Tournament Update — June 23, 2026
The group stage is in full swing and the oddsboard has shifted significantly from pre-tournament lines. France has strengthened its position as the solo favorite (+390) after back-to-back commanding wins over Senegal (3-1) and Iraq (3-0), with Kylian Mbappé scoring in both. Argentina (+600) has surged to co-favorite status alongside England after Lionel Messi broke the all-time World Cup scoring record in a 2-0 win over Austria — his 17th and 18th World Cup goals. Germany has already secured advancement out of Group E with wins over Curaçao (7-1) and Ivory Coast (2-1). The United States, riding home crowd momentum, has won Group D after beating Paraguay 4-1 and Australia 2-0.
Four teams have been confirmed eliminated: Haiti (Group C), Turkey (Group D), Jordan (Group J), and Curaçao (Group E). Turkey's exit was one of the tournament's biggest shocks — they recorded 62 shots across their two matches without scoring a single goal. Jordan's elimination was confirmed when Algeria beat them to advance alongside Argentina in Group J.
Betting on the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the most expansive in the tournament's history. For the first time ever, 48 nations are competing across a joint host spanning the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The expanded field creates 104 total matches — up from 64 in 2022 — giving bettors dramatically more opportunities to find value throughout the group stage and knockout rounds.
With the tournament hosted in North America, legal sports betting is more accessible for American bettors than at any previous World Cup. FanDuel, BetMGM, DraftKings, and Caesars are all offering full coverage including match lines, group futures, Golden Boot props, and live in-game betting.