Insights into the world of sports through betting
Spain and France flags, two of the favorites to win the World Cup - Source: Unsplash
Qualifying for next summer's FIFA World Cup saw plenty of fairytales written. In Europe, Norway, Austria, and Scotland all ended 28-year waits to return to football's grandest stage, with the latter doing so in spectacular fashion as rockets from Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean secured a 4-2 victory over Denmark and direct progression to football's biggest party. In the Caribbean, Curacao joined the likes of Cape Verde, Jordan, and Uzbekistan in qualifying for the tournament for the first time in history.
But as always, by the time next June rolls around and the World Cup gets underway, the focus of attention will be on the big boys, the favorites to leave MetLife Stadium with the famous gold trophy in tow. So, who are those frontrunners, and will they live up to the billing? Let's take a look.
Online betting sites have installed Spain as the early favorites to win the World Cup for the second time, and let's face it, it's hard to argue with them. While the in-play odds at Bovada won't be available until the first game kicks off in Mexico City on June 11th, 2026, the betting giant's outright markets certainly are available, and they have La Roja installed as a clear 4/1 frontrunner. Given their recent form, we can see why their odds are considered so good.
Spain famously claimed a record-breaking fourth European Championship summer, with the brilliance of teenage sensation Lamine Yamal leading his side to a 2-1 victory against England in Berlin. They followed that up with a run to the UEFA Nations League final, which they ultimately lost on penalties to Portugal. In qualifying, dominance was the order of business, winning five of their six games and scoring a mighty 21 goals in the process.
The Spanish squad is stacked with quality throughout. Yamal is the star of the show, while fellow winger Nico Williams also causes problems. The midfield is perhaps the best in the world, with Manchester City's Rodri anchoring behind playmakers Fabián Ruiz and Dani Olmo, while young defenders Pai Cubarsi and Dean Huijsen are some of the hottest prospects in world football. They will certainly take some stopping next summer.
Next summer marks 60 long years of English hurt. For the vast majority of those decades of suffering, the Three Lions knew only heartbreak and embarrassment. In recent years, that heartbreak has remained, but it's a kind that English football fans have never truly known. Coming close to the promised land only to fall at the final hurdle.
Under the perhaps unfairly criticized Gareth Southgate, England reached a first World Cup semi-final in 28 years back in 2018, before falling in extra time to Croatia. Since then, two European Championship finals back to back have followed, but those too ended in similarly painful fashion, losing on penalties at home to Italy in 2021 before that Spain defeat last summer. Now, the English FA has turned to German manager Thomas Tuchel with the sole focus of winning the World Cup, and the former Chelsea boss has gotten off to a stunning start.
England won all eight of their qualifiers without conceding a single goal, scoring 22 of their own. They are in the midst of a record-breaking run of 11 straight victories in competitive games, and with captain Harry Kane in the form of his life, more are expected. There are, however, some questions in the English media surrounding golden boy Jude Bellingham and his commitment to the cause, and that is certainly a narrative to watch throughout the seven months between now and the World Cup.
France has reached each of the last two FIFA World Cup finals with differing outcomes. Back in 2018, they beat Croatia in Moscow by four goals to two to claim the title for the second time. Four years later, not even a sensational Kylian Mbappe hat trick could come between Lionel Messi and his date with destiny as Argentina ultimately emerged with the crown in Lusail after a penalty shootout. Now, Didier Deschamps' side guns for a third straight trip to the biggest game in world football.
With the aforementioned Mbappe leading the line, anything is possible. The mercurial French skipper has been on fire for Real Madrid so far this season, netting 13 goals in just 12 games to help Los Blancos to the summit of La Liga. He will be 28 years of age by the time the World Cup rolls around, and he already has a slew of records there to be broken in just his third tournament.
For Les Bleus, Mbappe's goalscoring exploits have been similarly impressive, netting five goals in qualifying to take his overall haul to 55 in 93 games, two goals off of Olivier Giroud's national record. Flanked by in-form Bayern Munich man Michael Olise, with arguably the finest central defender in the world, in William Saliba, at the back, a third straight final appearance is by no means out of the realm of expectation.
