Will USMNT Win The 2026 World Cup?
My first bet to make before the World Cup qualifiers are done and the knockout round is set involves the USMNT. The co-hosts have been fantastic so far, beating Paraguay 4-1 and taking care of business vs. Australia 2-0. That’s led to a lot of optimism, with some fans and even pundits believing that USA has a legitimate chance to win the World Cup.
I’m here to pour some cold water on that optimism.
Yes, the USMNT has looked extremely impressive. Yes, USA soccer has come a long way. But they haven’t faced tough competition yet. We can’t overreact to wins over Paraguay and Australia, regardless if they completely controlled those matches.
But what we can do is bet on USA to reach the semifinals, which you can get at DraftKings for +425 odds.
Why? The reason is simple: it’s the projected bracket for the USMNT.
Having already clinched Group D with a match vs. Turkey still on the schedule, the USMNT awaits a third-place team from another group. Currently, Bosnia-Herzegovina is their most likely opponent. While they’ve been a scrappy team that knocked out Italy to get to the World Cup, that’s a winnable game for USA, especially since they’re at home.
After that, the most likely opponent is Egypt or Belgium. While Belgium would be a bit tougher, they’ve been underwhelming so far, fresh off a draw vs. Iran. I’d lean towards the USMNT in that match, again due to the fact that home-field advantage can really swing the pendulum in their favor.
At this point, with two hypothetical wins over Bosnia-Herzegovina and Egypt/Belgium, the USMNT will have reached the semifinals. This would probably include a legitimate contender, like Spain, England, or Portugal. USA would be underdogs in that game, and I’d be surprised if they were able to beat any of those teams. However, we would have an opportunity to hedge.
USA would not be +425 to advance against any of the top contenders. More likely, you’d see the odds around +200, especially since they’re a bit inflated with Americans running to their phones to bet on their team.
At that point, you can bet on the other side to guarantee a small profit for yourself, perhaps using an odds boost from one of the World Cup 2026 betting promotions that some sportsbooks now throw in to entice fans to place a bet.
But hurry up to make this bet on USA to make the semifinals (+425) before the odds move.
Who Will Win the 2026 World Cup?
So that brings us to our next question. Who will win be the World Cup winner?
France has looked as dominant as advertised. Argentina looks ready for another run as they try to repeat as champions. England is off to an impressive start. Spain dominated after a letdown in their first match. Germany looks in top form. Netherlands is rolling as well.
But I’m not taking any of these teams to win the World Cup. That doesn’t mean I don’t think they’ll win, it means that I’m focusing on the best value on the World Cup winner.
One of the best ways to do this is to buy low on an underperforming team. That means you’re taking advantage of market sentiment being down on a team, especially after a poor result in their first match.
That’s why I’m going with Portugal to win the 2026 World Cup (+1000).
At the start of the tournament, Portugal was a trendy pick to win. Their odds came crashing down to as short at +700, as everyone was riding with them in what should be Cristiano Ronaldo’s last chance at glory.
But after a 1-1 draw with Congo DR, in a game where the team looked completely out of sync, they’ve fallen out of favor. That’s created a buying opportunity for us, as we now have a better price at +1000 odds.
The reasons why everyone was all over Portugal haven’t changed. This is still a team with a dominant midfield, boasting an attack that can cause a major threat to any opposing back line.
We can’t overreact to a poor result in the first match. Remember, in 2022, Argentina lost their opener against Saudi Arabia. Of course, we know what happened after that. They went on to win the World Cup. It’s entirely possible that Portugal just had a letdown game and they’ll get back on track immediately, just like Spain did after drawing 0-0 with Cabo Verde, following that up with a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia.
Look for Portugal to get back on track in their next match. That could affect the current odds, so bet on Portugal to win the World Cup (+1000) before it’s too late.
Best US Sportsbooks for World Cup 2026 Betting
Now that you have my two best World Cup bets, it’s time to take a look at best World Cup sportsbooks where you can place these wagers. Below are a few of my favorites.
bet365: A Trusted Name in World Cup Winner Betting
Eligible states (16): Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia.
bet365 is one of the most established sportsbooks in the world, and its US platform benefits from decades of experience covering major international tournaments. As one of the top World Cup 2026 betting sites, it offers a large selection of futures, including who will win the World Cup. You can back favorites to lift the trophy, wager on teams to reach the final or semifinals, and take advantage of live outright odds as the tournament unfolds.
Navigating the platform is simple. Its live betting experience stands out, with futures updating quickly.
If you’re planning to follow the tournament from the opening match through to the final, bet365’s deep World Cup winner markets make it easy to track changing odds and find value throughout the competition.
Caesars Sportsbook: A Popular Sportsbook for World Cup
Eligible states (21): Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Washington DC.
Caesars Sportsbook is one of the best-known names in US sports betting, and its soccer coverage has expanded significantly for major international tournaments. For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, bettors can expect outright winner markets, qualification props, and betting options on teams to advance through each stage of the knockout bracket.
These markets are available through the Caesars mobile app on both iOS and Android, making it easy to monitor odds throughout the tournament. Whether you’re backing a favorite before kickoff or looking for value after the group stage, the platform provides a straightforward betting experience from start to finish.
DraftKings: A Top Sportsbook for World Cup Futures
Eligible states (27): Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana (select parishes), Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wyoming, West Virginia, and Washington DC.
DraftKings is well known for its robust futures markets, making it a strong option for betting on the 2026 World Cup winner. Alongside tournament outright odds, the sportsbook typically offers markets on teams to reach specific stages, group winners, and more.
As the tournament progresses, outright prices adjust after every round, giving bettors several opportunities to enter the market throughout the tournament. If you’re looking beyond simply picking the champion, DraftKings also features a broad range of match betting, team props, and tournament specials.
FanDuel: A Reputable Sportsbook for Betting on the World Cup Champion
Eligible states (21): Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana (select parishes), Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.
FanDuel is one of the leading sportsbooks in the United States and consistently offers competitive odds on major outright markets, including betting on the World Cup winner. Tournament odds are updated quickly to reflect injuries, team form, and results, allowing bettors to react as the competition develops.
The FanDuel app is among the easiest to navigate on the US sports betting market. In addition to strong live betting coverage for marquee matches, its World Cup winner market remains active throughout the tournament, giving bettors the flexibility to place futures wagers before kickoff or after each round.
Fanatics Sportsbook: An Emerging Sportsbook for World Cup Betting
Eligible states (23): Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Washington, DC.
Fanatics Sportsbook has established itself as a fast-growing player in the US sports betting market, with its soccer selection continuing to improve ahead of major international tournaments. For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, bettors can expect a solid selection of outright winner markets, along with betting options on teams to reach the latter stages of the competition.
One of Fanatics’ biggest strengths is its connection to the wider Fanatics sports ecosystem, creating a familiar experience for sports fans who already use the brand’s other products and services.
The sportsbook regularly offers competitive odds on World Cup winner markets, while its intuitive mobile app makes it easy to monitor prices and place futures bets throughout the tournament. Whether you’re backing a favorite before kickoff or looking for value as the knockout rounds unfold, Fanatics provides a straightforward platform for World Cup betting.
The Pros and Cons of My Recommended Sportsbooks for World Cup 2026 Betting
When reviewing these sportsbooks, I noted some pros and cons for each betting site:
Pros
- Fully licensed and legal in the US
- Supported markets for Golden Boot
- Well-designed mobile apps (iOS or Android)
Cons
- Not available in all US states
Sign Up at Any of My Recommended Platforms and Place Your Bets
The race to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup is always fun to watch. As the World Cup unfolds, odds will shift based on results, injuries, and standout performances, creating opportunities for bettors throughout the tournament.
If you’re planning to bet on the World Cup winner, it’s worth comparing odds across the top sportsbooks before placing your wager. The operators featured on this page offer the World Cup winner, reliable betting apps, and detailed tournament coverage. Click the banners above to explore the best options and get your bets in before the action begins.
