In the summer of 2026, the 23rd FIFA World Cup in history will be played. Even today, betting enthusiasts can choose their tournament favourite and place a bet on them. In this article, we’ll discuss who bookmakers consider the main contender for the title, and also examine where Portugal’s national team ranks in this rating.
Top 5 World Cup 2026 Favourites
The World Cup 2026 participant lineup has not yet been formed. However, this fact hasn’t prevented sports analysts from identifying the main contenders for the title. Let us remind you, tournament qualification on all continents begins in September and ends in February 2026. Well-known betting platforms, which also feature 18+ casino options, have determined a preliminary top five national teams with the highest chances of winning the World Cup. They include:
- Spain – 6.80
- France – 7.30
- Brazil – 7.30
- England – 8.50
- Portugal – 11.70
As we can see, four spots in the top 5 were taken by European representatives, including Portugal’s national team. Experts traditionally awarded one spot to Brazil’s national team, which is always found among the main World Cup favourites.
Special Bets on Portugal’s National Team
Portugal’s national team fans also have the opportunity to place special bets on the team. For example, players can bet that Cristiano Ronaldo will score at least one goal at the World Cup 2026 – the odds for such an outcome are 1.65, making it quite probable.
Bookmakers also offer outright bets on Portugal’s national team performance results in the World Cup 2026 qualifying tournament. In Group F, Roberto Martínez’s team is considered an obvious favourite. You can bet that Portugal will finish first and directly qualify for the tournament with odds of 1.20.
As a reminder, Hungary, Ireland, and Armenia’s national teams will also play in qualifying Group F.
World Cup 2026 Preview
The World Cup 2026 is the 23rd international tournament in history, which will take place across three countries: the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Competition matches will be hosted by stadiums in 16 cities.
The tournament’s opening match is scheduled for June 11, 2026. The final game will take place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. For the first time in World Cup history, it will be held in an expanded format. 48 national teams will be able to qualify for the tournament, instead of the usual 32 participants.
The tournament will begin with a stage where 12 groups of four teams each will be formed. Teams that finish in 1st and 2nd places will directly advance to the Round of 16 playoffs. The eight best teams that finish third in their groups will also advance to the knockout round.
