Tournament Update — July 8, 2026
The Round of 16 wrapped up on July 7, and the quarterfinal bracket is now set. France remains the solo favorite (+175) after going unbeaten through four matches and outscoring opponents 14-2, including a 3-0 Round of 32 win over Sweden and a 1-0 Round of 16 win over Paraguay. Spain has climbed to second favorite (+370) after a gritty 1-0 win over Portugal on a stoppage-time Mikel Merino goal, while Argentina (+390) survived a stunning comeback, erasing a 2-0 deficit to beat Egypt 3-2 in the final 15 minutes of their Round of 16 clash.
The Round of 16 delivered several statement results: Norway eliminated five-time champions Brazil 2-1 behind an Erling Haaland brace, England outlasted co-host Mexico 3-2 at the Estadio Azteca, Belgium routed co-host United States 4-1, and Switzerland outlasted Colombia in a penalty shootout after 120 scoreless minutes. Portugal's elimination also marks the end of Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career, as he confirmed this tournament would be his last. The quarterfinal matchups are now confirmed: France vs. Morocco (July 9, Boston), Spain vs. Belgium (July 10, Inglewood), Norway vs. England (July 11, Miami), and Argentina vs. Switzerland (July 11, Kansas City).
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, knockout round futures, Golden Boot props, and live in-game betting as the field narrows toward the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium.