- Brazil has opened as the +900 favorite to win the 2026 World Cup.
- France is second with their +1000 odds while Argentina and England are next at +1200 odds.
- Argentina defeated France in an epic 2022 World Cup Final in Qatar over the weekend.
Less than 24 hours after the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar came to a conclusion, the top soccer betting sites were already busy posting the opening lines for the 2026 World Cup.
According to the oddsmakers, Brazil is the +900 favorite to win the tournament. 2022 runners-up France is second at +1000 odds while this year’s winner Argentina is third at +1200 along with England.
Brazil Favored to End World Cup Title Drought
Brazil will go 24 years without winning the World Cup for the 2nd time. They ended their world cup droughts after 24 years which was held in the USA. The 2026 world cup is also going to be held in USA.
2026🤞 pic.twitter.com/BCbAKQQ8Xa
— SA (@Neymologyy) December 19, 2022
Brazil last won the World Cup in 1994, ending a 24-year drought that ranks as the third longest wait between two World Cup wins. The Selecao last won the World Cup trophy in 2002 and once again, it will then be 24 years since they last won. The 1994 World Cup was held in the United States and in 2026, the U.S. is also one of three host countries along with Canada and Mexico.
Will lightning strike twice?
Brazil is a perennial World Cup favorite and they were the favorite in Qatar until they were knocked out by Croatia as a -650 favorite in the quarterfinals. There will be no shortage of talent in the Selecao, however, the likes of Neymar, Casimero, and Danilo will be in their mid-30s in 2026 while the likes of Marquinhos, Fred, and others are right behind them.
With Messi winning in Qatar, no player will be facing more pressure to deliver than Neymar but in the last 3 editions of the World Cup, injuries have prevented him from fulfilling his role as his nation’s talisman.
The Paris Saint-Germain superstar moved to a tie with Pele as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 77 goals in Qatar. However, the World Cup trophy has eluded him. With age, a factor among Brazil’s key players, winning in 2026 is a big question mark.
France to Run it Back
Watch out for Kylian Mbappe and France in 2026.#FIFAWorldCup #Qatar2022onMG pic.twitter.com/K7Mjss9EGA
— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) December 19, 2022
The defeat in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final will definitely sting for a long time in France but the foundations of the French men’s national team are solid with less than four years to go before the next World Cup.
Despite losing to Argentina in the Final, France can hold their head high after nearly repeating as champions despite losing the likes of Karim Benzema, Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante, Christopher Nkunku, and Lucas Hernandez who starred in 2018. There won’t be any losses expected this time around.
France’s squad in Qatar ranked as one of the youngest in the tournament with an average age of 26.6 years old. 2022 Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe will only be 27 years old when the 2026 edition kicks off while youngsters like Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, Dayot Upamecano, and Ibrahima Konaté will also be entering their prime.
Then there is Argentina
Don’t count Argentina out even if Lionel Messi will no longer be playing in 2026. Sure, it was Messi who starred for the team with his goal-scoring prowess. However, much of the squad’s competitiveness and fire were driven by young players like Julian Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez who made their marks as substitutes.
Alexis Mac Allister is just 23 years old while Cristian Romero is only 24. And don’t forget that Coach Lionel Scaloni’s managerial career is just beginning at 44 years of age. Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho will surely be a part of their plans in 2026 as well.
England is also listed at +1200 odds but with Harry Kane already 33 years old by July 2026, that could be an issue. Kane’s goal-scoring threats already looked diminished in Qatar and another four years would not make it better. Right now, there’s no one who can fill the void although an in-form Marcus Rashford might do that.
