World Cup Predictions & Team Analysis: Who Will Win?

World Cup Favourites — The Teams Most Likely to Win

Who will win the World Cup is a question that's in the minds of many football fans, and we're going to look at a few top contenders that have a high chance of winning the golden trophy. When you are ready to place a bet, see our guide to the best World Cup betting sites.

Spain

Spain is one of the World Cup favourites with the shortest odds, and its status as European champions ensures a fearsome international reputation. The team has built a great squad with talent, flair, and tenacity. Their tactical control and a combination of younger attackers like Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Gavi give the team speed and unpredictability.

Spain also has very few weaknesses as it’s well-rounded and boasts as much squad depth as it does quality. Coach Luis de la Fuente has built a side that dominates possession and transitions quickly. The only real concern is Yamal’s fitness after he had a hamstring injury, but he is expected to be fit for the tournament.

France

France has reached the last two World Cup finals. It also won the tournament back in 2018 and was a runner-up in 2022. This gives it high odds of winning the World Cup tournament. Mbappe remains the team’s strongest attacker, while Barcola, Dembele, Cherki, and Olise give them absurd attacking depth.

France can also replace elite quality players with elite quality substitutes. This is crucial in the World Cup as the expanded format creates a longer tournament path.

England

England is another top favourite World Cup contender in the UK, and many UK football fans are rooting for the team. The team winning the World Cup edition will be a big step-up after its recent match with Uruguay ended in a draw. It also recently lost to Japan in a friendly at Wembley.

While its recent performance hasn’t been as per fans’ expectations, England has the most complete squad for the World Cup. Unlike previous England squads where a key injury felt catastrophic, the team has legitimate cover in almost every position. The combination of players like Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, and Bukayo Saka also gives the team a viable tactical setup for attacking. Meanwhile, younger players like Kobbie Mainoo and Anthony Gordon also give the team speed and flexibility.

One of the main concerns about England is that the team hasn’t had a settled, elite central defensive partnership for quite some time. Stones’ injury record is also a persistent concern. In addition, the team goes into every World Cup tournament carrying 60 years of fans' expectation to win the tournament, which makes the psychological pressure on players real.

Argentina

Argentina is the defending World Cup champion and much of its 2022 tactics still exist. Even without Messi at his peak, who is also turning 38, the team has a deep, well-organised squad. Its collective confidence, midfield intensity, and proven ability to manage knockout pressure could see the team winning the World Cup Trophy again. Young talents like Enzo Fernandez and Julian Alvarez could also ensure the team competes at the highest performance.

World Cup Dark Horses — Who Could Cause an Upset?

Every World Cup tournament brings about unexpected outcomes, with teams you wouldn’t expect to win causing an upset. Here are some strong underdogs you could look out for.

Morocco

Morocco has a strong World Cup performance record, having reached the semi-finals back in 2022. It beat Portugal and Spain, and it did it with a tactic and structure so tight, as well as an organised defensive shape, that elite coaches spent days trying to figure it out.

If Morocco beats or draws Brazil in Group C, it’ll give the team a realistic chance to advance to the knockout.

One thing to note, however, is that the team recently changed its manager, with Mohamed Ouahbi replacing Walid Regragui. Mohamed earned the role after winning the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup with Morocco, but stepping into an international competition with the World Cup so close is still a major test.

Colombia

Colombia reached the Copa América 2024 final, and it plays with an intensity and flair that can beat any team.  Luis Díaz is the star player in the team, and he recently became one of Europe’s strongest wingers after finishing with 28 goals and 19 assists across all competitions. Combining that with a strong midfield could make Columbia a serious dark horse team to reach the quarter-finals or beyond.

Portugal

Portugal is another top dark horse, and it has built a squad that doesn’t heavily rely on Cristiano Ronaldo alone. The team now have elite options across midfield, central defence, and goal, with star players like Bruno Fernandes and Joao Felix. This gives the team enough depth to adapt across different match states.

If Portugal gets six points from its first two matches against DR Congo and Uzbekistan in Group K, it’ll have control of the group before facing Colombia.

United States

Hosting the World Cup changes the equation for the United States. This is because playing at home has often been an advantage for most football teams in the tournament. Thus, the United States is likely to cause an upset.

The team has a talented generation of players led by Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna, and Christian Pulisic, who are all top players in Europe's top leagues. Familiar conditions and massive crowd support across 11 venues could also push the USA team to a deep run.

Can England Win the World Cup in 2026?

60 years on from their only ever World Cup win, England has evolved into a consistently high-performing team. But could be the year the Three Lions wins the World Cup trophy again? The FA believe it could be, even hiring former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel to get the squad over the line.

What sets the 2026 England team apart from previous squads is its structural coherence. For instance, at the base of midfield, Declan Rice provides control in transitions and positional discipline, which enables the team to commit numbers forward without exposing themselves. There’s also Jude Bellingham, who is a strong player, equally capable of breaking lines, dictating tempo, and arriving in the box as a goal threat. The team also possess variety rather than reliance on a single pattern. For instance, Bukayo Saka offers consistent results from wide positions, while Cole Palmer and Phil Foden provide technical solutions in tighter spaces. This increases England's World Cup 2026 chances of winning the tournament. 

As of the time of writing, the team is even in the top three outright markets at most UK bookmakers — our World Cup outright winner betting guide explains how to read those odds and when to place this type of bet. The team’s past performance also confirms its high probability of reaching the World Cup final. Since the narrow defeat in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final to France, it has only lost two competitive matches. It lost the Euro 2024 final to Spain and also had a 1-2 loss to Greece at Wembley Stadium in 2024.

So, while England has an elite squad and good form to face any contender, including top World Cup dark horses and favourites, there’s still some concern around Midfield balance and tactical priorities. Even so, the only tough matches the Three Lions will likely face are against Spain and France, if it advances to the knockout and round of 16 stages.

World Cup Group Stage — Interesting Draws and Matchups

At the time of writing, FIFA has already drawn all group stage matches, and the 48 qualified teams have been sorted into 12 distinct groups — see our World Cup group stage betting guide for a full breakdown of the available markets across the opening phase. The groups run from Group A to Group L, and many fans across the UK are eagerly waiting for Group L matches. This is where England is playing against Croatia (on June 17), Ghana (on June 23), and Panama (on June 27), and the matchups determine whether England advances to the knockout phase. But based on England’s current form and squad, the Three Lions have a high chance of reaching the semi-finals and the final.

Other interesting matchups in the World Cup group stage many fans are anticipating include Brazil vs. Morocco in Group C, Netherlands vs. Japan in Group F, and Norway vs. France in Group I.

World Cup Predictions — Glossary

• Outright favourite: This is the team that is the most favoured above all others and is deemed most likely to win the World Cup tournament in the final.

• Dark horse: This is a team that fans and football experts believe has the ability, form, and squad quality to advance to the knockout and beyond in the World Cup tournament, despite the team not being bookmakers’ favourite.

• Squad depth: This is the number of high-performing players who are in good form and available for each position, beyond the starting match lineup.

• Seeding / seeding bands: This is a World Cup phase where FIFA ranks teams participating in the tournament based on their strengths and recent performance, and then mixes them up during the draw.

• Group stage draw: This is a World Cup stage where teams participating in the tournament are sorted into 12 groups of four, where they can compete in a round-robin format of matches.

• Knockout rounds: This is the stage following the group stage, where losing teams are immediately eliminated from the tournament and the winners advance to the next round.

Using This Analysis Responsibly

Even with our experts’ World Cup predictions and tips, the tournament is inherently unpredictable, and impossible to know exactly what the outcome of the matches will be. Therefore, use any form, squad quality, market, insights, and tips as indicators, not as a guarantee of a specific match outcome. You shouldn't also use any of our analysis and predictions as your sole basis for your final betting decision. And before you even start World Cup betting in the UK, set a clear budget for the money you can afford to spend on the tournament. You should also treat every wager as entertainment, not a way to earn income.

But if your World Cup betting is no longer enjoyable, or you’re struggling with betting habits, support is available for free for all UK bettors. Responsible gambling organisations such as GamStop and BeGambleAware can help you regain control.