The 2026 FIFA World Cup played out as the betting odds predicted. Spain entered as the pre-tournament favourites and carried their possessive style of play right to World Cup glory. France and England reached the semifinals, and put on a show in the third-place match, blowing past the 3.5-goal total in a 6-4 win for England. It was England’s best World Cup performance since 1966 when they won the tournament as hosts.
Argentina proved doubters wrong in the end. They entered the tournament as the defending champions but had longer odds (+800) on the futures market. 39-year-old Lionel Messi showed no signs of age in the early stages of the tournament, scoring eight goals in the first five games before running out of gas in the latter stages. This was Messi’s sixth appearance at the World Cup.
Despite Messi’s World Cup success, Spain held the Argentinian talisman to just one shot attempt in the final, which came in the 116th minute, but it was blocked by the face of Mikel Merino. Staying true to their systemic style of play that emphasizes possession, patience and heavy pressure, Spain found their opportunity to attack when Argentina was down a man because of Enzo Fernandez’ red card. All Spain needed to secure the victory was a single goal, which came from Ferran Torres.
FIFA World Cup 2030
As the defending champions, Spain start as favourites for the 2030 tournament. It will be FIFA’s centennial birthday and will take place in three continents: Europe, Africa and South America. Spain, Portugal and Morocco will be the primary hosts, but opening matches will also take place in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
As hosts, the following six teams qualify for the tournament automatically:
Spain
Portugal
Morocco
Uruguay
Argentina
Paraguay
Uruguay hosting the tournament in 2030 brings it full circle from the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930, when they were a soccer powerhouse. We’ll see where these six teams check in on the World Cup 2030 futures market at Ozoon Sportsbook.
Spain +550
After a premature exit at the Round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup, Spain returned with a system that involved their entire team, rather than relying on a single star player. They used the same approach every game this tournament, and were rewarded with repeated success. Throughout their eight games, they conceded just one goal while scoring 14.
La Roja had nearly complete control over all aspects of their World Cup games. Led by their stellar midfield corps, Spain showed a more sophisticated style of possession that allowed them to control the pace and direction of each game, and ultimately tire their opponents over the course of their matches.
Even in the final against Argentina, when they were tied 0-0 for the majority of the game, Spain didn’t buckle or change their approach; they kept pressing and were patient for their opportunities to strike. When Argentina was down a man, the Spanish started to fuel their attack, tallying six shots; Ferran Torres came on the field as a substitute and netted the winning goal in the 106th minute.
Spainis well positioned to return to the 2030 tournament as top contenders because their core is quite young. Starters Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Pedri, Gavi, Pau Cubarsi and Pedro Porro will still be in their twenties in 2030, and Torres and Marc Cucurella will be 30. Even some of their veterans will be in their very early thirties, including Rodri, Martin Zubimendi, Unai Simon and Dani Olmo.
With a squad this young, Spain will continue to be a major threat for the better part of a decade, barring injuries. That makes them an excellent pick for repeating as World Cup champions in 2030, especially as a primary co-host. They will host the biggest share of games, and will do so in nine different cities. There’s a good chance we’ll see the final at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
France +750
A FIFA World Cup runner up in 2022 and champion in 2018, France had big expectations going into the 2026 tournament. In the group stage, they tallied 10 goals to tie Germany and the Netherlands for most goals scored during that stage; four came from Ballon d’Or winner, Ousmane Dembele, and another four from their captain, Kylian Mbappe.
In the first round of the knockout stage, the Round of 32, France’s elite scorers tallied even more goals, with a 3-0 win against Sweden; Mbappe scored twice and Bradley Barcola once.
When they reached the semifinals against Spain, however, the party was over. They couldn’t penetrate Spain’s suffocating system and were outplayed at midfield, constantly chasing the ball. They lost 2-0.
Their core at this year’s tournament was fairly young, making them well-positioned to be a contender again four years from now. Their top striker, Mbappe will be 31; the leader of their backline, William Saliba will be 29; their midfield enforcer, Aurelien Tchouameni will be 30; Michael Olise 28; Bradley Barcola 27; Desire Doue 25; and Manu Kone 29.
Fans of Les Bleus will be keen to see if Warren Zaire-Emery will feature at the 2030 tournament, as the 20-year-old put on an impressive show in his debut at France’s quarterfinal game against Morocco. Zaire-Emery went on as a sub and brought much-needed energy to the midfield for the final 20 minutes of the game.
England +950
Under the guidance of manager Thomas Tuchel, England’s 2026 World Cup run showed progress. Finishing third was a real accomplishment—it is the best outcome they’ve had since winning in 1966.
England entered the tournament with a strong attack unit, led by team captain Harry Kane and elite midfielder Jude Bellingham. In eight games, England scored 20 goals, tying France for the most goals scored in the tournament. They finished first in the group stage, staying undefeated against Croatia, Ghana and Panama.
Things got tense in their first knockout game against Congo DR. England trailed 1-0 from the 7th minute on until Kane scored a brace near the end of the match.
Their next game against Mexico was also nerve-wracking for England fans; Bellingham got on the scoreboard at the 36th minute with a header, only to score a second goal two minutes later. Mexico responded with a goal to cut the lead to 2-1. Early in the second half, England got a red card, but fortunately for them, Kane struck with a much-needed goal on a penalty, as Mexico scored a second goal just nine minutes later. Ultimately, England held on for a 3-2 victory.
The Three Lions went all the way to the semifinals where they faced Argentina as slight +165 favourites. A perfectly-timed back-post run and clinical finish by Anthony Gordon got them on the scoreboard first—a lead they held onto into the 85th minute. But a late-game burst from Argentina resulted in two goals scored in the final six minutes to send England packing until 2030.
Much of England’s core will still be in their prime at the next World Cup, including Bellingham who will be 27. Kane, however, will be 36 and said it’s too early to comment on his status four years from now.
World Cup 2030 Underdogs
Morocco +1600
One of the 2030 World Cup hosts, Morocco seems to stay under the radar despite having back-to-back deep World Cup runs. In 2022, they became the first African nation to reach the semifinals, eliminating Spain in the Round of 16 and Portugal in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, they lost 2-0 to France, and also lost the third-place game against Croatia.
In 2026, Morocco went undefeated in their group stage, holding Brazil to a 1-1 draw. They followed that up by pulling off a significant upset over the Netherlands in the Round of 32. That game went to penalties after a 1-1 draw, and Morocco managed to stay composed and convert the winning penalty.
They advanced to the Round of 16 where they faced Canada. After weathering Canada’s fierce first-half onslaught, they rebounded in the second half with a calm dominance, building up a 3-0 victory.
Unfortunately for Morocco, their momentous ride came to an end in the quarterfinals, where France eliminated them in a repeat of the 2022 tournament; Morocco losing 2-0 again.
With the experience garnered at the 2026 and 2022 World Cups, Morocco will be seasoned by 2030. Their young core will primarily be in their twenties; however, one exception is with their 35-year-old goaltender Yassine Bounou, who could be a question mark heading into the next World Cup.
Norway +2800
After a 28-year absence from the World Cup, Norway entered the 2026 edition with the reputation of being a talented team with a superstar player in Erling Haaland. They advanced from the group stage with two wins and one loss, and started the knockout stage against Ivory Coast. Norway took an early lead in the first half; however, Ivory Coast evened the match in the 74th minute. Haaland scored what was his fifth goal of the tournament at that point for the win.
Their next match against Brazil was expected to be their last, as they entered as significant underdogs. They held off Brazil’s attacks, which included a threating cross by Gabriel Martinelli, and kept the game 0-0. Haaland scored a brace in the final 11 minutes, and Brazil responded with one goal for a final score of 2-1 Norway.
England was Norway’s next opponent in the quarterfinals—a record accomplishment for Norway, whose previous best was reaching the Round of 16. Although England did possess the ball more than Norway, Norway stayed disciplined and got the first goal. England responded with an equalizer just before half time.
In the second half, Norway almost got a go-ahead goal, but it was disallowed because of a foul. Bad luck struck again for Norway when their shot made contact with a camera cable, went unnoticed, which allowed play to continue. The ball fell England’s way and Bellingham scored the game winner.
Norway entered the tournament as a more balanced team—not one that is overly reliant on their star player. The next World Cup will see how they use this valuable experience; Haaland will be 30 and Odegaard 31.
Team Canada +10000
Qualifying automatically as a co-host, Canada had a historic World Cup run that showed they’re capable of competing with established nations. Expectations were cautious, as they made a group stage exit at the 2022 tournament with no points earned. Star player Alphonso Davies was also suffering from hamstring and knee discomfort ahead of the tournament.
Despite the absence of Davies, Canada finished second in the group stage. They had a dominant 6-0 win over Qatar, but unfortunately saw Ismael Kone suffer a fractured tibia and fibula in that game. They also had a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina, and a 2-1 loss to Switzerland. That result allowed them to advance to the knockout stage for the first time in history.
At the knockout stage, they faced South Africa as -140 favourites. Davies was set to return later in that game. After a tense two halves, Stephen Eustaquio scored the game winner from just beyond the penalty area in stoppage time.
Canada’s first-ever Round of 16 match was against Morocco, who absorbed much of Canada’s intensity in the first half, particularly in the first 20 minutes. Canada ran out of steam in the second half, opening things up to the superior Morocco. Azzedine Ounahi scored his first of two at the 50th minute, turning the tide in Morocco’s direction.
Canada’s spirited effort was impressive and indicative of what we can look forward to at the 2030 World Cup. Their new benchmark instantly puts them in the mix as a contender going forward, especially if they have a fully healthy Alphonso Davies, who will be 29, and Ismael Kone, who will be 28.
The next FIFA World Cup isn’t until 2030, but now is the time to lock down early bird bets in the futures market. Team performances are fresh in our minds, and many will return with the majority of their core intact. Whether you prefer to go safe with the top favourites, or take a flier on an underdog, the options are vast, with 73 nations to choose from and counting.