2026 World Cup Group Futures Markets, Odds & Best Bets
One of the reasons why the FIFA World Cup is so popular with bettors is the variety of betting markets available before and throughout the tournament. An example of this is Group Futures betting. Most sportsbooks offer an array of Group betting markets, meaning lots of opportunities to find value.
The 2026 World Cup lacks the traditional ‘Group of Death’. On the surface, the Groups seem reasonably easy to predict. However, if we delve a little deeper that’s not always the case. Plus, it certainly doesn’t stop us finding value in our World Cup wagers.
Let’s take a look at our Group Futures picks, including Winner, Forecast and To Finish Bottom picks.
2026 World Cup Group Winner Futures Odds
One of the most popular markets in World Cup Group betting is Group Winner. While many Groups contain an out-and-out favorite, there’s still opportunities to find value if you do your research. Below are my top choices for winning each World Cup Group in 2026.
2026 Group A Winner Odds & Best Bet
Group A sees co-hosts Mexico up against CAF Group C winners South Africa, AFC Third Round Group B winners South Africa and UEFA Playoff Path D winners Czechia. The toughest game for Mexico is likely to be against the European nation, with both fighting it out to finish top of the Group. The two sides face each other in the final Group A game with a potential winner-takes-top game upon us. For me, the fact that Mexico is playing all three Group games on home soil in front of a roaring home crowd will be the difference between the two countries.
Mexico are favorites to win Group A, with odds of around +110 available. Czechia are second favorites at +240, just ahead of South Korea who have been priced at +300. South Africa are the rank outsiders, priced at around +1200.
Best Bet: Mexico to win Group A
2026 Group B Winner Odds & Best Bet
Group B features co-hosts Canada, along with UEFA Playoff Path A winners Bosnia and Herzegovina, UEFA Group B winners Switzerland and AFC Fourth Round Group A winners Qatar. While I do expect Canada to progress, it’s very difficult to imagine any other side than Switzerland topping Group B. The crunch match will be Switzerland v Canada in the final Group B fixture but again, we expect the Swiss to come out on top in that one.
The sportsbooks have priced Switzerland as clear favorites to win World Cup Group B, with odds of -105 available. Canada are second favorites, priced at +190 with odds of around +370 for Bosnia and Herzegovina to finish top of the Group. Qatar are the outsiders, with odds of +2800 available.
Best Bet: Switzerland to win Group B
2026 Group C Winner Odds & Best Bet
One World Cup Group in particular that has really caught my eye is Group C. Featuring CONMEBOL qualifiers Brazil, CAF Group E winners Mexico, UEFA Group C winners Scotland and CONCACAF Third Round Group C winners Haiti, I think Group C is providing some excellent value in the Group Futures betting market.
While Brazil is the clear favorite to finish top of the Group, as far as the Sportsbooks are concerned anyway, I think Morocco have been incredibly underpriced. Odds of +425 are available for Morocco to win Group C, they’re my pick to take the World Cup 2026 by storm. Brazil have odds of -370, with Scotland priced at +900 and Haiti at +15000 to win the Group.
Best Bet: Morocco to win Group C
2026 Group D Winner Odds & Best Bet
Another interesting World Cup Group is Group D. This Group features co-hosts USA, CONMEBOL qualifiers Paraguay, AFC Third Round Group C runners-up Australia and UEFA Playoff Path C winners Turkiye. Despite needing the Playoffs to qualify for World Cup 2026, Turkiye will be a dangerous opponent in Group D.
However, like Mexico, home support is likely to play a huge part for the USA and should be the difference between themselves and Turkiye, who are likely to be their nearest challengers. USA are favorites to win the Group with odds of +125 available. Turkiye has odds of +200, with Paraguay priced at +400. Australia is the Group’s outsiders, with Group Winners odds of +700 offered.
Best Bet: USA to win Group D
2026 Group E Winner Odds & Best Bet
There isn’t a great deal of betting value to be found in Group E Winner odds. Despite being knocked out in the Group Stages of the previous two World Cup editions, UEFA Group A winners Germany is likely to top the Group with ease. They’re up against CONMEBOL runners up Ecuador, CAF Group F winners Ivory Coast and debutants Curacao, who won their CONCACAF Third Round qualifying Group.
While Ecuador and Ivory Coast certainly have a lot of talent at their disposal, I’m expecting Germany to qualify for the Knockout Stages as Group E winners. Odds on Germany to top the Group are -310. For Ecuador, odds of +350 are available, with Ivory Coast priced at +600. Curacao are the outsiders in this group, priced at +13000.
Best Bet: Pass
2026 Group F Winner Odds & Best Bet
Another 2026 World Cup Group I’m excited about seeing in action is Group F. Featuring UEFA Group G winners the Netherlands, AFC Third Round Group C winners Japan, UEFA Playoff Path D winners Sweden and CAF Group H winners Tunisia, it’s one of the most competitive Groups in this year’s World Cup. All four teams have quality throughout their squads, though for me it’s between the Netherlands and Japan for top spot.
I’ve gone for the latter to finish in top spot, Japan is going to surprise many this year. The Netherlands is the favorite with most sportsbooks, priced at -115. Japan has Group Winner odds of +250, with Sweden priced at +350. Tunisia are the outsiders, with odds of +1100 available.
Best Bet: Japan to win Group F
2026 Group G Winner Odds & Best Bet
As with Group E, there isn’t a huge amount of betting value to be found in Group G Winner odds. UEFA Group J winners Belgium are the clear favorites to win the Group, and it’s difficult to see any of CAF Group A winners Egypt, AFC Third Round Group A winners Iran or OFC Third Round winners New Zealand stopping them. Belgium have odds of -230 to win the Group, with Egypt priced at +400. Iran has odds of +450 and New Zealand, the Group outsiders, have been priced at +2500.
Best Bet: Egypt Finish Second in Group G
2026 Group H Winner Odds & Best Bet
It’s difficult to imagine a more one-sided World Cup Group than Group H. Featuring UEFA Group E winners Spain, who is the favorite to win the 2026 World Cup, none of CONMEBOL qualifiers Uruguay, AFC Fourth Round Group B winners Saudi Arabia or debutants Cape Verde, who qualified after topping CAF Group D, are likely to be able to stop them. Group Winner odds of -450 demonstrate how dominant Spain are likely to be. Uruguay have been priced at +370, with Saudi Arabia priced at +1800. Cape Verde are the outsiders in Group H, with Winner odds of +4000 available.
Best Bet: Pass
2026 Group I Winner Odds & Best Bet
On the surface, topping Group I looks like an easy task for UEFA Group D winners and World Cup 2022 finalists France. And yes, France should top Group I, but their games against UEFA Group I winners Norway and CAF Group B winners Senegal will not be easy by any stretch of the imagination. France has been priced at around -230, with Norway at +275. Senegal have odds of +750, with Inter-confederation Playoff Pathway 2 winners Iraq priced at +5000.
Best Bet: Norway Finish Second in Group I
2026 Group J Winner Odds & Best Bet
Group J features World Cup 2022 winners Argentina, who also topped their CONMEBOL qualifying group for 2026. The reigning Champions will face CAF Group G winners Algeria, UEFA Group H winners Austria and debutants Jordan, who booked their World Cup place after finishing as runners up in AFC Third Round Group B.
Austria will be a tough game, but Argentina shouldn’t have too many issues finishing top of the Group. The World Cup holders have been priced at -340, with Austria at +450. Algeria have odds of +700 to top the Group, with outsiders Jordan priced at +4000.
Best Bet: Austria Finish Second in Group J
2026 Group K Winner Odds & Best Bet
Current Nations League champions and UEFA Group F winners Portugal have been placed in World Cup Group K, along with CONMEBOL qualifiers Colombia, inter-confederation Playoff Pathway 1 winners DR Congo and debutants Uzbekistan, who qualified after finishing as runners-up in AFC Third Round Group A.
Portugal are likely to finish as Group winners, and reasonably easily at that. Colombia, though, are capable of causing a surprise or two. Portugal are favorites, with odds of -230. Colombia has been priced at +240, DR Congo at +1100 and Uzbekistan at +3500.
Best Bet: Colombia Finish Second in Group K
2026 Group L Winner Odds & Best Bet
The final World Cup Group sees UEFA Group K winners England up against UEFA Group L winners Croatia, CAF Group I winners Ghana and CONCACAF Third Round Group A winners Panama. England is the clear favorite to win the Group, priced at -320, but I’m going against the grain here. The matchup between themselves and Croatia will be crucial in dictating who tops the Group, and it’s a game I think Croatia will win. Croatia have been priced at +350 to win Group L, with Ghana at odds of +1000 and Panama priced at +3000.
Best Bet: Croatia to win Group L
2026 World Cup Group Forecast Odds
A Futures market that can offer much more betting value than a World Cup Group Winner bet is the Group Forecast market. This market allows you to bet on which two teams will finish in the top two Group places and in which order. It’s a tough market to call correctly, which is why Group Forecast odds tend to be longer than other markets. However, if you conduct your research thoroughly, you can potentially spot which teams are likely to progress.
2026 World Cup Group A Forecast Odds & Best Bet
We’ll start with Group A, featuring co-hosts Mexico. For me, Mexico will do enough to top the Group. Second place? Czechia will take it in my opinion. South Korea has the ability to cause any team problems but Czechia should qualify as Group runners up.
Best Bet: Mexico 1st Czechia 2nd +350
2026 World Cup Group C Forecast Odds & Best Bet
As I touched upon earlier, World Cup Group C is where I see plenty of betting value. While Brazil is the favorite to win the Group, for me Morocco will do enough to finish as Group Winners. Neither Scotland or Haiti are likely to cause a stir, Morocco to top the Group with Brazil finishing in second is my choice for Group C.
Best Bet: Morocco 1st Brazil 2nd +500
2026 World Cup Group D Forecast Odds & Best Bet
In Group D, I think the USA and Turkiye will finish in the top two spots. It’s the order that is difficult to predict. The final Group D fixture sees these two sides face each other, if either side wins that fixture it’s likely that will be enough to finish as Group Winners. For me, the home support at the SoFi Stadium will be the difference between the two sides and spur on the host nation to get over the line.
Best Bet: USA 1st Turkiye 2nd +350
2026 World Cup Group F Forecast Odds & Best Bet
Group F is going to be incredibly exciting to watch! The Netherlands and Japan are the stand out teams in this Group and should both finish in the top two. The order? Japan for me will take it, they’re one of the most underrated teams in this World Cup and will surprise a few for sure.
Best Bet: Japan 1st Netherlands 2nd +500
2026 World Cup Group L Forecast Odds & Best Bet
While Ghana have the ability to cause both sides problems, there shouldn’t be any issue with England and Croatia finishing in the top two places in Group L. As you read above, England might be the favorite but Croatia have a fantastic squad at their disposal. It may come down to how many goals each side scores against Ghana and Panama, but I think Croatia will take top spot. Just.
Best Bet: Croatia 1st England 2nd +450
2026 World Cup To Finish Bottom In Group Odds
Another World Cup Group market that can provide betting value is the To Finish Bottom bet. With this bet, you’re predicting which team will finish bottom of the Group. With some World Cup groups, the potential bottom team is reasonably easy to spot (no disrespect to teams like Panama, Jordan and Iraq, but in all honesty it’s difficult to see any of these sides even earning a point).
Having said that, even if the bottom placed side is ‘easy’ to predict, the odds can still offer value. Below are my top three To Finish Bottom picks, chosen with value in mind.
2026 World Cup To Finish Bottom In Group D Odds & Best Bet
Australia is the favorite to finish bottom of Group D, but odds of +110 are actually pretty attractive. There are many sides who are odds-on to finish in fourth place in their respective World Cup groups, offering very little value whatsoever. However, +110 for Australia to finish bottom, in a Group featuring the USA, Paraguay and Turkiye, are certainly worth considering.
Best Bet: Australia to finish bottom of Group D
2026 World Cup To Finish Bottom In Group F Odds & Best Bet
Well, this might be a controversial choice. Group F, my Group to watch, features the Netherlands, Japan, Sweden and Tunisia. Tunisia is the favorite to finish bottom of the Group, but I disagree with the sportsbooks here. For me, Sweden will finish the Group propping up the rest. Yes, the European side have some quality but Tunisia is a much better side than many give them credit for. It’s likely to come down to the Tunisia v Sweden matchup, but Sweden is my choice to finish bottom of the Group.
Best Bet: Sweden to finish bottom of Group F
2026 World Cup To Finish Bottom In Group K Odds & Best Bet
Who finishes bottom of Group K is going to be more difficult than the sportsbook odds are suggesting. Uzbekistan is favorite to finish bottom, but for me it will come down to whoever concedes the fewest goals between Fabio Cannavaro’s men and DR Congo. I don’t expect either to win a Group game, but the huge talent and solidity of Uzbekistan’s backline could be the difference between the two sides.
Best Bet: DR Congo to finish bottom of Group K
Photo Credit: AP/Petr David Josek
