A difficult title defence awaits Argentina, given the expanded playing field in World Cup 2026, and it also doesn’t help that they’re the hunted team in the quadrennial tournament. For the first time, the football showpiece will include 48 teams, an expansion from 32, and there are still six slots to be filled via the inter-confederation play-offs in March.
The group stage draw was held in December, and certain teams might have felt they got a raw deal while others were satisfied with the outcome. Nonetheless, football fans from Canada, Mexico, and the United States will get their fair share of World Cup 2026 highlights.
Here are some of the teams that are seen as the early favourites to win the coveted trophy, per the SBOTOP World Cup 2026 odds.
Argentina
Argentina face a unique challenge entering this year’s World Cup, as they have yet to confirm whether Lionel Messi will suit up for them again. The Inter Miami star was the Albiceleste’s driving force, having led the team in scoring with seven goals, including the massive penalties against the Netherlands, Croatia, and France. Messi can still play at the highest level, but he is now 38 years old.
The good news for Argentina is that Lionel Scaloni’s side is becoming less dependent upon Messi, as shown during the World Cup CONMEBOL qualifiers. La Albiceleste finished at the top of the group with a nine-point cushion, securing big wins despite not having Messi in certain games due to rest.
With Messi being older, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez must step up in the final third. Overall, Argentina have an intriguing mix of young and old standouts, especially with Nico Paz, Thiago Almada, and Franco Mastantuono already looking like potential superstars.
Argentina are poised to secure the top spot in Group J ahead of Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. Given what happened to them in the first group stage game against Saudi Arabia, Argentina won’t take anyone lightly.
Spain
Spain have taken huge strides in the past few months since Luis de la Fuente took over as manager. Under de la Fuente, La Roja won the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League and Euro 2024, and they were also runners-up of the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League. With his emphasis on youth development, de la Fuente has positioned Spain as a viable contender in the years to come.
Lamine Yamal, Dean Huijsen, Pau Cubarsi, Pedri, Nico Williams, Fermin Lopez, Yeremy Pino, Raul Asencio, and Alex Baena are poised to be the team’s future, while Ferran Torres, Martin Zubimendi, Marc Cucurella, Pedro Porro, Unai Simon, Mikel Merino, Mikel Oyarzabal, and Dani Olmo are in their primes. They also have reliable veterans in Aymeric Laporte, Fabian Ruiz, Robin Le Normand, Alvaro Morata, and Ayoze Perez.
La Roja are grouped alongside Cape Verde, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia in Group H, so they should have a straightforward path to (at least) the knockouts. Luis de la Fuente’s men should fancy their chances of adding a world title to their European crown.
Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo and manager Robert Martinez were under immense pressure to walk away from the Portugal national team after their early exit in Euro 2024. However, their victory in the UEFA Nations League final against Spain proved to be their saving grace, and Ronaldo will likely captain Martinez’s Portugal team into the World Cup at the age of 41.
Portugal caught a break when Ronaldo’s three-game suspension for his red card against Ireland was downgraded. The Al-Nassr star continues to play at a high level, and he’ll join a battle-tested team that has the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Diogo Dalot, Joao Cancelo, Vitinha, Joao Neves, Rafael Leao, and Joao Felix, among others.
Grouped with Uzbekistan, Colombia, and the winner of a play-off between New Caledonia or DR Congo and Jamaica, Portugal should make another deep World Cup run, and we might get a potential Ronaldo-Messi clash in the final eight.
England
After several missed opportunities under Gareth Southgate, the English FA turned to Thomas Tuchel to lead the country at the World Cup, and the team has made progress under the German manager after a sluggish start at the helm.
One can argue that the Three Lions boast the most stacked squad in the world, as they have Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Reece James, and Jordan Pickford, among others.
England are in a tricky Group L with Ghana, Panama, and Croatia in their way, but they have enough firepower to see this through and progress to the knockouts.
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