World Cup 2026 Group Stage Odds

The 2026 World Cup groups have now been announced, with 12 pools of four to determine who goes through to the knockout stages. Below we run through the odds of all 12 groups regarding their winners and qualifiers, as well as the fixtures to look forward to from each group.

2026 World Cup Group A Odds

Here are the odds for the winner of Group A, which features hosts Mexico and the first game of the tournament between Mexico and South Africa. It is a close run thing between Mexico and Czechia for favouritism, with South Korea not far behind.

Group A Winner Odds

2026 World Cup Group A Fixtures

Below are the fixtures in Group A in order, with the time of kick off in the UK. Group A will see the opening match of the 2026 World Cup between one of the three co-hosts Mexico vs South Africa, while the final group game will see a clash between the pool’s favourites, Mexico and Czechia.

2026 World Cup Group B Odds

Group B sees the second of the four hosts compete in Canada and we preview their odds of winning the second group below, alongside their three opponents. However, it is the European nations in surprise play-off winners Bosnia & Herzegovina, who knocked out Italy, and Switzerland who are the two favourites to win Group B, with previous hosts Qatar the long-range outsiders.

Group B Winner Odds

2026 World Cup Group B Fixtures

With Switzerland favourites to emerge top of Group B, the opening match between co-hosts Canada and Bosnia & Herzegovina could prove very informative as to who will be the nearest challengers. The all European clash between Switzerland and Bosnia is also one to look out for, coming up second of the three rounds of games.

World Cup Group C Odds

Group C is the first World Cup group without a host nation involved and the omens are strong for Group C: the last two winners of the World Cup, France in 2018 and Argentina in 2022, both played in this group before qualifying for the knockout rounds. Fans of Brazil will be delighted with this berth therefore, and the Selecao are strong favourites to advance at the top of the group above Morocco, Scotland and Haiti.

Group C Winner Odds

2026 World Cup Group C Fixtures

Brazil may be comfortable favourites to top Group C, but Morocco got further than them at World Cup 2022, becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals where they lost to France. The clash between those two opens the tournament, though there will be plenty of bleary eyes remaining open until 2am on Sunday 14 June to witness Scotland’s return to a World CUp for the first time since 1998 when they play Haiti.

World Cup Group D Odds

The last of the three hosts kick off in Group D in the United States. A favourable draw ensures Mauricio Pochettino’s side are the only hosts to be favourites to win their group, as they head a market ahead of Paraguay, Turkey and Australia, though it is a tight betting market between the quartet. Turkey’s emergence through the UEFA play-offs has seen them challenge the USA for favouritism.

Group D Winner Odds

2026 World Cup Group D Fixtures

The USA kick off in the early hours UK time against South American qualifiers Paraguay at 2am on Saturday 13 June. Many of this group’s games will require an early start to watch them on these shores, though prime time viewing is assured for the United States’ clash with Australia at 8pm on Friday 19 June.

World Cup Group E Odds

Since winning the World Cup in 2014, Germany have remarkably failed to make it beyond the group stage, but they are the headline act and favourites for Group E. However, they face two potential dark horses in Ecuador and Ivory Coast, while the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup feature as the big outsiders in Curacao.

Group E Winner Odds

2026 World Cup Group E Fixtures

Germany get their World Cup quest underway against Curacao, hoping to build up some form which has been so lacking in recent major tournaments. However, their clashes with Ivory Coast and Ecuador could be appointment viewing, both of which can be viewed at 9pm UK time on Saturday 20 and Thursday 25 June.

World Cup Group F Odds

Group F includes the Netherlands and the last of the four UEFA play-off winners in Sweden. However, the European nations could face stern resistance from two high-quality international opponents in Japan and Tunisia, with the former second favourites behind the Netherlands to top the group.

Group F Winner Odds

2026 World Cup Group F Fixtures

The most exciting game from this group from a neutrals’ perspective may well be the Netherlands’ clash with Japan, and the two countries meet in the opening round of games at 9pm on Sunday 14 June. The final round of matches in this group will require some staying power, taking place at midnight on Friday 26 June, though Sweden’s clash with Japan could prove to be a winner-takes-all affair.

World Cup Group G Odds

Group G represents a good opportunity for Belgium according to the bookmakers. Although they may be passed their golden generation stage, they are fancied to best Egypt, Iran and New Zealand in another relatively tight-knit group, though the All Whites are the clear outsiders of the quartet by ranking of odds.

Group G Winner Odds

2026 World Cup Group G Fixtures

Belgium’s opening clash with Egypt is both the feature match of the group and on at 8pm UK time on Monday 15 June, making it one of the more watchable Group G clashes. The match will see the debut for the tournament of the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Mo Salah.

World Cup Group H Odds

Group H is one featuring a heavyweight pair of nations with three World Cups won between them in Spain and Uruguay, with the current European champions favourites to win the group with Uruguay not far behind. Both of the outsiders, Saudi Arabia, who stunned eventual winners Argentina in the 2022 World Cup group stage, and surprise African qualifiers Cape Verde are up against it according to the bookies.

Group H Winner Odds

2026 World Cup Group H Fixtures

Group H saves the best until las, with Uruguay and Spain clashing in the third and final round of matches, with the 1am kick off time one football fans in the UK are likely to stay up for on Saturday 27 June. A relatively serene start time of 5pm will please those ready to catch a glimpse of Spain vs Cape Verde in the first game in Group H, a pool Spain were drawn in when they won the World Cup in 2010.

World Cup Group I Odds

The “Group of Death” in many people’s eyes, Group I features 2018 World Cup winners France, who also reached the final in 2022 when beaten by Argentina, but also Norway, a side regarded as dark horses for victory in the tournament due to the presence of Erling Haaland in attack. Senegal will be no pushovers either though, with the intercontinental play-offs providing the fourth member in Iraq, who will be huge underdogs in Group I.

Group I Winner Odds

2026 World Cup Group I Fixtures

There are two standout fixtures in Group I, both involving France: the opening round of matches sees them face Senegal at 8pm on Tuesday 16 June, a repeat of the opening game at the 2002 World Cup won so shockingly by Senegal against the then defending champions. However, potentially the best match in any group sees France take on Norway with that game another 8pm kick off on Friday 26 June.

World Cup Group J Odds

Defending World Cup champions Argentina headline Group J at the 2026 World Cup, though they face two banana skin opponents despite being the favourites to win this particular pool. Both Austria and Algeria have talented players to face up to Lionel Messi, with Jordan the big outsiders against the “A teams”.

Group J Winner Odds

2026 World Cup Group J Fixtures

Only one match in Group J kicks off before 2am UK time, so this may be a tricky group to catch a glimpse of. Fortunately, the one 6pm kick off is perhaps the best game of the group, as Argentina and Austria clash in the second round of matches in Group J.

World Cup Group K Odds

Another group hosting two nations with genuine hopes of glory is Group K, as Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and Colombia are the two favourites to emerge on top. The winner of the intercontinental path 1 play-off, DR Congo, join them, with World Cup debutants Uzbekistan the potential surprise package and outsiders.

Group K Winner Odds

2026 World Cup Group K Fixtures

The undoubted game to watch out for is Portugal vs Colombia, which draws the curtain on Group K at 12.30am on Sunday 28 June. Those wishing to catch Ronaldo’s first game of the tournament in the UK will be glad to hear that it is a 6pm kick off for Portugal against the intercontinental contestant.

World Cup Group L Odds

England fans will be hoping the wait is worthwhile as they are the favourites for the final 2026 World Cup group in Group L. A heavyweight tussle between themselves and Croatia, semi-finalists and finalists at the past two World Cups, is to be expected, though both Ghana and Panama will be hoping to muscle in for a qualification spot to the knockout stages.

Group L Winner Odds

2026 World Cup Group L Fixtures

England vs Croatia is on at 9pm on Wednesday 17 June, a game circled in many diaries already. That match could well determine the winner of Group L, with England’s other games at 9pm on Tuesday 23 June against Ghana, and 10pm on Saturday 27 June vs Panama.

World Cup 2026 Group Stage FAQs