It’s been four years since the last FIFA World Cup. Argentina was the champion in 2022, led by the tournament’s best player, Lionel Messi. Understandably, football fans are anxiously awaiting the 2026 edition of the quintessential sports tournament.
As sports bettors, we’re also chomping at the bit to get going. With 104 matches to be played, there’s an overabundance of available wagers – and that’s just for the games. That doesn’t include all the different futures markets, player props, and exotics.
Those who can’t bear to wait any longer do have options, however. There are plenty of futures bets worth making before the action gets underway on June 11, particularly where a team’s first handful of performances could drastically alter the going rate.
We selected a handful of futures bets available from the industry’s best offshore sportsbooks to showcase ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Don’t wait for a better price – this is likely as good as it gets for these wagers.
Top World Cup Futures Bets to Place Today
Odds for these FIFA World Cup futures bets are current as of Friday, May 1 and provided by BetOnline.
Group A Winner: Mexico (+105)
There are a handful of reasons why Mexico should win Group A. All signs point to El Tri getting the job done, and while this team is the favorite at +105, it feels like they’re more of a lock to win their group than other contenders that are heavier favorites.
It starts with the location of the tournament itself. Mexico, the United States and Canada will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and as such, they’ll have the most significant home-field advantage throughout the group stage. Mexico, in particular, got an excellent draw: Its group stage games will be played exclusively in Mexico City and Zapopan.
And while it’s worth noting that the highest-ranked team isn’t always the one to win the group, Mexico (No. 16) has a significant leg up on South Korea (22), Czechia (43), and South Africa (60).
That’s not to say it’s going to be easy. This tournament never is. But if travel distance has any impact on performance whatsoever, Mexico is set to benefit more from its rest advantage, more so than any other country.
Winning Confederation: UEFA (-300)
The UEFA consistently puts some of the best teams on the field at the FIFA World Cup, and this year is no exception. Seven of the confederation’s 16 participants rank inside the top 10 in the world:
- France (No. 1)
- Spain (No. 2)
- England (No. 4)
- Portugal (No. 5)
- Netherlands (No. 7)
- Belgium (No. 9)
- Germany (No. 10)
Having four of the top five teams in the entire tournament is a pretty great way to solidify UEFA as the favorite to represent the World Cup winner. It also has the most participants overall – the CAF sent the second most teams with 10, while the AFC sent nine.
CONMEBOL is second at +300, while any other confederation winning the World Cup comes at +1000. Six teams will represent CONMEBOL at the FIFA World Cup, and all rank inside the top 40. Argentina (No. 3), Brazil (No. 6), and Colombia (No. 13) are the heaviest hitters.
Is there a chance that the odds on this bet could become more favorable down the line? Absolutely. But it could also easily go the other way if, say, UEFA makes up the largest demographic of the eight remaining teams. And considering the top-heavy nature of this confederation, that wouldn’t be the most shocking outcome.
Triple Chance: Spain, France, or Germany (+150)
Piggybacking off our last bet, the triple chance futures prop allows us to pick from a selection of three teams to win the FIFA World Cup. This selection of the UEFA’s finest comes in at +150 and provides a little more value when we slot Germany in at the last of the trio rather than England or Portugal.
Spain is the betting favorite to win the tournament, and for good reason. La Furia Roja won Euro 2024 and appears to be on the cusp of kicking off a new dynasty. The roster is stacked, they’re aggressive in their attack, and history is on their side. Spain is one of only eight countries to ever win the World Cup.
France enters as the world No. 1, making this the team to beat this summer. Kylian Mbappé is arguably the best player on the planet, and he already helped guide France to a World Cup title in 2018. In 2022, Les Blues were runners-up to Argentina. Recent history suggests this team is a lock to make a deep run.
Finally, there’s Germany, which looks poised to compete at the highest level once more after dropping out in the group stage in 2018 and 2022. Fortunately, the Germans got a favorable draw in Group E alongside Ecuador (No. 23), Ivory Coast (37), and Curaçao (81). They have a strong chance to ride that momentum all the way to the title.
France to Win FIFA World Cup (+500)
Let’s bring it all home. As soon as the group stage ends, France’s odds to win the FIFA World Cup are bound to shorten. There’s little reason to worry about Les Blues suffering an early knockout, too: Group I includes Senegal, Norway, and Iraq.
Essentially, if you have any confidence in France’s chances of winning it all, this is the time to put money on them. There’s something to be said about not backing the favorite this early in advance, but this is the kind of team that’s immune to such a trend. Les Blues have at least reached the quarterfinals every year since 2014 and have twice made the title game.
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Final Thoughts
While some of the best bets are worth waiting for, it’s also important to know when it’s okay to be impatient. This is one of those times. The betting public isn’t hammering these lines just yet. Take advantage of the early odds at offshore sportsbooks and secure the best prices before they’re gone for good.
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
