3 World Cup Futures Bets for 2026

Futures are where most of the pre-tournament value lives. The numbers get posted weeks early, the books bake a steep margin into a 48-team field, and public money pushes the popular sides to prices that are no longer worth it. That combination leaves real edges on teams the market is sleeping on. These are three 2026 World Cup futures bets I am backing, with the reasoning behind each. If you are still getting comfortable with the markets, start with our World Cup betting terms guide, then come back here. Odds move, so treat the prices below as a snapshot and shop for the best number before you bet.

In Summary (TL;DR)

• Colombia to win Group K at +225 (BetMGM): a talented side in a gettable group, at a price north of 2-1.
• England to win the World Cup at +700 (DraftKings): experience, talent, and a soft group, with Harry Kane as a Golden Boot add for extra exposure.
• USA to reach the Round of 16 at +110 (DraftKings): a home tournament, a winnable group, and plus money to clear a very reachable bar.
• Bet them the right way: shop every book for the best number, confirm the price still beats the true chance, and size to your bankroll.

Why Futures Are Where the Value Is

A futures bet rides on the whole tournament rather than one match, which means the books set the line early and let it sit. Early lines tend to be softer, before the market sharpens them up. The vig folded into a 48-team winner market is heavy, so the same bet can differ by a lot between books, and shopping the price matters even more than it does on a single game. The plays below are the spots where I think the current number is wider than the team's real chance.

Bet 1: Colombia to Win Group K (+225, BetMGM)

This is not a talent question. Colombia has all the pieces. The issue has been putting it together, which is how a side this capable missed the 2022 World Cup entirely. Even so, north of 2-1 is a price I am willing to back into a group that is gettable.

Quick breakdown of Group K: Congo and Uzbekistan should be on the outside looking in. Portugal is the rightful favorite, but the gap in this price is too wide for how I see the group playing out. At +225 the price implies about a 31 percent chance to win the group, and I make Colombia's true chance comfortably higher than that. That gap, not the storyline, is the bet. Colombia is a team I think can make noise in the tournament as a whole, and I am starting my position on them right here in Group K.

Bet 2: England to Win the World Cup (+700, DraftKings)

Backing England has been historically painful for the better part of a half century, and I am willing to take the shot anyway. They bring experience, real talent, and arrive as one of the genuine contenders to lift the trophy.

The group should not give them trouble. Croatia, Ghana, and Panama is a manageable draw that can set up a more favorable knockout-round opponent. At +700 the price implies about 12.5 percent, and for a genuine contender with a group this soft I think England's true chance sits higher than that. The edge is in that mispricing, not a half-century of history. If you want even more exposure to this squad, Harry Kane is worth a look in the Golden Boot market at the right price.

Bet 3: USA to Reach the Round of 16 (+110, DraftKings)

I do not want to say it is now or never, but a home World Cup is about the best setup this team could ask for. Reaching the Round of 16 means getting out of the group and then winning one knockout game. That is a very doable bar for a USA side that escaped its group in 2022 before the Netherlands ended the run.

The difference this time is the expanded format and a group the US can actually win, with Turkey, Paraguay, and Australia. Winning the group can set up an easier opponent in that pivotal Round of 32 match. There is plenty of noise about the player pool, the midfield depth, and the runup to the tournament, but the Round of 16 is very attainable. At +110 the price implies about a 48 percent chance, and I think a host with this group clears that bar more often than a coin flip. That is the value, and it is plus money on top.

How to Bet These the Right Way

A good read is only half of it. Two habits turn it into a real edge.

First, shop every book. The prices above are where I found them, but futures lines vary a lot across sportsbooks, and that difference is free value. The OddsShopper odds comparison tool lines up every book's World Cup futures price so you take the best available number on each play.

Second, confirm the bet is still +EV and size it sensibly. A price is only worth betting when it beats the outcome's true chance, so check it before you fire, and stake futures, which are higher variance and take weeks to settle, as a smaller piece of your bankroll. OddsShopper's Portfolio EV tool devigs the market and flags when a futures price is genuinely in your favor.

And keep the variance in mind. These are long-shot, one-and-done bets, so all three can lose even if every price was a good one. Judge the approach over a large sample, not these three tickets.

Get the best number on every one of these. OddsShopper lines up the books and flags the +EV side for you. New members get 20% off their first OS Pro payment with code WCBETS20: Upgrade to OS Pro.

FAQ

What is a futures bet in the World Cup? It is a bet on a tournament-long outcome rather than a single match, such as a team to win the trophy, win its group, or reach a certain round. They pay longer prices because they are harder to hit.

Why do the odds in this article not match my sportsbook? Futures lines move constantly and differ by book. The prices here are a snapshot from where I found them. Always compare books and bet the best current number.

Is England really worth backing at +700? At that price you are paid as one of several contenders, which I think is wider than England's true chance given the talent and a soft group. Like any futures bet, confirm the live price still offers value before you take it.

How much should I bet on a World Cup futures play? Less than you would on a single game. Futures are higher variance and tie up your stake for weeks, so size them as a smaller share of your bankroll and never chase.

Is betting on the World Cup legal? Sports betting is legal in many regulated U.S. states, but availability and rules vary by state. Bet only where it is offered, and play 21+ and within your means.

Bet the World Cup With an Edge

These are the three futures I am backing, but the process matters more than any single play: find a price wider than the true chance, take the best number across books, and size it to your bankroll. Do that all tournament and you give yourself a real edge.

Shop every World Cup price and confirm the +EV side with the OddsShopper odds tools, and brush up on any market in our World Cup betting terms guide. Start with OS Pro and take 20% off your first payment with code WCBETS20: Get OS Pro.