World Cup Top European Team Odds: No shocks as Spain and France favourites

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup rapidly approaching, I've taken a look at who will finish as the Top European Team at this year's tournament.

Europe has the most World Cup winners across the event’s history - who stands the best chance of glory this summer?

Spain @ 11/4

Spain head the Top European Team Odds at 11/4 following their resurgence under Luis de la Fuente.

La Roja are the outright favourite, never mind just European sides, to go all the way in North America and it’s easy to understand why.

They’ve been drawn in Group H alongside Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, which on paper looks straightforward enough.

Lamine Yamal is one of the best players in the world and showcased that at the Euros two years ago. Throw in the likes of Alex Baena, Yeremy Pino, Gavi and Pedri, as well as veterans such as Rodri, and the Spanish have a supremely talented squad that perfectly blends youth and experience.

France @ 3/1

Perhaps the biggest threat to Spanish glory, France are second in the Top European Team Odds market at 3/1.

The French came agonisingly close to winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, famously losing to Lionel Messi and Argentina.

Didier Deschamps did guide this team to victory at the 2018 tournament, and many of the players involved in the past two tournaments will now be in their prime years.

Their attacking depth looks frightening, but my concerns for the French would be defensively, as I don’t believe they’re as strong as they were four years ago.

England @ 9/2

It’s coming home, or is it?

England qualified for the World Cup with relative ease, winning eight from eight without conceding a single strike, but the squad Thomas Tuchel has selected has raised some eyebrows.

The Three Lions have been on the cusp of tasting international glory over the past several tournaments, making the semi-finals of this competition in 2018, before losing back-to-back Euros finals in 2020 and 2022.

On paper, Group L looks straightforward enough, although Croatia and Ghana could be potential banana skins if things don’t go according to plan. In addition, after the season he’s had, I think England’s chances of success in North America firmly rest on Harry Kane’s shoulders.

Portugal @ 13/2

We saw one fairytale ending for one of the game’s all-time greats in 2022 with Argentina’s triumph – will we see another in 2026?

At 41, this is surely Cristiano Ronaldo’s last chance to complete the set and this Portugal squad do look like they can go all the way.

There’s some real quality within the ranks, most notably Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, who has just broken the Premier League record for assists recorded during a single season and was subsequently named Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year.

PSG’s Champions League-winning duo Joao Neves and Vitinha also feature, as well as big names such as Bernardo Silva, Joao Cancelo and Rafael Leao.

A squad littered with quality and matchwinners could go all the way this summer.

*Click here for the latest Football Odds

Germany @ 9/1

Next in the betting is Germany, who’ve had a torrid time of international tournaments since claiming their fourth World Cup in 2014.

Life won’t be easy in Group E with Ivory Coast and Ecuador both difficult fixtures, but a quarter-final appearance is surely a must for Julian Nagelsmann and this team.

Of course, there’s plenty of historical pedigree behind this nation, but question marks remain over whether this Germany side can dig deep in the biggest moments, as they’ve failed to progress beyond the first knockout round in three consecutive major tournament - a run that includes Euro 2024 on home soil.

Netherlands @ 14/1

The Netherlands are a ‘big’ nation that have never tasted World Cup glory, and under Ronald Koeman, they’ll be hoping to claim a maiden triumph this summer.

The Dutch went unbeaten in qualifying before being delivered what was described by Koeman as a ‘wake-up call’ against Algeria earlier this month.

Their squad is made up of a core group who ply their trade in England, including the likes of Liverpool trio Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch, Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber and Robin Roefs and Brian Brobbey, who played an integral part in Sunderland’s impressive season back in the top flight.

The Oranje’s group is arguably one of the most difficult on paper, with Japan romping through AFC qualification and considered one of the dark horses of the tournament, while Tunisia were equally dominant in en route to booking their place in North America.

Bizarrely, Sweden made the tournament after failing to win a single qualifier, but they still possess potent weapons in Alexander Isak and Victor Gyokeres.

Outsiders

Some of the ‘best of the rest’ include Norway (16/1), Belgium (20/1) and Croatia (40/1), although I do think that the latter two’s best chances of springing a surprise at a major tournament have passed them by.

Norway have one of the world’s best strikers in Erling Haaland, and if they give him service, he can drag them into the knockout stages, in my opinion – and nobody will fancy taking on the Manchester City striker in a knockout setting.