Even though the 2026 World Cup is still months away, excitement has been in the air already. With the tournament now featuring 48 teams, fans have started to wonder which teams are the real favorites to win it all. If you’re a true football fan, you probably have also been wondering which among all these gallant teams has the best chance to lift the trophy in North America.
Of course, a separate set of supporters are looking beyond just watching and enjoying the spectacle, they also want to make calculated predictions with a hope towards winning decent to life changing money in the course of the tourney. For this set of fans, having accurate insights is key. As iGaming analyst and MightyTips expert tipster Kate Richardson puts it, “Good decisions come from good information – and football betting is no different.”
Punters who want to make the most of their wagering experience before and during the tournament should bank on guides and tools that offer trusted bet of the day predictions, market analysis, team comparisons and more. Guides and resources like these host expert pundits and tipsters who break down the most valuable opportunities available to betters. This allows them to approach football wagering with a smarter strategy.
Moving on, with powerful teams emerging from Europe and South America and football icons preparing for what could be their final World Cup, the race to claim the trophy will be tighter than ever. Let’s explore the seven national teams likely to dominate the tournament and win the competition.
And as Johan Cruyff once famously said, “Quality without results is pointless, but results without quality are boring.” Every team listed here has both.
Before we dive in, it’s important we remind ourselves how much of a psychological milestone it is to qualify for the World Cup – it’s not just a walk in the park. And from history, 85% of teams that get to the World Cup final have also had a good run during the qualifying stage. That shows the importance of consistent form – and that is one thing these seven teams all share.
We have chosen the seven teams based on their FIFA rankings, squad depth, and performances in major tournaments like the Euro 2024, Nations League, and the last World Cup held in Qatar. Spoiler: Brazil is not on the list.
The Three Lions presently have one of the most solid squads heading to the tournament – better than they have had in decades. And this instantly made them the chosen team of many fans. After being unable to win the Euro 2024 final, the team has undergone a complete reformation under a new coach, which was evident in how the team became the first European country to qualify for the tourney, without conceding a single goal.
With stars like Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Bukayo Saka all at their peak, plus Harry Kane still a threat at the front of goal, England has a huge chance to win their first World Cup title since 1966.
Champions Argentina enter as defending kings after their magical run in Qatar in 2022. Even without depending fully on Lionel Messi, they remain an elite force. While we’re still not sure if Messi will be participating in the tournament, the team already looks solid without him.
Young talents such as Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández, and Lautaro Martínez have matured rapidly. They had a good run during the qualifiers, and looking at their present group stage draw, things seem to be in their favor already.
Argentina has won global titles with grit before, and they are once again among the likely teams to reach another final.
As Messi once said, “You have to fight to reach your dream. You have to sacrifice and work hard for it.”
Argentina has done exactly that since lifting the 2022 World Cup.
For good reasons, Spain still remains a special choice and among the favourites of many fans as they believe the team presently has the best chance to win the 2026 World Cup. The Euro 2024 champion still has the same fire in their bones, and with generational talents like Lamine Yamal in the team, Spain looks solid than ever.
La Furioja’s midfield dominance under Luis de la Fuente has been exceptional. They score more freely than in previous cycles and, crucially, suffered only one defeat during their 2023-2024 campaign. If they are able to get through their World Cup group effectively, Spain could again lift the trophy for the second time after their 2010 World Cup success.
Even though France doesn’t look to be at their best now, they still remain a terrifying force heading into the tournament. With Mbappé, Dembélé, Olise, and a host of solid midfielders, the team presently has one of the deepest squads.
Coach Didier Deschamps has been criticized for pragmatic tactics, but he has managed to consistently deliver results with it. He reached the final in 2018, and did so again in 2022, while remaining competitive in every tournament since.
Will their path be easy through the competition? Not really. The team is already seeded in a tough group, featuring Senegal and Norway. But with the kind of resilience we see in France, they remain a threat to win the World Cup once again.
As Carlo Ancelotti famously put it, “Football is unpredictable. That’s why it’s beautiful.”
France fully embodies that unpredictability.
While many don’t believe in Portugal as such, their Nations League win in 2024 restored confidence and positioned them as one of the teams to look forward to in the tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo is both an asset and a potential vulnerability. Still, with Bernardo Silva, João Félix, Rafael Leão, and a wave of young attacking options, this team has the firepower to go deep.
With this likely going to be Ronaldo’s last World Cup, he will be ready to give it all it takes to make sure the team come out triumphant in the competition. And with the kind of structure and talented group of players the Portugal team has, they sure have what it takes to pull a surprise on any team in the tournament.
With Virgil van Dijk leading the back line and an exciting attack built around Gakpo, Simons, and Memphis Depay, the Dutch have quietly become one of the strongest contenders heading into 2026. They topped their Euro 2024 qualifying group, scoring 27 goals and conceding just four – impressive numbers for a team still shaping its identity.
However, their biggest challenge would be turning potential into results. The Netherlands have a history of reaching three finals without being able to win any of them. Perhaps they could be breaking that jinx in 2026 and finally win their first global trophy.
After years of turbulence, Germany has finally rediscovered its rhythm. Nagelsmann has infused the squad with energy, structure, and attacking clarity. The team’s recent performances have been exceptional, including a 6-0 win to seal qualification. This is solid proof that the German team is more than ready to compete in North America.
Three things that have contributed greatly to Germany’s success in World Cups are discipline, adaptability, and talent, and looking at the present squad, they possess all three. Their forward line is solid already with the likes of Musiala, Wirtz, and Sané in the lineup.
It may not be very easy to predict the FIFA World Cup 2026 winner, but looking closely at the teams in the tournament, we can see that some have a better chance of winning the tournament than others. The seven teams on this list not only have the talent, but they also have the tactical evolution and consistency needed to lift the cup come July 19, 2026.
Even with many teams playing in the World Cup for the first time, fans can expect memorable drama, emotion, and history in the 2026 FIFA World Cup than we have seen in competitions like the UEFA Champions League or the English FA Cup.
The article was provided by Kate Richardson.
