France Lead 2026 World Cup Futures, With Spain Overtaking Argentina

Jul 8, 2026 • 2 min read

The 2026 World Cup enters the quarterfinal round, set to kick off on Thursday, July 9, with France facing Morocco in a rematch of the 2022 semifinal. France remain the top pick to win the tournament at FanDuel, but are they still offering the best value among the eight remaining teams? Here’s an updated look at the latest title odds ahead of the knockout stage.

2026 World Cup title odds (via FanDuel)

• France (+180)
• Spain (+370)
• Argentina (+390)
• England (+460)
• Norway (+1500)
• Morocco (+2700)
• Belgium (+3000)
• Switzerland (+3000)

After Spain’s scoreless draw with Cape Verde knocked them down a peg, France have maintained their favoritestatus, scoring consistently despite a single goal in the Round of 16 win over Paraguay. Meanwhile, Spain have surged, remaining unbeaten and not yet conceding a goal—making them an intriguing option for bettors. If both teams advance, a semifinal clash between France and Spain looms, adding another layer to any wager on either side.

Argentina have faced two dramatic scares in the knockout phase, squeezing past Cape Verde 3‑2 in extra time and then staging a historic comeback against Egypt. They scored three goals from the 79th minute onward to win 3‑2. Although Lionel Messi leads the tournament in goals, Argentina’s defensive inconsistencies and heavy reliance on the superstar remain concerns. Others have stepped up, notably in the Egypt match, and the team still carries a sense of destiny. I previously noted Argentina’s betting value, and despite lingering questions, they appear poised to reach the semifinals after facing Switzerland, with a path that could see them contend for back‑to‑back titles.

The England‑Norway quarterfinal is perhaps the most intriguing matchup, as the winner would meet either Argentina or Switzerland in the semis. While many view this side of the bracket as weaker, both England and Norway have shown they can upset the defending champions if the Swiss are dispatched. Erling Haaland remains a perpetual threat, as Brazil discovered. England survived the daunting Estadio Azteca experience but may be fatigued after that monumental victory. The Three Lions mirror Argentina’s reliance on Harry Kane for scoring, though Jude Bellingham has emerged as a strong secondary threat. A positive for England fans is that Brazil generated 2.61 expected goals against Norway despite holding the ball for less than 40 % of the match. Norway capitalized on Brazil’s poor finishing and an outstanding performance by goalkeeper Slave Nyland. That formula is unlikely to hold, even if Haaland’s goal‑scoring remains almost inevitable.

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