2026 World Cup Favourites: France Lead, Spain and Argentina Close Behind
France top both the FIFA rankings and the prediction markets heading into 2026, but reigning Euro champions Spain and world champions Argentina are right behind. How the title race looks at kickoff.
The first 48-team World Cup kicks off on 11 June, and for once the rankings and the markets agree at the top: France are the team to beat. Didier Deschamps's side sit first in the April 2026 FIFA ranking and are the clear favourites on the prediction markets, just ahead of Spain.
Ad
The big six
France (FIFA #1), Spain (#2), Argentina (#3), England (#4), Portugal (#5) and Brazil (#6) occupy the top six in the world ranking, and the same names dominate the outright market. Spain arrive as reigning European champions with the deepest midfield in the game; Argentina are the holders, still built around Lionel Messi.
England, under Thomas Tuchel, finally pair a top manager with a golden generation, while Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal round out a heavyweight chasing pack.
Why it is wide open
Even the favourite, France, is priced well under 20% to win it, a reflection of how evenly matched the top sides are and how the expanded format adds an extra knockout round. Expect the title to be decided by fine margins.
