2026 FIFA World Cup Outright Betting Odds - Bet on Who Will Win The FIFA World Cup
Every four years, the football world is set alight by the spectacle that is the FIFA World Cup. Fans around the world settle down in front of TVs, radios, and phones to watch the action unfold in one of the very greatest live sporting occasions in the world.
One of the most exciting parts of World Cup fever is getting to place bets on soccer matches and picking who you think will be the winner of the Jules Remet trophy. You can find all the best odds on the teams at Stake Sportsbook for the 2026 edition of the competition, including those perennial dark horses everybody loves.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule
While we all immediately think of the competition proper, which will have the USA, Canada, and Mexico as host countries in this edition, the World Cup is a long and winding road for those countries not hosting the finals. So what’s the schedule for the 2026 World Cup?
Qualification
The qualification process for the 2026 World Cup has been ongoing since September 7, 2023, and will run up to March 31st 2026. Each confederation is running its group stage qualifiers throughout 2025. However, playoffs for the final spots between groups and confederations will be held in early 2026.
Group Stage
The group stage of World Cup 2026 is set to kick off on June 11, 2026. Mexico has already been selected as the host team to open the tournament with a fixture. The group stage will play out as follows:
Matchday 1: June 11 - June 17
Matchday 2: June 18 - June 23
Matchday 3 June 24 - June 27
Knockout Stage
Once the group stage has been completed and the teams to progress are all decided, the knockout stage will begin in earnest. This will run from June 28 to July 7. The dates are:
Round of 32: June 28 - July 3
Round of 16: July 4 - July 7
Finals
Everyone betting on competitions like the Champions League will tell you that the real excitement begins when we get to the quarterfinals and subsequent semis, playoffs, and final. These will run from July 9 to the July 19 final at the MetLife Stadium, with the specific rounds looking like this:
Quarterfinals: July 9 - July 11
Semifinals: July 14 - July 15
Third-Place Playoff: July 18
Final: July 19
For betting picks and predictions from our experts, see our 2026 World Cup predictions and betting tips!
Major Teams & World Cup Betting Odds
Every time the World Cup rolls into town, there are a few teams that are on the tip of the tongue when it comes to international football betting. Here, we’ve taken a look at some of our top outright betting tips for the 2026 edition of the tournament and their football odds from the current futures betting markets.
Spain (7.00)
The winners of Euro 2024, Spain, are possibly the hottest pick aside from holders Argentina and ever-fancied France. Lamine Yamal is an unpredictable ball of chaos for both Barcelona and his national team. Athletic Club’s Nico Williams is one of the most sought-after prospects in Europe. Couple that with a fit-again Rodri, and you can’t look too far past them.
England (8.00)
This is a team that appears in top pick lists every year, whether that’s Nations League betting or the World Cup. They’ve reached two finals from their last three major tournaments, but have yet to win anything since defeating West Germany in 1966. However, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham are two of the best talents in the world, so they are very capable.
United States (51.00)
This one is more a suggestion of a team that can be seen as something of a dark horse. The USA has been building up to something special for decades now. Fans are flocking to and betting on the MLS like never before, and with the American nation behind them, we could see them go far in the competition as joint-hosts.
All of these odds will change leading up to the tournament, so it’s always worth being aware that any bet placed could be void or very different in outlook quickly.
It’s the same as betting pre-match versus betting in-play, and you should always do your research to make informed betting decisions.
How to Bet on the FIFA World Cup Outright Winner
If you’re ready to place a bet on the World Cup winner for 2026, all you need to do is sign up for an account and choose your team. Signing up and depositing, and withdrawing your funds is easy.
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Other Popular World Cup Betting Markets
As with betting on any international soccer, there’s always going to be a number of markets on offer. The most popular will be things like Top Scorer, where even unfancied teams like Norway and Costa Rica will see players like Erling Haaland and Manfred Ugalde in the running, and even Clean Sheets.
There are so many markets that it’s important that you know how to bet on soccer. That means learning about outright betting, same-game multi-bets, betting on the moneyline, and even the basics of sports betting in general, including the difference between decimal odds, fractional formats, and American odds formats. Once you learn the ropes, it’s pretty easy to place a bet on Stake, with so many soccer betting markets available on worldwide tournaments - even on International friendlies!
Stake VIP Club & Responsible Betting
At Stake, you can become part of the exclusive Stake VIP Club, where you can receive different sports betting promotions and rewards at different levels based on your staking history. At the highest levels, you can access the VIP Host, who can help you with VIP queries.
The most important thing to us is our players’ safety and responsible betting. That’s why we’re proud to offer our responsible betting initiative and Stake Smart Guide. We’re committed to ensuring players can get help when they feel they need it and control their gaming.
