The World Cup has begun, and many people will be scrambling to make a group stage bet. Yet for those looking for great odds, choosing a slight outsider for the win is a great strategy.
The 2026 World Cup is the biggest of all time. With a record 48 teams and 1,248 players, keeping track of the goings on is harder than ever. For those wanting to place a bet, it does bring up some great odds. Fresh teams and players wanting to make a name on the World stage get a chance, and surprises will be in store. This makes finding a great outside bet a real proposition, and nowhere is that easier than with some of the lesser-fancied teams.
The Options for World Cup Betting
If you want to bet on World Cup teams, then there are plenty of ways to do it. Most people will want to pick the outright winner. At the moment, this is a contested spot between France and Spain. England is a solid third, while Portugal and Brazil take fourth and fifth, respectively. Yet with fairly low odds, the best outside bets are those just outside this top-five position.
In the group stages, many people like to combine outright win bets with an accumulator. This is a form of bet that takes four or more selections and combines them with one stake. If a selection loses, the bet is forfeit. Yet if it wins, the odds carry over to the next one. This can build a huge payout from a relatively small stake, and lets you attempt to predict multiple games in the competition.
Lastly, don’t overlook live in-play betting. This takes place as games are running. You can guess who will score the next goal, or even which team will win, as the tide of the match changes. In some cases, you may even be able to cash out early. All of this can add a real extra layer of excitement to the proceedings.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands is a team that just hovers outside the favourite bracket, and this makes them criminally overlooked. Part of this may have been down to the run-up to this event. Ronald Koeman has had half of his starting squad sidelined or out with injury in the run-up. Added to this is the fact that the starting group is a tough one, featuring Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia.
The Netherlands has a sporadic record at World Cups. They were in the final in 2010, semis in 2014, did not qualify in 2018, and made the quarters in 2022. This puts them as a real wild card, sitting them around 8th place in the bookmakers’ favourite list. While some may believe that having players like Xavi Simons and Jerdy Schouten out is too much, winning teams have pulled off crazier turnarounds.
Belgium
Just scraping into the top ten favourites list is Belgium. For many, the golden generation of this team has aged, and many have moved on, meaning they have been written off. Rudi Garcia has struggled to overcome this and is still relying on many aging stars like Kevin de Bruyne.
Yet a fresh slate for the younger generation may just be what the team needs. The World Cup is always highlighted by young players stepping up to make their mark. De Ketelaere has also recorded three goals and three assists. Doku remains in form, so the team has a lot going for it.
Norway
Norway is sitting proudly in ninth position in the favourites rankings. This heightened position is mainly down to an impressive qualifying campaign. Yet against them is a brutal group, probably the harshest at the World Cup. It features favourites France, along with Iraq and Senegal.
Depth is the key to this squad. Alexander Sorloth of Athletico Madrid is present, as is the speedy Antonio Nusa. Yet at the helm of all this is Erling Haaland, who managed to double the goal tally of any other European striker with sixteen goals in eight games. With a strong defense and a packed bench to deal with injuries, they really could go all the way.
Morocco
Morocco is being hotly tipped, mainly because of their 2022 semi-final placing. This result made them the first African nation to get to this position in a competition, and they have been on a roll. Unfortunately, Walid Regragui, the manager who led them to that triumph, is no longer present.
Where Morocco does shine is in its organization. They have strong set pieces and are lethal on the counterattack. While this may not be enough to win a World Cup, it could see them to the semis again and possibly even further.
All of this changes as the competition rolls out. That is why it is best to bet on World Cup games early, locking in the best odds. Then all you need to do is sit back and enjoy this world-class festival of football.
