10 Best Bets for World Cup 2026 🏆 -

Tournament Best Bets

By Barry Doyle (11/06/26)

Turkey (5/4) NAP

To reach the Round of 16

(2 PTS)

Turkey picked up the bronze medal in Korea & Japan (2002) but it’s been 24 years since they last competed at the World Cup.

Attacking talents such as Arda Guler (Real Madrid) and Kenan Yildiz (Juventus) could light up Group D with Scudetto winning midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu pulling the strings following a fantastic season with Inter Milan.

After making the Quarter Finals at Euro 2024, Vincenzo Montella has developed one of the most exciting young squads heading into World Cup 2026. (Average Age 26.4)

The Turks play an exciting brand of front foot football, averaging over 2 goals scored per game (across 22 matches) since Euro 2024. The warm American climate won’t be an innconvience and should Turkey perform to expectation in Group D, they could face the likes of Bosnia and Herzegovina or Egypt in the round of 32.

Turkey should be more than capable of making it through to the round of 16 and might also be dark horses to reach the Quarter Finals again at 4/1.

Ecuador (6/4) NB

To reach the Round of 16

(1.5 PT)

Ecuador boast the meanest defence in World Football.

They are heading towards 20 matches unbeaten, keeping 13 clean sheets in their last 19 matches under Argentine manager, Sebastián Beccacece and La Tri also finished 2nd in South American Qualification.

Pacho (PSG), Caicedo (Chelsea) and Hincapie (Arsenal) make up a solid spine and the evergreen Enner Valencia (36yo) will sperehead the Ecuador attack once again. Valencia is a proven World Cup specialist with 6 goals in 6 World Cup appearances.

Ecuador should qualify comfortably from Group E, setting up a potential clash with what’s likely to be a northern hemisphere opponent in the round of 32.

With momentum behind them and the suitable warm climate, you’d have to make Ecuador favourites to progress.

Belgium (5/4)

Over 9.5 Tournament Goals

(1 PT)

The current Belgian crop will head for the Americas with lighter shoulders than “Golden Generations” gone before them.

Rudi Garcia took over the Belgium National side in March 2025 and over the past 14 months, the Frenchman has guided The Red Devils to a 13 match unbeaten run (64% win ratio).

During this period, Belgium have racked up an impressive 45 goals (Avg. 3.4 goals scored per game) with the latest generation of attacking talent featuring Jeremy Doku (LW) and Charles De Ketelare (False-9) beginning to really gel with the old guard of Kevin De Bruyne & Co.

Although Belgium appear somewhat light defensively, they have nice balance going forward and could be very exciting to watch across the group stage and early knockout stages with a favourable path to the Quarter-Finals.

Expect plenty of chances created and goals scored.

Donyell Malen (3/1)

Top Netherlands Goalscorer

(1 PT)

Since January, Donyell Malen has been the most in form striker in Europe.

The Dutch striker is the reason why Roma qualified for next season’s Champions League. Malen bagged 14 goals in 18 Serie A appearances since joining the Giallarossi in January.

Established Netherlands striker, Memphis Depay (32) has struggled for fitness this calander year, playing just 90 minutes of competitive football since Mid-March (Corinthians). This now leaves the door open for Malen to play as the Number 9.

Should Memphis pass a late fitness test, Donyell Malen will still be a vital cog in the Oranje attack. During WC Qualifying, Malen scored 4 goals in 7 appearances for the Netherlands and he scored twice for the Dutch at Euro 2024.

Given his outstanding form and injury concerns surrounding Memphis Depay, 3/1 seems a little big!

Brazil (9/1)

Outright Winners

(1 PT) E/W

The Selecao are always most dangerous when expectations are lower (Eg. 1994 & 2002).

South American teams have won 8 of the 9 Major Tournaments played on the American continent and the last time the USA hosted the World Cup (1994), the trophy went home to Brazil after a similar struggles during the qualification.

The climate, the draw and Carlo Anchelotti are three reasons why Brazil at 9/1 look overpriced.

Brazil are unbeaten in 20 World Cup openers (W17 D3) and if Brazil can beat Morocco in New Jersey on Saturday, the Serecao will be long odds on to be group toppers. Group C winners will likely avoid Spain and France until the final, making Brazil a decent each-way proposition at 9/1.

Apart from being the Godfathers of the World Cup, Brazil currently have a solid looking defensive spine (Allison, Marquinhos & Gabriel), Brazil also have an embarrassment of riches going forward including Vini Junior, Matheus Cunha, Raphinha, Igor Thiago, Endrick, Martinelli & Neymar also.

Vini Junior won the Champions League twice under Don Carlo (Anchelotti) at Real Madrid and the decorated Italian has been tasked of beating the Europeans in North America. Anchelotti will be the first foreign manager to lead Brazil at the World Cup but his unique man management style appears suited to tournament football.

Brazil could meet England in the Quarter-Finals in Miami with a possible showdown with Portugal or Argentina in the Semi-Finals.

Tournament Longshots

Jeremy Doku (14/1)

Most Tournament Assists

(0.25 PTS) E/W

Backing Belgium to score goals is one of themes of this column and Jeremy Doku is one of the main reasons why.

The Manchester City winger has had another strong season with 25 goal contributions (Club & Country). No player has completed more successful dribbles in European Qualifying (Avg.6.4 per game). Doku provided 2 assists against Tunisia last Saturday, as Belgium warmed up for the World Cup with a 5-0 victory. The winger looked sharp and ready!

Belgium (16/1)

Highest Scoring Team

(0.5 PTS)

Sticking with the same theme.

Historically, the top scoring team at the World Cup have scored 16+ goals (5 of the last 6 Tournaments). Potential poorer competition at during the group phase and an extra round to consider this time around, somewhere between 17-20 tournament goals still seems a reasonable window to aim for.

As previously highlighted, Belgium have hit an average of 3+ goals per game across their last 13 matches and they also have a reasonable path to the Quarter-Finals.

Any change from that point onwards is realistically bonus territory for Belgium but with Eygpt, Iran and New Zealand in Group G, they can get to work early!

Matheus Cunha (66/1)

Top Goalscorer

(0.25 PTS) E/W

66/1 for a starting Brazilian No.9 to be Top Goalscorer at any World Cup just doesn’t seem accurate.

Cunha’s goalscoring record for Brazil wouldn’t inspire backers but Matheus has enjoyed a fantastic season with Manchester United (Joint Top Goalscorer) and arrives here fresher than most after Manchester United played just one game per week.

Cunha has put down two very solid Premier League campaigns back to back, previously bagging 15 Premier League goals for Wolves (2024/2025).

Anchelotti’s Brazil have an interchanging forward-four but Cunha has the pace, skill, confidence and overall freshness to make a big impact at this World Cup.

Could we see Cunha’s famous “surfing celebration” more than once in the USA this summer?

Expect a Brazilian Samba Party in their final group match against Haiti.

France vs Brazil (25/1)

Name the Finalists

(0.5 PTS)

A repeat of the 1998 World Cup Final.

As previously mentioned, If Brazil beat Morocco on Saturday in New Jersey they will likely avoid tournament favourites Spain and France until the World Cup Final.

France could meet Germany, Netherlands and Spain onroute to the Final but with over 800 million of attacking talent in the French squad, it could take a very good team to stop Les Bleus.

France have made 4 of the last 7 World Cup Finals.

Michael Olise (10/1)

Golden Ball

(0.5 PTS)

Michael Olise could be key to unlocking all of the attacking riches that Didier Deschamps has at his disposal. The French 24yo topped the European Charts for chances created domestically in a brilliant season with Bayern and impressed by scoring a hat-trick against Northern Ireland in Lille earlier this week.

Linked with Real Madrid after just two seasons in Germany, Olise’s numbers are absolutey frightening with 27 assists and 22 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich this campaign.

If Olise continues this level of form into World Cup 2026 and France were to make the Final, Kylian Mbappe will have some job wrestling the Golden Ball off Michael Olise.