Our best outright bets and each-way picks for this summer's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
International football’s greatest tournament kicks off on Thursday, June 11, and there is no show like the World Cup.
The United States, Canada and Mexico will host the showpiece event, where we have a best bet and two each-way selections, which could outperform expectations.
World Cup 2026 Outright Tips
Best Bet: France @ 9/2
Each-way selection: Norway each-way @ 28/1
Each-way selection: Ecuador each-way @ 80/1
France can leave rivals feeling blue
Best Bet: France @ 9/2
France were crowned world champions in Russia eight years ago, before losing a penalty shootout to Argentina in the 2022 final in Qatar.
Les Bleus have assembled another top squad and they look ready to rule in the US, Mexico and Canada.
There is nice continuity and solidity with long-standing manager Didier Deschamps still at the helm before stepping aside after this tournament.
The 57-year-old has a squad stacked with talent. Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Desire Doue and Rayan Cherki are just some of the attacking options available to France and it is difficult to see international defences keeping that forward line at bay.
William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano and Jules Kounde are excellent defensive options and France have arguably the deepest roster at the tournament.
Les Bleus have been handed one of the most challenging pools to negotiate at the World Cup, with Norway, Senegal and Iraq in opposition.
However, even third place may be enough to progress from Group I and France are capable of being more than a match for any side in the knockout rounds.
The last four major tournaments have seen France win the World Cup in Russia, lose in the final in Qatar and make the last-four and last-16 of the European Championship, an impressive record.
If anything, Les Bleus may be heading to North America with a stronger pool of players than the one that reached the final four years ago in Qatar, and look primed for glory.
Of course, there are other nations with talented squads and the likes of England, Spain and Argentina hold strong claims.
However, France have bags of quality and outside of the superstar names, Bradley Barcola, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Warren Zaire-Emery, Lucas Digne and Maxence Lacroix have all enjoyed trophy-winning club campaigns.
This squad is full of confidence, belief and good feeling, and Deschamps’ men look the best bet of those teams at the head of the outright market.
Norway have the firepower to strike
Each-way selection: Norway each-way @ 28/1
Norway are housed in the same World Cup group as France and look to hold sound each-way claims for outright glory.
No European side scored more than the 37 goals Stale Solbakken’s men managed in qualifying.
They won all of their eight group-stage games and recorded 4-1 and 3-0 victories over four-time world champions Italy.
The Norwegians can call on Erling Haaland, Jorgen Strand Larsen, Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa and Martin Odegaard in attack. They have other excellent options across the patch and are in rampant form.
Haaland’s 16 goals in eight matches was the most scored by any player in qualifying. Although football is not as simple as getting the ball to the most talented performer, the Manchester City man has been destroying international defences and there are enough good performers in the squad to supply the 25-year-old with the chances he craves.
The forward line of Norway will give them a chance against any rivals, and the Red, White and Blue can follow France through to the knockout rounds and beyond.
Ecuador knocking on the door
Each-way selection: Ecuador each-way @ 80/1
Ecuador impressed on their way to the World Cup, and La Tri can progress from Group E, which also contains Germany, Ivory Coast and Curacao.
Pervis Estupinan, Piero Hincapie and Willian Pacho help form part of a rock-solid defence, expertly protected by the midfield energy and aggression of Moises Caicedo.
Young stars Kendry Paez, Nilson Angulo and Joel Ordonez could also enjoy breakout tournaments.
Germany could take some stopping at the top of the section, but Ecuador are a far stronger side than Curacao and they rate a considerably better team than Ivory Coast.
A top-two position looks well within their grasp and they could spring a surprise or two in the knockout rounds of the World Cup.
Ecuador are unbeaten in their last 17 games and have conceded only five goals during that run.
Sebastian Beccacece’s men could outrun odds of 80/1.
