France Doubles Argentina as Favorite to Win 2026 World Cup After Round of 16 Start

The 2026 FIFA World Cup entered its Round of 16 stage on Saturday, with 12 teams remaining to compete for quarterfinal spots. Following France's victory over Paraguay and Morocco's impressive win against Canada, betting agencies updated their odds for the tournament winner. According to the popular betting site Polymarket, France now holds a 36% chance of winning the World Cup, making them the clear favorite. Argentina, the defending champions, are in second place but with less than half France's odds. Argentina's chances stand at 17%, which is more than double the individual odds for their star player Lionel Messi, who is given a 7% chance.

Other strong contenders include Spain with a 13% chance, while Brazil and England each have about a 7% chance of winning. Portugal follows with a 6% chance, and all other teams have odds of 3% or lower. France's odds surged by 19 percentage points after their recent win, jumping from 17% to 36%, a significant increase that now places them well ahead of Argentina, whose odds remain steady. Argentina is also expected to see a rise in their chances if they advance beyond the Round of 16.

The tournament continues with these top teams vying for the title, and the betting markets are closely watching each match for shifts in the odds as the competition intensifies.