Everything you Need to Know about this Summer’s World Cup 2026

The World Cup countdown is on as nations across the globe come together to battle for one of the greatest prizes in sport. It’s set to be a thrilling summer as countries from every continent go head-to-head to lift the famous trophy and be crowned champions. It’s four years since the last competition and fans everywhere cannot wait for the action to begin.

Whether you are a football supporter eager to watch as many games as a possible or a sport fan keen to explore betting opportunities around the World Cup, this article will tell you everything you need to know about the upcoming tournament.

The Favorites

The World Cup is universally loved as it pits the best nations on the planet against each other. While some nations will be coming for the experience and playing with great pride, other countries will be going all out to win the tournament and go down in history. For those wagering with soccer betway, it’s important to run through the platform and assess the odds around the favorites before making your picks.

Argentina are among the standout sides at this summer’s tournament having won the last World Cup and will be desperate to defend their crown. Considering this will be Lionel Messi’s last of six appearances at the finals, the team has even greater incentive to go all the way. This is also the case for Portugal who will be aiming to win a first World Cup and give Cristiano Ronaldo the ultimate farewell. Having won the Euros a decade ago, the Portuguese will still be well fancied.

England boast quality across the squad and with Harry Kane upfront, will always be a goal threat. Spain are well-versed in succeeding at tournament football this century while France, beaten finalists four years ago, will hope to go one better with Kylian Mbappe the main man in a star-studded line-up. Then there is Brazil and Germany, two iconic nations in World Cup history who will always have a strong chance of lasting the distance and reigning supreme.

Dark Horses

When wagering on the World Cup with soccer betway, it’s always wise to assess the dark horses and look at those sides that could spring a surprise on the big stage. Norway, with Erling Haaland leading the line and Martin Odegaard pulling the strings boast two of the Premier League’s top players while Japan are a well-drilled side who can cause problems for the opposition.

Elsewhere, Ecuador qualified for the tournament having conceded just five goals in 18 matches across South America while Senegal are one of the best African nations and have players regularly featuring at the top level domestically. Other countries being talked about include Colombia, Austria and Turkey.

Three Host Nations

This will be the first World Cup to be hosted across the nations. The United States, Canada and Mexico each have the honour of welcoming the globe for a feast of football with the latter kicking-off the tournament against South Africa on June 11.

With games taking place all over North America, locals and visitors alike will pack out the arenas as thousands will view games live while billions more will watch from around the world. While the MLS continues to grow at a rapid rate and is home to stars like Messi who plays his club football for Inter Miami, hosting the tournament will also aid the leagues in Mexico and Canada, boosting the brand and revenue in just one month of football.

Brand New Format

While this is the first World Cup to be hosted by three separate countries, this tournament will also feature more competitors than ever before. That’s right, 48 nations are set to meet at the 2026 World Cup compared with the 32 that took part at the finals between 1998 and 2022.

Previously, 32 sides have been split into eight groups of four with the top two nations progressing to the Last 16 and the third and fourth placed teams going home. However, this year will see 48 countries split into 12 groups of four. While the the top two will still advance, so too will the eight best third-placed sides making a Last 32 and seeing an increase to a total of 104 matches played across the entire competition.

First-Time Competitors

The expansion of the tournament has opened the door for more nations to take part and this summer’s competition will see four different nations make their maiden appearance at a World Cup. Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan have also qualified for their first finals and will be hoping to give a good account of themselves for their people who follow to America and the many millions streaming games and cheering the players on at home. While they will not be the favorites to win the tournament, getting out of the group phase and reaching the knockout stages would be a monumental moment for each country.

Wrapping Up

Overall, this World Cup will be one of firsts and lasts. Hosting by three nations and featuring 48 teams, this will also be the competition that legends Ronaldo and Messi will likely wave goodbye to the international stage. The tournament is set to mark the beginning and end of an era.