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The 2026 World Cup Thread
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Spain is the consensus favorite across the sportsbook marketplace to win the World Cup, showing +450 at DraftKings Sportsbook. France is either the co-favorite or second favorite across the marketplace, with odds ranging from +450 to +500 from book to book.
"I didn't realize that this would be a steady stream of money on these teams," DraftKings sportsbook director Johnny Avello told ESPN. "Those are the two favorites that have been very popular throughout, but especially lately. Over the last week or so, those two are getting an influx of money."
Caesars Sportsbook soccer lead Mark Bickerdike said Spain and France are "rightfully the two teams to beat," noting that there is a notable step down to the next tier -- which includes England (+700), Argentina (+950) and Brazil (+950) -- in terms of public popularity.
The one exception to that is Portugal, which has seen significant action at several books, including DraftKings, where it's the third-most backed by money. The Portuguese have shortened from 10-1 to +800 at the sportsbook in recent weeks, and they are as short as +750 at other sportsbooks.
The pre-tournament World Cup favorite has won it all only three times: West Germany in 1974, Brazil in 1994 and Spain in 2010. The largest pre-tournament long shot to win the championship was Italy, which came into the 1982 competition at 18-1, according to data from SportsOddsHistory.com.
European champions Spain enter the World Cup as the top favorite to claim the title. AP Photo/Moises Castillo
Despite its 60-1 long-shot odds, the United States is garnering significant action from the American betting public to win the World Cup, coming in as the eighth-most backed by handle at DraftKings. Because of their exceptionally long odds, the Americans are a massive liability for the sportsbooks should they make a deep run, but bookmakers seem to welcome the enthusiasm from their customers despite the risk.
"People are going to want to watch them and hope for them to win and bet on them. Now that we're having games in our country, and in close proximity in Mexico and Canada, I think it makes that aspect even bigger," Avello said. "We're going to put them up at a fair price and we're going to let the bettors bet them because we know that's going to happen. And if the U.S. wins this, that's great for our country and we'll take our lumps."
There is one other major underdog attracting action at multiple sportsbooks: Haiti, who comes into the fray tied for the longest World Cup winner odds at 2,500-1, per DraftKings lines. Sportsbooks stand to lose a remarkable amount of money should the Haitians pull off the incredibly unlikely, including $2.5 million from one bettor at BetMGM, who placed a $1,000 wager on the future.
Spain, France lead World Cup odds as U.S. bettors back home team
Spain and France will begin the 2026 World Cup as the clear favorites to lift the trophy both among bettors and bookmakers, though the tournament taking place on North American soil is also pushing the United States betting public to back the home team at an outsize clip.Spain is the consensus favorite across the sportsbook marketplace to win the World Cup, showing +450 at DraftKings Sportsbook. France is either the co-favorite or second favorite across the marketplace, with odds ranging from +450 to +500 from book to book.
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"I didn't realize that this would be a steady stream of money on these teams," DraftKings sportsbook director Johnny Avello told ESPN. "Those are the two favorites that have been very popular throughout, but especially lately. Over the last week or so, those two are getting an influx of money."
Caesars Sportsbook soccer lead Mark Bickerdike said Spain and France are "rightfully the two teams to beat," noting that there is a notable step down to the next tier -- which includes England (+700), Argentina (+950) and Brazil (+950) -- in terms of public popularity.
The one exception to that is Portugal, which has seen significant action at several books, including DraftKings, where it's the third-most backed by money. The Portuguese have shortened from 10-1 to +800 at the sportsbook in recent weeks, and they are as short as +750 at other sportsbooks.
The pre-tournament World Cup favorite has won it all only three times: West Germany in 1974, Brazil in 1994 and Spain in 2010. The largest pre-tournament long shot to win the championship was Italy, which came into the 1982 competition at 18-1, according to data from SportsOddsHistory.com.
European champions Spain enter the World Cup as the top favorite to claim the title. AP Photo/Moises Castillo
Despite its 60-1 long-shot odds, the United States is garnering significant action from the American betting public to win the World Cup, coming in as the eighth-most backed by handle at DraftKings. Because of their exceptionally long odds, the Americans are a massive liability for the sportsbooks should they make a deep run, but bookmakers seem to welcome the enthusiasm from their customers despite the risk.
"People are going to want to watch them and hope for them to win and bet on them. Now that we're having games in our country, and in close proximity in Mexico and Canada, I think it makes that aspect even bigger," Avello said. "We're going to put them up at a fair price and we're going to let the bettors bet them because we know that's going to happen. And if the U.S. wins this, that's great for our country and we'll take our lumps."
There is one other major underdog attracting action at multiple sportsbooks: Haiti, who comes into the fray tied for the longest World Cup winner odds at 2,500-1, per DraftKings lines. Sportsbooks stand to lose a remarkable amount of money should the Haitians pull off the incredibly unlikely, including $2.5 million from one bettor at BetMGM, who placed a $1,000 wager on the future.
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Germany to maintain a clean sheet thanks to Oliver Kahn!
Kroos to be Germany's top scorer!
Kroos to be Germany's top scorer!
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Robin van Persie and Ruud van Nistelrooy to score hat tricks for Netherlands!!
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Dear @Balls2U, I just discovered that the surname of the first of the two South African players who were sent off is "Sithole":
wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphephelo S'Miso "Yaya" Sithole
wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_FIFA_World_Cup_Group_A#Mexico_vs_South_Africa
But I'm afraid I don't know the correct South African pronunciation.
I wonder whether my dearest @eatshitndie-sama knows...
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Opening game let go 3 red cards, sets the tone for the tournament. SA looked really lousy
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Half time S. KOREA 0-0 CZE
NB, so difficult to score WC goal.
Son with a couple of half chances
but not on target.
Temp at 22C does not suit Asian teams.
2nd half, S. Korea can just soak in the attack and play a quick counter attack but temp do not favour them.
NB, so difficult to score WC goal.
Son with a couple of half chances
but not on target.
Temp at 22C does not suit Asian teams.
2nd half, S. Korea can just soak in the attack and play a quick counter attack but temp do not favour them.
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Some of the stadiums, the pitches are fake grass.
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Czech scored! No one marked him and the Czech scored a header! Koreans too complacent!
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