We are less than a year away from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With 48 countries competing, an increase from 32 national teams in the former World Cup, punters have more betting options. Qualifier matches started in September 2023 and will run to 31st March 2026.
The three hosting countries, the USA, Canada and Mexico, automatically qualified. Russia was suspended because of the Ukraine invasion, and Eritrea withdrew from the qualification due to political reasons. Congo was also suspended because of government interference.
There are 6 confederations in the FIFA World Cup. Based on the qualifiers recent performance, here are the most reliable teams to bet on using betting sites not on GamStop, grouped by confederation. These teams have shown consistency and strength, making them popular picks among savvy punters.
CAF (Africa)
CAF soccer is filled with great talent, from Mohammed Salah to Sadio Mane and Andre Onana. So far, it is clear that Egypt, Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Congo DR, Cape Verde, Tunisia, Ghana and Burundi are some of the teams to watch out for.
In Group E, Morocco is taking the lead with 15 points after maintaining their perfect record in a recent 2-0 win against Tanzania. With only two games left, their spot in the 2026 World Cup is guaranteed. We can’t forget Morocco had a good run in the 2022 World Cup, advancing to the semi-finals, where they lost to France. Overall, the country finished in 4th place.
Egypt is on top of Group A with 16 points already bagged. The Pharaohs, led by Mohammed Salah, have a 5-point lead over Burkina Faso, which is in second place. Like Morocco, their qualification is guaranteed. After not qualifying for the World Cup in 2022, this might be their year.
In CAF Group C, Algeria, which has 15 points, is closely followed by Mozambique. Tunisia are also likely to qualify with 16 points at the top of their table. However, what we did not see coming was South Africa.
CONMEBOL (South America)
3 teams have already qualified in the South America region, and 4 more spots, including the direct play-offs, are left. As we wait for the qualifiers window to end in September. Argentina (35 points), Ecuador (25 points) and Brazil (25 points) are in.
In the upcoming matches, South America’s royalty, Argentina, stands as a reliable and safe bet for FIFA 2026. Apart from the already qualified teams, Uruguay and Paraguay are squads to watch out for. In Match 81, Uruguay vs Peru, draw odds stand at 4.80 with 91.83% payouts.
Although Colombia did not qualify for the 2022 World Cup, they are holding on fairly well at position 6 with 22 points. In 2018, the team got eliminated in the round of 16. In their first upcoming match against Peru, Colombia’s odds are set at around 1.16 and 6.00 for a draw.
UEFA (Europe)
UEFA qualifiers are in the final rounds, to be concluded in March 2026. So many powerhouses are showing potential, starting with France, which won the 2018 World Cup and the second title in 2022.
In the 2026 qualifiers table, France dominates Group D and is a reliable betting option for both home and away matches. England is already at the top standing in Group K with 9 points. Portugal, in Group F, is assured of a play-off spot. Considering this is the last chance Ronaldo has to win the World Cup, we expect the team to go all out.
Croatia, the underdogs, are currently in second place in Group L. However, if history has taught us anything, it is not to underestimate the team’s potential, as they came very close to winning the 2018 finals.
AFC (Asia)
The AFC qualifiers end in November 2025, and 6 are already filled. Japan was the first non-host company to qualify for the FIFA 2026 World Cup after defeating Bahrain earlier in March. Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan and Australia are the other teams in the AFC which secured their spots.
Jordan and Uzbekistan are making their debut in the World Cup scene. In 2022, Japan, South Korea and Australia made it to the Round of 16. However, Japan was so close to the quarterfinals despite losing to Costa Rica in the Group E stages in 2022.
After a tight 90 minutes with Croatia that ended in a penalty, Japan conceded. Currently, Japan has the best talent in the Asia region. Their odds are set at 81.00 on different bookmakers. With the likes of Wataru Endo, who just won the Premier League, defender Yuto Nagatomo and Daichi Kamada, this team can be a reliable bet.
Which Is the Most Reliable Team to Bet on?
So far in the qualifiers, the most reliable team to bet on is Morocco. As mentioned, the team has 15 points and a 12-goal difference. They have won 5 out of the 5 games played.
