We are down to the final two teams at the 2026 World Cup with reigning champions Argentina taking on European champions Spain in a mouth-watering final on Sunday evening.
The Standard have pulled together the best World Cup odds for the final from betting sites, as well as the latest prices for the Golden Boot and Young Player of the Tournament awards, creating a one-stop shop for all the top 2026 World Cup odds.
World Cup 2026 winner odds
Argentina are bidding to become only the third team in World Cup history to win back-to-back finals and the first since Brazil won two in a row in 1958 and 1962. Victory at the New York Stadium on Sunday would see them claim a fourth World Cup title, but they are rated as the underdogs by the bookies, despite the presence of Lionel Messi.
Spain are the favourites in the World Cup final odds as they bid to win only their second global title. La Roja won the European Championships two years ago, beating England in the final, and have a fantastic record in knockout games under coach Luis de la Fuente.
You can view the full list of finalists and winners below.
Year |
Winner |
Runner-up |
Host |
|---|---|---|---|
1930 |
Uruguay |
Argentina |
Uruguay |
1934 |
Italy |
Czechoslovakia |
Italy |
1938 |
Italy |
Hungary |
France |
1950 |
Uruguay |
Brazil |
Brazil |
1954 |
West Germany |
Hungary |
Switzerland |
1958 |
Brazil |
Sweden |
Sweden |
1962 |
Brazil |
Czechoslovakia |
Chile |
1966 |
England |
West Germany |
England |
1970 |
Brazil |
West Germany |
Mexico |
1974 |
West Germany |
Netherlands |
West Germany |
1978 |
Argentina |
Netherlands |
Argentina |
1982 |
Italy |
West Germany |
Spain |
1986 |
Argentina |
West Germany |
Mexico |
1990 |
West Germany |
Argentina |
Italy |
1994 |
Brazil |
Italy |
USA |
1998 |
France |
Brazil |
France |
2002 |
Brazil |
Germany |
Japan & South Korea |
2006 |
Italy |
France |
Germany |
2010 |
Spain |
Netherlands |
South Africa |
2014 |
Germany |
Argentina |
Brazil |
2018 |
France |
Croatia |
Russia |
2022 |
Argentina |
France |
Qatar |
2026 World Cup Golden Boot odds
The Golden Boot is the top individual honour at any World Cup and is awarded to the top goalscorer at the tournament.
The race to win the 2026 Golden Boot has been epic battle with the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland all in the mix to take home the individual honour.
Messi leads the way on eight goals and is the favourite to claim the honour for the first time in his career.
Bettors can either place a win-only bet on this market, meaning their wager will only show a return if their selection finishes as the top scorer, or they can go each way.
An each-way bet means bettors will get a return if their selection finishes in the top four, with most bookmakers paying 1/4 odds.
Should two players finish level on goals at the World Cup, the tie will be decided by the number of assists they have.
World Cup Young Player Award Odds
The Young Player Award is handed to the best player aged 21 or under at the start of the calendar year playing at the World Cup. It was first awarded in 2006 and has gone to the likes of Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe and, most recently, Enzo Fernandez.
Spain’s Lamine Yamal is the current favourite in the World Cup odds, but his Barcelona team mate Pau Cubarsi could have something to say on the matter with a strong performance in Sunday’s final.
Where to bet on the 2026 World Cup
Here at The Standard, our sports betting experts have compiled a list of the best bookmakers for the World Cup, ranking each on various criteria, including odds, market range, free bet offers, betting tools, in-play options, safer helping application, and more.
Bookmaker |
Bet builder |
Early payout |
Money back offers |
Odds boosts |
Live betting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
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✗ |
✓ |
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✓ |
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✓ |
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Key details for the 2026 World Cup
The World Cup has been expanded for the first time since the 1998 edition, growing from 32 to 48 countries. That means there is now an extra stage - the Round of 32 - and four more groups, producing even more football across the 39 days of the World Cup.
- Start date: 11 June 2026 (opening match Mexico vs South Africa, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City)
- Final: 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Tournament length: 39 days
- Hosts: USA (78 matches), Canada (13 matches), Mexico (13 matches)
- Teams: 48
- Matches: 104 in total
- Format: 12 groups of 4, then a new Round of 32, Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place play-off and final
- Group stage: 11 - 27 June
- Round of 32: 28 June - 3 July
- Round of 16: 4 - 7 July
- Quarter-finals: 9 - 11 July
- Semi-finals: 14 - 15 July
- Third-place play-off: 18 July
- Final: 19 July
2026 World Cup Venues
City |
Stadium |
Country |
|---|---|---|
Atlanta |
Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
USA |
Boston (Foxborough) |
Gillette Stadium |
USA |
Dallas (Arlington) |
AT&T Stadium |
USA |
Houston |
NRG Stadium |
USA |
Kansas City |
Arrowhead Stadium |
USA |
Los Angeles (Inglewood) |
SoFi Stadium |
USA |
Miami |
Hard Rock Stadium |
USA |
New York / New Jersey (East Rutherford) |
MetLife Stadium - final venue |
USA |
Philadelphia |
Lincoln Financial Field |
USA |
San Francisco Bay Area (Santa Clara) |
Levi’s Stadium |
USA |
Seattle |
Lumen Field |
USA |
Toronto |
BMO Field |
Canada |
Vancouver |
BC Place |
Canada |
Mexico City |
Estadio Azteca - opening match venue |
Mexico |
Guadalajara |
Estadio Akron |
Mexico |
Monterrey |
Estadio BBVA |
Mexico |
World Cup 2026 betting trends
- Just two of the 11 pre-tournament favourites between 1982 and 2022 went on to win the trophy (Brazil in 1994 and Spain in 2010) - Brazil were the bookies' favourite at both 2018 and 2022.
- No nation has retained the World Cup since Brazil in 1962, and 4 of the last 6 defending champions exited in the group stage (France 2002, Italy 2010, Spain 2014, Germany 2018) - France in 2022 reached the final but lost on penalties to Argentina.
- Host nations have won six of 22 World Cups, but not since France in 1998 - 28 years and 7 tournaments ago.
- Favourites win around 57 per cent of group-stage matches.
- No team has reached more World Cup finals than Germany (8).
- Scotland and South Korea have suffered more first round eliminations than any other nation with eight apiece.
World Cup 2026 betting markets
The outright winners and match odds markets are only the start of World Cup betting. There are lots of ways to bet on the World Cup, several methods to earn World Cup free bets, and plenty of reading to do to help potentially maximise those wagers.
- World Cup 2026 betting markets - Your reference to all of the bet types for the tournament.
- World Cup 2026 accumulator bets - The Standard’s advice to placing acca bets at the World Cup.
- World Cup golden boot & top scorer odds - Goalscorers win games, but who will bag the most goals this summer?
- Goalscorer tips: anytime & first goalscorer bets for the World Cup - With 104 games and 1,248 players, there’s value to be found in these markets.
World Cup 2026 odds - frequently asked questions
What is World Cup outright betting?
Outright betting is a bet on a tournament-long market, such as the winner, top scorer, or Golden Ball, rather than a single match.
Bets placed ante-post on World Cup betting sites won’t be settled until the tournament is over, locking away the stake for a longer period of time. However, outright bets can also offer greater value than match wagers, where prices tend to be shorter.
When is the 2026 World Cup final?
The World Cup final takes place on Sunday, July 19 at 20:00 BST. It will feature reigning champions Argentina taking on Spain at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Who are the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup?
Spain at the current favourites in the World Cup odds to win their second World Cup. Argentina are the underdog with bookmakers for the final.
What is the difference between match and World Cup 2026 winner odds?
Outright World Cup odds are pre-tournament prices for the eventual winner, settled when the final is played. Match odds are prices on a single fixture, usually settled at full time (90 minutes).
What changed for UK betting in January 2026?
New legislation was introduced at the start of 2026 which banned the mixing of betting and casino bonuses for welcome offers, while a wagering requirement cap was set at 10x.
