World Cup 2026 Tip of the Day: South America to Reign Supreme in North America?
Tom Hancock
With a European winner of the World Cup 2026 being odds-on, backing a South American side to go all the way could be tempting. LiveScore Bet is offering odds of 5/2* on South America being the winning continent this summer.
Argentina enter this summer’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the USA as holders, having won their third World Cup four years ago in Qatar, with record five-time winners Brazil also among the favourites as they so often are.
Until Spain got their hands on the trophy for the first time at the 2010 finals in South Africa, a European nation had never lifted the World Cup outside Europe. Germany then repeated the trick in Brazil four years later.
That being said, this will be the 12th World Cup held outside Europe, and nine of the previous 11 such tournaments have been won by South American countries: Brazil in Chile (1962), perhaps ominously, Mexico (1970) and the USA (1994), and Japan and South Korea (2002); Argentina in Argentina (1978), Mexico (1986) and Qatar (2022); and Uruguay in Uruguay (1930) and Brazil (1950).
Five South American sides have qualified for the World Cup 2026: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Uruguay – with Argentina and Brazil realistically the most likely to go all the way.
Reigning champions Argentina are the highest-ranked South American nation at the finals, currently fourth in the FIFA World Ranking, while Brazil are gearing up their first major tournament under the management of Carlo Ancelotti – who could become the first coach to win the World Cup with a country other than their own.
Argentina have been drawn in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria and Jordan, with Brazil taking on Morocco, Haiti and Scotland in Group C. If both sides win their respective groups, they could meet in the semi-finals.
Back South America to be the winning continent at World Cup 2026 at 5/2 with LiveScore Bet
*Odds correct as of 15/5/26
Next, see Which Player Has Made the Most World Cup Appearances?
