2026 FIFA World Cup Early Predictions & Picks to Win
The 2026 FIFA World Cup might still be a long way off, but it’s hard not to get excited about the world’s biggest sporting event. It’s going to be an exciting tournament, with a brand new format that allows more national teams to take part. You can bet on all soccer matches at the World Cup when you sign up to Stake Sportsbook. Check the latest odds and learn more about betting on soccer and our early predictions for the tournament.
2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule & Fixtures
Qualifying 2025
Group Stage
11-17 June - Matchday 1
18-23 June - Matchday 2
24-27 June - Matchday 3
Knockout Stage
28 June - 3 July - Round of 32
4-7 July - Round of 16
9-11 July - Quarter-finals
14-15 July - Semi-finals
18 July - Third-place playoff
19 July - Final
Where is the FIFA World Cup 2026 Held?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be shared between 16 cities across the 3 host nations of North America. The USA are the primary hosts, while Canada and Mexico will be auxiliary host countries.
Which Countries/Teams are in the World Cup?
This is the first FIFA World Cup to include 48 international soccer teams, expanded from the standard 32. The full list of teams has yet to be decided, as qualifying rounds are still ongoing. However, so far, the following nations have their places confirmed:
Iran
Japan
Canada
Mexico
United States
Argentina
New Zealand
The draw to determine the groups will take place in December 2025.
Major Teams & Players to Look Out For
Spain
Spain recently won the 2024 Euro Championships and has a squad that is bursting with quality. Every position has players of quality, especially in the midfield. Spain last won the World Cup back in 2010, doing so after winning the 2008 Euros. Could they achieve the same feat once more?
Players to watch include:
Lamine Yamal
Nico Williams
Dean Huijsen
Pedri
Gavi
Pau Cubarsi
England
England haven’t won the men’s FIFA World Cup since 1966 and most recently reached the quarter-finals in 2022. They have some incredibly talented players, although their squad is a bit unbalanced, with more quality in attack than in defense.
Here are some of the key players to look out for:
Bukayo Saka
Cole Palmer
Harry Kane
Jude Bellingham
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Declan Rice
France
France were champions at the 2018 World Cup and were unlucky not to win the 2022 tournament, finishing runners-up, losing the final on penalties after the match ended 3-3. They probably have the most depth in terms of talent, with a lot of players who have experience playing in high-pressure finals.
Star players in the France squad include:
Kylian Mbappe
Ousmane Dembele
William Saliba
Eduardo Camavinga
Jules Kounde
Mike Maignan
Argentina
The current world champions still look like one of the strongest teams in South America, even if the talents of Lionel Messi are fading with age. He remains one of the best attacking players in the world, and with the right team and system around him, he could captain Argentina to another World Cup win.
Players to watch include:
Lionel Messi
Emiliano Martinez
Julian Alvarez
Rodrigo De Paul
Enzo Fernández
Nico Paz
Netherlands
The Netherlands have never won the World Cup, but their team has often been one of the top finishers in the tournament. They were runners-up in 2010 and reached the quarter-finals in 2022. They have a gifted squad, although they’re not one of the favorites.
Key players include:
Virgil van Dijk
Frenkie de Jong
Xavi Simons
Cody Gakpo
Jurrien Timber
Tijjani Reijnders
Brazil
Brazil are the most successful team in the history of the World Cup, lifting the trophy on 5 separate occasions. However, their most recent win was in 2002. Since then, they’ve reached the quarter finals each tournament, but have been disappointing considering the talented squad they have.
Key players for Brazil in their upcoming games include:
Vinicius Jr.
Rodrygo
Paqueta
Endrick
Gabriel
Alisson Becker
Germany
Germany has won 4 World Cup finals, last lifting the trophy in 2014. However, they went out in the group stage at the last 2 tournaments. Germany has always been a mainstay of the World Cup, but their squad is not as strong as it once was.
There are still a lot of talented German players, such as:
Jamal Musiala
Leroy Sane
Antonio Rudiger
Karim Adeyemi
Florian Wirtz
Kai Havertz
FIFA World Cup Betting Tips, Odds & Previews
Get all the latest odds on World Cup winner markets, betting tips, and previews of World Cup matches right here at Stake.
You’ll find pre-match and live betting options on all FIFA World Cup matches as well as many other soccer tournaments such as the Influencer World Cup at Stake. To see the latest live odds on games, simply log in while the match is in-play and open the event. The odds update in real time as the action happens on the pitch, and you’ll also be able to see live stats to help you make predictions. You can watch free live streams of FIFA World Cup qualifying games at Stake, although the finals aren’t covered.
FIFA World Cup Betting Odds, Payouts & Promotions
To be successful at placing sports bets on the World Cup, you need to understand how odds work and how to calculate your potential payouts. The higher the implied probability, the lower the odds and the lower the potential payout. It’s important to balance risk and reward when comparing odds and thinking about bet sizes.
Change between decimal, fractional, and American odds depending on which one you find easier to use. Make the most of Stake’s sports betting promotions to get the best odds and increase the value of your bets.
For more information on sports betting, check out our general guide to sports betting online.
Use the stats - Make your World Cup picks by using the available data and statistics. You should be looking at recent team performances in friendlies and qualifiers to determine which teams have the best chance of success. Look at underlying metrics such as expected goals as well as the results.
Make the most of all betting markets - There are loads of different betting markets available at Stake. You can place moneyline bets on the winner of the match, outright bets on the outcome of the tournament, total goals scored in a game, betting handicaps, including asian handicaps, and player and game prop bets.
Follow the latest news and picks online - During the tournament, you’ll be able to find plenty of news and updates that could prove valuable when making your picks. Reading up on our expert soccer guides such as our IWC 2025 guide will also provide valuable insights. Stay up to date with team news, keeping an eye out for injuries to key players and issues within the squads.
Stake VIP Club & Responsible Betting
When you join Stake.com, you’ll also be able to enjoy a range of sports betting promotions and join our exclusive VIP Club. By placing bets, you’ll be able to level up your account and unlock exciting rewards such as regular rakeback and reload bonuses. Reach a high enough level and you’ll even get your very own VIP host. Find out more about how it works on the VIP FAQ page. Whenever you bet, be sure to follow our responsible betting guidelines to stay in control and stay Stake Smart while betting on major tournaments like the World Cup.
