World World Cup FIFA 2026 Betting & Odds
Betting on the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Meridianbet
Betting on the FIFA World Cup 2026 is available at Meridianbet. The 2026 World Cup is the largest to date: it is played in three host countries, with 48 national teams, 12 groups, and a new knockout round called the “Round of 32,” which means more matches, more markets, and more opportunities for analytical betting throughout the entire tournament.
For bettors, the tournament is particularly valuable due to a combination of factors:
- A large number of matches in a short period (which is conducive to tracking form “from day to day”).
- Clear competitive logic (groups → knockout, then markets like “to qualify,” “group winner,” “placement”).
- A massive amount of statistics and public interest (which often creates recognizable shifts in odds between “analytical reality” and the “popular narrative”).
Below is a Meridianbet-focused but informationally complete guide: format, qualifications, groups, group and knockout schedules, stadiums, history, as well as records and the most important players worth following from a betting perspective.
Meridianbet Perspective and Why Bettors Love the World Cup
From Meridianbet's perspective, the World Cup is a tournament that naturally “connects” two types of betting:
- Short-term (match by match): types of bets on results, goals, handicaps, cards, corners, and players (scorers/assisters), with a special emphasis on live betting when the dynamics of odds change from minute to minute.
- Long-term (tournament bets): winner, finalist, group winner, to qualify further, top scorer, team performance (points, goal difference, number of wins), and special market combinations that “track the bracket” in the knockout phase.
Bettors especially appreciate the World Cup for several reasons:
- Great market depth and breadth of offer: more matches and more special markets than in a classic international “window” week.
- Clear motivation by phase: in the groups, teams often calculate; in the knockout, the priority becomes avoiding mistakes (which changes the match profile).
- Fast context changes: injuries, rotations, and travel fatigue can “break” the odds faster than in a league.
- Public money and narrative: popular national teams often attract a larger volume of payments, so it is important for analytical players to track where the odds have “beaten emotion” and where emotion is “pushing” the market.
In Meridianbet, besides the World Cup, bettors can typically play other top competitions:
FIFA World Cup 2026 – Results
You can follow the results (including live results) on our livescores page.
2026 FIFA Format and Qualifications
Tournament Format
The competition is organized through two major phases: the group stage and the elimination stage.
Group Phase
- 48 teams are divided into 12 groups (A–L), with 4 national teams in each group.
- Each national team plays 3 matches (everyone plays everyone in the group).
Advancing Further
- The following pass into the knockout stage: the first-placed and second-placed teams from each group (24 teams) plus the eight best third-placed teams (8 teams).
- This forms 32 teams in the knockout phase, which begins with the new “Round of 32”.
- For bettors, it is crucial to note: third place in a group can be enough for the knockout stage.
- This often changes the approach to the third round of groups, where teams calculate the minimum required result or goal difference, so goal and handicap markets can be particularly sensitive.
Summary of Qualifications by Confederation
The distribution of places by zones gives a realistic picture of the “difficulty of the path” to the tournament and helps you understand the profile of teams coming from different qualification systems.
- UEFA (Europe): Europe has 16 places. Play-offs often “insert” very strong teams at the last moment, which is why group odds and “qualify/group winner” markets can change only after March.
- AFC (Asia): Asia has an expanded number of places, increasing the chance of seeing teams that are tactically stable but less known to the wider public.
- CAF (Africa): Africa has 9 places. The profile often brings a combination of physical strength and tactical progress, but also greater variability in results.
- CONMEBOL (South America): CONMEBOL has 6 direct places. This zone often produces teams with high “tournament” competence, making long-term bets in demand.
- CONCACAF (North and Central America): CONCACAF has 6 places, with three hosts already qualified.
- OFC (Oceania): Oceania has 1 direct place, affecting “underdog” stories and markets like “weakest team in the group”.
Intercontinental Play-offs
- The last two places are resolved through a FIFA play-off tournament with 6 teams.
- Winners enter the groups as “placeholders” and can significantly change the strength of a group just before the tournament starts.
2026 FIFA World Cup Table
The entries “UEFA play-off winner...” and “FIFA play-off winner...” remain as placeholders until the end of the play-offs.
|
Group |
Team 1 |
Team 2 |
Team 3 |
Team 4 |
|
A |
Mexico |
South Africa |
South Korea |
Czech Republic |
|
B |
Canada |
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Qatar |
Switzerland |
|
C |
Brazil |
Morocco |
Haiti |
Scotland |
|
D |
USA |
Paraguay |
Australia |
Turkey |
|
E |
Germany |
Curaçao |
Ivory Coast |
Ecuador |
|
F |
Netherlands |
Japan |
Sweden |
Tunisia |
|
G |
Belgium |
Egypt |
Iran* |
New Zealand |
|
H |
Spain |
Cape Verde |
Saudi Arabia |
Uruguay |
|
I |
France |
Senegal |
Iraq |
Norway |
|
J |
Argentina |
Alžir |
Austrija |
Jordan |
|
K |
Portugal |
DR Kongo |
Uzbekistan |
Kolumbija |
|
L |
England |
Hrvatska |
Gana |
Panama |
2026 FIFA Group Phase Schedule
|
Date |
Match |
Group |
Stadium (City) |
|
June 11 |
Mexico – South Africa |
Group A |
Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) |
|
South Korea – Czech Republic |
Group A |
Estadio Akron (Guadalajara) |
|
|
June 12 |
Canada – Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Group B |
BMO Field (Toronto) |
|
USA – Paraguay |
Group D |
SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles) |
|
|
June 13 |
Australia – Turkey |
Group D |
BC Place (Vancouver) |
|
Qatar – Switzerland |
Group B |
Levi's Stadium (San Francisco Bay Area) |
|
|
Brazil – Morocco |
Group C |
MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey) |
|
|
Haiti – Scotland |
Group C |
Gillette Stadium (Boston) |
|
|
June 14 |
Germany – Curaçao |
Group E |
NRG Stadium (Houston) |
|
Ivory Coast – Ecuador |
Group E |
Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) |
|
|
Netherlands – Japan |
Group F |
AT&T Stadium (Dallas) |
|
|
Sweden – Tunisia |
Group F |
Estadio BBVA (Monterrey) |
|
|
June 15 |
Belgium – Egypt |
Group G |
Lumen Field (Seattle) |
|
Iran – New Zealand |
Group G |
SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles) |
|
|
Spain – Cape Verde |
Group H |
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) |
|
|
Saudi Arabia – Uruguay |
Group H |
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) |
|
|
June 16 |
France – Senegal |
Group I |
MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey) |
|
Iraq – Norway |
Group I |
Gillette Stadium (Boston) |
|
|
Argentina – Algeria |
Group J |
Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City) |
|
|
June 17 |
Austria – Jordan |
Group J |
Levi's Stadium (San Francisco Bay Area) |
|
Portugal – DR Kongo |
Group K |
NRG Stadium (Houston) |
|
|
Uzbekistan – Colombia |
Group K |
Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) |
|
|
England – Croatia |
Group L |
AT&T Stadium (Dallas) |
|
|
Gana – Panama |
Group L |
BMO Field (Toronto) |
|
|
June 18 |
Czech Republic – South Africa |
Group A |
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) |
|
Mexico – South Korea |
Group A |
Estadio Akron (Guadalajara) |
|
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina – Switzerland |
Group B |
SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles) |
|
|
Canada – Qatar |
Group B |
BC Place (Vancouver) |
|
|
June 19 |
Scotland – Morocco |
Group C |
Gillette Stadium (Boston) |
|
Brazil – Haiti |
Group C |
Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) |
|
|
USA – Australia |
Group D |
Lumen Field (Seattle) |
|
|
June 20 |
Turkey – Paraguay |
Group D |
Levi's Stadium (San Francisco Bay Area) |
|
Germany – Ivory Coast |
Group E |
BMO Field (Toronto) |
|
|
Ecuador – Curaçao |
Group E |
Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City) |
|
|
Netherlands – Sweden |
Group F |
NRG Stadium (Houston) |
|
|
June 21 |
Tunisia – Japan |
Group F |
Estadio BBVA (Monterrey) |
|
Belgium – Iran |
Group G |
SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles) |
|
|
New Zealand – Egypt |
Group G |
BC Place (Vancouver) |
|
|
Spain – Saudi Arabia |
Group H |
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) |
|
|
Uruguay – Cape Verde |
Group H |
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) |
|
|
June 22 |
France – Iraq |
Group I |
Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) |
|
Norway – Senegal |
Group I |
MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey) |
|
|
Argentina – Austria |
Group J |
AT&T Stadium (Dallas) |
|
|
Jordan – Algeria |
Group J |
Levi's Stadium (San Francisco Bay Area) |
|
|
June 23 |
Portugal – Uzbekistan |
Group K |
NRG Stadium (Houston) |
|
Colombia – DR Kongo |
Group K |
Estadio Akron (Guadalajara) |
|
|
England – Ghana |
Group L |
Gillette Stadium (Boston) |
|
|
Panama – Croatia |
Group L |
BMO Field (Toronto) |
|
|
June 24 |
Czech Republic – Mexico |
Group A |
Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) |
|
South Africa – South Korea |
Group A |
Estadio BBVA (Monterrey) |
|
|
Switzerland – Canada |
Group B |
BC Place (Vancouver) |
|
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina – Qatar |
Group B |
Lumen Field (Seattle) |
|
|
Scotland – Brazil |
Group C |
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) |
|
|
Morocco – Haiti |
Group C |
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) |
|
|
June 25 |
Turkey – USA |
Group D |
SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles) |
|
Paraguay – Australia |
Group D |
Levi's Stadium (San Francisco Bay Area) |
|
|
Ecuador – Germany |
Group E |
MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey) |
|
|
Curaçao – Ivory Coast |
Group E |
Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) |
|
|
Tunisia – Netherlands |
Group F |
Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City) |
|
|
Japan – Sweden |
Group F |
AT&T Stadium (Dallas) |
|
|
June 26 |
New Zealand – Belgium |
Group G |
BC Place (Vancouver) |
|
Egypt – Iran |
Group G |
Lumen Field (Seattle) |
|
|
Uruguay – Spain |
Group H |
Estadio Akron (Guadalajara) |
|
|
Cape Verde – Saudi Arabia |
Group H |
NRG Stadium (Houston) |
|
|
Norway – France |
Group I |
Gillette Stadium (Boston) |
|
|
Senegal – Iraq |
Group I |
BMO Field (Toronto) |
|
|
June 27 |
Jordan – Argentina |
Group J |
Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City) |
|
Algeria – Austria |
Group J |
AT&T Stadium (Dallas) |
|
|
Colombia – Portugal |
Group K |
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) |
|
|
DR Kongo – Uzbekistan |
Group K |
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) |
|
|
Panama – England |
Group L |
MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey) |
|
|
Croatia – Ghana |
Group L |
Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) |
2026 FIFA Elimination Phase
In the knockout phase, bettors often switch to markets like “to qualify,” “team to score a goal,” “total goals,” and specials covering extra time and penalties.
|
Phase |
Date |
Time (ET) |
Pair / Description |
Stadium (City) |
|
Round of 32 |
June 28 |
15:00 |
2A – 2B |
SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles) |
|
Round of 32 |
June 29 |
16:30 |
1E – 3rd placed (ABCDF) |
Gillette Stadium (Boston) |
|
Round of 32 |
June 29 |
21:00 |
1F – 2C |
Estadio BBVA (Monterrey) |
|
Round of 32 |
June 29 |
13:00 |
1C – 2F |
NRG Stadium (Houston) |
|
Round of 32 |
June 30 |
17:00 |
1I – 3rd placed (CDFGH) |
MetLife Stadium (NY/NJ) |
|
Round of 32 |
June 30 |
13:00 |
2E – 2I |
AT&T Stadium (Dallas) |
|
Round of 32 |
June 30 |
21:00 |
1A – 3rd placed (CEFHI) |
Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) |
|
Round of 32 |
July 1 |
12:00 |
1L – 3rd placed (EHIJK) |
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) |
|
Round of 32 |
July 1 |
20:00 |
1D – 3rd placed (BEFIJ) |
Levi's Stadium (San Francisco) |
|
Round of 32 |
July 1 |
16:00 |
1G – 3rd placed (AEHIJ) |
Lumen Field (Seattle) |
|
Round of 32 |
July 2 |
19:00 |
2K – 2L |
BMO Field (Toronto) |
|
Round of 32 |
July 2 |
15:00 |
1H – 2J |
SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles) |
|
Round of 32 |
July 2 |
23:00 |
1B – 3rd placed (EFGIJ) |
BC Place (Vancouver) |
|
Round of 32 |
July 3 |
18:00 |
1J – 2H |
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) |
|
Round of 32 |
July 3 |
21:30 |
1K – 3rd placed (DEIJL) |
Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City) |
|
Round of 32 |
July 3 |
14:00 |
2D – 2G |
AT&T Stadium (Dallas) |
|
Round of 16 |
July 4 |
13:00 |
winner (2A–2B) – winner (1F–2C) |
NRG Stadium (Houston) |
|
Round of 16 |
July 4 |
17:00 |
winner (1E–3) – winner (1I–3) |
Lincoln Financial Field (Philly) |
|
Round of 16 |
July 5 |
16:00 |
winner (1C–2F) – winner (2E–2I) |
MetLife Stadium (NY/NJ) |
|
Round of 16 |
July 5 |
20:00 |
winner (1A–3) – winner (1L–3) |
Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) |
|
Round of 16 |
July 6 |
15:00 |
winner (2K–2L) – winner (1H–2J) |
AT&T Stadium (Dallas) |
|
Round of 16 |
July 6 |
20:00 |
winner (1D–3) – winner (1G–3) |
Lumen Field (Seattle) |
|
Round of 16 |
July 7 |
12:00 |
winner (1J–2H) – winner (2D–2G) |
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) |
|
Round of 16 |
July 7 |
16:00 |
winner (1B–3) – winner (1K–3) |
BC Place (Vancouver) |
|
Quarter-finals |
July 9 |
16:00 |
QF1 |
Gillette Stadium (Boston) |
|
Quarter-finals |
July 10 |
15:00 |
QF2 |
SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles) |
|
Quarter-finals |
July 11 |
17:00 |
QF3 |
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) |
|
Quarter-finals |
July 11 |
21:00 |
QF4 |
Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City) |
|
Semi-finals |
July 14 |
15:00 |
SF1 |
AT&T Stadium (Dallas) |
|
Semi-finals |
July 15 |
15:00 |
SF2 |
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) |
|
3rd Place |
July 18 |
17:00 |
Third place |
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) |
|
Final |
July 19 |
15:00 |
Final |
MetLife Stadium (NY/NJ) |
History of World Cups, Records, and Stars
Historical Timeline and Key Points
The World Cup has shaped modern football and provided the most recognizable sporting moments. Understanding historical context is useful for betting: some teams have “tournament DNA,” while others are weaker under knockout pressure.
Key Dates and Milestones:
- 1930: the first championship and the beginning of tradition.
- 1942 and 1946: the tournament was not held.
- 1950: the return after the war and famous final round shocks.
- 1970: the era of big stars and clear playing identities.
- 1982 and 1998: major participant expansions changing group dynamics.
- 2026: the largest format so far with 48 teams.
All-Time Top Scorers
Relevant for long-term bets like “top scorer”.
|
Rank |
Player |
National Team |
Goals |
|
1 |
Miroslav Klose |
Germany |
16 |
|
2 |
Ronaldo |
Brazil |
15 |
|
3 |
Gerd Müller |
W. Germany / Germany |
14 |
|
4 |
Just Fontaine |
France |
13 |
|
5 |
Lionel Messi |
Argentina |
13 |
|
10 |
Kylian Mbappé |
France |
12+ |
Players to Follow
- Erling Haaland
- Harry Kane
- Jude Bellingham
- Vinícius Júnior
- Kevin De Bruyne
- Rodri
- Luka Modrić
- Bruno Fernandes
- Achraf Hakimi
- Mohamed Salah
Host Stadiums and Their Features
Stadiums affect the rhythm of play, surface quality, and weather conditions.
|
Stadium |
Capacity |
City |
Key Features |
|
Estadio Azteca |
83,000 |
Mexico City |
Historical stadium; high pressure from the crowd |
|
Estadio Akron |
48,000 |
Guadalajara |
Modern; often good pitch and fast rhythm |
|
Estadio BBVA |
53,500 |
Monterrey |
Stable conditions for technical teams |
|
BMO Field |
45,000 |
Toronto |
City stadium; fast transition play |
|
BC Place |
54,000 |
Vancouver |
Roofed; less weather influence, factor for “goals” bets |
|
MetLife Stadium |
82,500 |
East Rutherford |
Final venue; huge capacity |
|
SoFi Stadium |
70,000 |
Inglewood |
Ultra-modern; suitable for technical football |
|
AT&T Stadium |
94,000 |
Arlington |
Large capacity; roof/AC neutralizes weather |
|
Mercedes-Benz |
75,000 |
Atlanta |
Predictable matches in tempo and intensity |
|
NRG Stadium |
72,000 |
Houston |
Roofed; often suitable for “over” markets |
|
Arrowhead |
73,000 |
Kansas City |
Strong atmosphere; can raise tempo and set pieces |
|
Lumen Field |
69,000 |
Seattle |
Known for noise; good for home momentum |
|
Levi's Stadium |
71,000 |
Santa Clara |
Modern; travel is key for late matches |
|
Gillette Stadium |
65,000 |
Foxborough |
Often “tactics first” in knockout terms |
|
Lincoln Financial |
69,000 |
Philadelphia |
Frequent host of high-stakes matches |
|
Hard Rock |
65,000 |
Miami Gardens |
Heat can cause rhythm to drop; “under” scenarios increase |