World Cup 2026 Odds, Group Predictions, TV Schedule and Live Stream Info
The FIFA World Cup returns to North America for the first time since 1994.
The 48-team event kicks off in Mexico on Thursday and then in Canada and the United States on Friday.
All three host countries come into the tournament with high hopes to make a deep run into the knockout round.
Each host nation has a manageable group to get through. Mexico and the United States are favored to win their respective groups, while Canada is the second favorite behind Switzerland.
An ideal tournament for all three hosts requires a trip to either the round of 16 or quarterfinals, but first they need to make it out of the group stage.
The full World Cup schedule can be found here. Games in the United States will be broadcast on the Fox family of networks and live-streamed on Fox One.
Group A
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Mexico enters the tournament as a -140 favorite to win Group A at FanDuel Sportsbook.
El Tri reside in a group with South Korea, Czechia and South Africa that, at least on paper, looks easy to qualify from.
Mexico should rout South Africa in the World Cup opener on Thursday. That game will be played 16 years after El Tri and the Bafana Bafana opened the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Czechia hasn't been to the World Cup in 20 years, so not only will Mexico hold home-field advantage in that matchup, but it'll also have the experience edge in its favor.
South Korea poses the toughest test for El Tri on Matchday 2. Son Heung-Min must be contained for Mexico to potentially go three-for-three in the group stage.
South Korea experienced mixed results in its buildup to the World Cup. It lost to Ivory Coast and Austria in March, but it did add some confidence with a pair of wins over Concacaf foes in the weeks before the tournament.
Mexico won all three of its pre-tournament friendlies and it has just three losses in the last calendar year.
The form, home-field advantage and experience throughout the roster is there for El Tri to have a comfortable path to the Group A title.
Prediction: 1. Mexico, 2. South Korea, 3. Czechia, 4. South Africa
Group B
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Canada is the second favorite to Switzerland in Group B at +170.
The reality of Group B is that it should come down to the Canada-Switzerland Matchday 3 contest in Vancouver on June 24.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the lower-tier European sides and Qatar is outmatched on paper by both Canada and Switzerland.
Canada's goal is to run up the score and pick up six points against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar. A superior goal differential might be the difference in the battle for first place if the Matchday 3 battle ends in a draw.
Switzerland has become a master of getting out of the group stage and then doing nothing more. It has been eliminated in the round of 16 at four of the last five World Cups.
The Swiss won at least two games at three of the last five World Cups. They should hit that benchmark again in their first two Group B games.
Switzerland has the better overall talent on paper with Breel Embolo leading the forward group and Granit Xhaka running the midfield.
A single loss in the last year gives Switzerland one of the best runs of form going into the World Cup.
While Canada's home-field advantage does matter, Switzerland is the stronger team and should eke out the Group B title over the host nation.
Prediction: 1. Switzerland, 2. Canada, 3. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 4. Qatar
Group D
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The United States' group-stage success might come down to Chris Richards' health and performance against Turkiye on Matchday 3.
Richards, the Crystal Palace center-back, is working his way back to full fitness from an injury. He might not play in Friday's opener against Paraguay, but it is possible for him to return by the end of group play.
Turkiye possesses the most dangerous attack the USMNT will face in Group D.
Paraguay had one of the best defenses in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying, but it lacks a true dynamic scorer in its lineup.
Australia could be outmatched in all three of its Group D contests. The Socceroos have the longest odds to win the group at +800.
The USMNT is the only plus-money favorite to win their World Cup group at +125. That might be viewed as a concerning sign by some, but it also pays respect to how strong of a side Turkiye has.
Real Madrid midfielder Arda Guler is the star of the roster, but there's plenty of international experience packed into the roster, so Turkiye shouldn't be intimidated by the USMNT's home-field advantage.
Richards is the best American center-back, and if he is healthy, the Americans have a good chance to contain the Turkiye attack. If that's the case, it'll come down to Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Folarin Balogun and others to score goals and ensure first place.
Prediction: 1. United States, 2. Turkiye, 3. Australia, 4. Paraguay
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Group Predictions
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Group A: 1. Mexico, 2. South Korea, 3. Czechia, 4. South Africa
Group B: 1. Switzerland, 2. Canada, 3. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 4. Qatar
Group C: 1. Brazil, 2. Morocco, 3. Haiti, 4. Scotland
Group D: 1. United States, 2. Turkiye, 3. Australia, 4. Paraguay
Group E: 1. Germany, 2. Ecuador, 3. Ivory Coast, 4. Curacao
Group F: 1. Netherlands, 2. Japan, 3. Sweden, 4. Tunisia
Group G: 1. Belgium, 2. Egypt, 3. Iran, 4. New Zealand
Group H: 1. Spain, 2. Uruguay, 3. Cape Verde, 4. Saudi Arabia
Group I: 1. France, 2. Senegal, 3. Norway, 4. Iraq
Group J: 1. Argentina, 2. Algeria, 3. Austria, 4. Jordan
Group K: 1. Colombia, 2. Portugal, 3. DR Congo, 4. Uzbekistan
Group L: 1. England, 2. Croatia, 3. Ghana, 4. Panama
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