World Cup 2026 bursts into life this month, with an expanded 48-team format bringing more matches than ever before.
From outright winners to player markets and group forecasts, here are the best bets and tips for this summer’s showdown in North America.
World Cup Winner Tip – Spain @ 5/1
The race to win the 23rd edition of the World Cup looks exceptionally competitive with a multitude of countries in the mix for glory this summer.
Defending champions Argentina are targeting an unprecedented fourth straight major international trophy, their rivals and five-time winners Brazil have one of the most decorated managers of all time spearheading their charge, while 2018 victors France will fancy their chances of reaching a third straight final. Portugal’s squad is jam-packed with talent and experience, England have a German leading their assault, and speaking of which: never rule out the Germans.
Yet, it’s European Champions Spain who just about edge it for us at a best-priced 5/1 with Betway. La Roja were simply outstanding at Euro 2024, where they defeated the likes of Croatia, Italy, Germany, France, and England on their way to lifting the trophy in one of the most impressive tournament runs in recent memory.
Luis de la Fuente is an astute tactician who has assembled a supreme squad combining experience, technical quality, and youthful exuberance. At the heart of that is the dazzling Lamine Yamal, whose unique talents are now set to grace the global stage.
Spain’s prospects could be further enhanced by one of the more favourable routes to the final. Should, as expected, they win Group H, then they may well avoid several of the major players until a potentially mouthwatering semi-final showdown against France before a possible final against England.
Top Goalscorer Tip: Kylian Mbappe @ 13/2 with UniBet
The top goalscorer market is jam-packed with elite level forwards, from the last two Golden Boot winners Kylian Mbappe (2022) and Harry Kane (2018), to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and let’s not forget Erling Haaland.
Yes he’s the favourite, but Mbappe does look like the pick of the bunch at 13/2 with UniBet. He scored a tournament-high eight goals at the 2022 World Cup, including a hat-trick in the final. He also won both the La Liga and Champions League Golden Boots last season.
Furthermore, he’ll be fuelled by a couple of major international milestones. He is only one goal behind Olivier Giroud’s France record of 57 goals and within four of Miroslav Klose’s record return of 16 World Cup goals.
Each-way options include Cristiano Ronaldo at 22/1 with UniBet, Mbappe’s France teammate Ousmane Dembele at 33/1 with Ladbrokes, and Brazil’s Igor Thiago at 66/1 with SpreadEX.
Last Five Golden Boot Winners
| World Cup | Player | Country | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Qatar | Kylian Mbappe | France | 8 |
| 2018 Russia | Harry Kane | England | 6 |
| 2014 Brazil | James Rodríguez | Colombia | 6 |
| 2010 South Africa | Thomas Muller | Germany | 5 |
| 2006 Germany | Miroslav Klose | Germany | 5 |
Most Assists Tip: Michael Olise @ 10/1 with bet365
Michael Olise enjoyed an extraordinary debut season at Bayern Munich, where he accumulated 53 goal involvements in 52 matches. The winger’s remarkable return of 32 assists across all competitions included a Champions League-high eight assists and a Bundesliga-high 19.
The 10/1 priced (bet365) Frenchman is perfectly primed to bring his creativity and panache to the World Cup arena, where he could be set to run riot alongside Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele.
Golden Ball Tip: Lamine Yamal @ 17/2 with UniBet
Interestingly, only one of the last seven Golden Ball recipients has also lifted the World Cup in the same year, with Lionel Messi achieving that feat in 2022. Meanwhile, seven of the last eight winners have at least reached the final, which underlines the importance of a country’s collective success alongside individual performance.
With Spain my pick to go all the way, backing a key player from within their ranks makes sense. So, with that said, Lamine Yamal a tempting price at 17/2 with UniBet to elevate his Young Player award from Euro 2024 into Golden Ball glory at the World Cup.
England Tip: England/Croatia Group L Forecast @ 13/10 with Sky Bet
Thomas Tuchel has raised eyebrows by omitting several high-profile names from his final England squad. The German head coach has prioritised cohesion and group dynamic over individuality.
England head into the tournament as the strong betting favourites to top Group L ahead of Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. While Croatia represent the toughest challenge, the Three Lions have won their last two meetings with the ageing Balkan side. They should have enough to clinch top spot ahead of the Checkered Ones at 13/10 with Sky Bet.