophy back to Brazil.

Argentina (+850)

Argentina is the defending World Cup champion. However, the core of their team has lost quality since winning it all. Almost all the key figures were at the peak of their powers at the 2022 World Cup and have not been the same since. Lionel Messi is still Lionel Messi, but he has been playing in the MLS over the past couple of seasons. Emi Martinez was world-class in goal for Argentina at that World Cup, but he has not been quite at that level for Aston Villa as of late. Other players like Nicolas Otamendi, Cristian Romero, and Alexis Mac Allister are also not playing at that top level. All of that being said, this is an experienced group with a lot of talent that could make a run if everything clicks when they all get back together.

Portugal (+1100)

Portugal is always a threat at these tournaments. Cristiano Ronaldo, just like Messi, is no longer the untouchable talent he once was. However, he is still capable of creating moments of magic. Bruno Fernandes, however, is playing the best football of his life this season. There are also some great young players, like Joao Neves, Vitinha, and Nuno Mendes, who have become stars since the last World Cup. Portugal has been a bit disappointing at the World Cup this century, but in what could be Ronaldo’s last hurrah, the team is capable of making a deep run in this tournament.

Germany (+1400)

Germany is the final team with odds of 15-to-1 or better to win this World Cup. Germany might not have the flash that teams like France, Spain and Brazil have. However, there are many incredibly talented players alongside some very experienced veterans — though it will be a strange sight to see someone other than Manuel Neuer in goal for Germany. Neuer has been in goal at every major tournament for Germany since the 2010 World Cup. He was most notably in goal for Germany’s 2014 World Cup win. However, Neuer retired from international football following the 2024 Euros.

Germany was on a run of reaching at least the semi-finals in four consecutive World Cups from 2002 to 2014. However, they have not even reached the knockout stage at either of the last two World Cups. Julian Nagelsmann will lead Germany at a World Cup for the first time in 2026. Nagelsmann was the manager at Euro 2024, where Germany made the quarter-finals but lost to eventual champion Spain in extra time. German fans will hope that Nagelsmann can replicate that success at the World Cup, but go even further with young stars like Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and Nick Woltemade on the roster.