Somewhere in Madrid right now, Spain’s national team manager Luis de la Fuente is plotting his side’s path to a second FIFA World Cup crown. The highly regarded former youth team coach already led La Roja to a surprise Euro 2024 triumph two years ago. Given how young his team is, Spain’s world cup appearance comes sooner than most expected. Now, the goal is simple: conquer the world.
Online betting sites certainly think they are up to the task. The latest European World Cup odds list Spain as the clear 9/2 favorite to win the World Cup once again this summer, 16 years on from their maiden success in South Africa back in 2010. US sportsbooks have Spain +450 to +500 depending where you look. Then come the likes of Spain, England, and defending champions Argentina, all of whom have unfinished stories of their own.
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World Cup Value Bet: Stage of Elimination Bet
With the tournament now less than two months away, the bookies are opening up more and more outright markets to bet on. One such market that offers plenty of value is “Stage of Elimination”. With the stage of elimination bet, you’re choosing the stage at which a particular team will be eliminated.
But which selections look to have deceptively long odds? Here are two we have earmarked.
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Morocco: Quarterfinals
In 2022 in Qatar, Morocco made history when they became the first African nation to ever reach the World Cup semifinals. They beat Belgium in the group stage before knocking off both Spain and Portugal in stunning fashion to secure their spot in the final four. In the four years since, plenty has changed in the sporting world.
However, one thing that hasn’t is that Morocco isn’t a team to overlook. They have just been crowned the champions of Africa, albeit by default and in rather controversial circumstances that have divided opinion. Now, they head back to the World Cup, and they do so with real hope of mounting another deep tournament run.
The Atlas Lions have been drawn into Group C alongside record five-time champions Brazil, the returning Scotland, and minnows Haiti. The Moroccans will fancy their chances of finishing as runners-up to the Selecao at the very least, and if they are able to achieve that, they will likely embark upon a testing Round of 32 clash against the Group F winners, likely the Netherlands. The Oranje will probably be the favorites to win that contest, but Morocco have revelled in the role of underdogs in recent times.
Past Performance May Inform Future Results
The African champions beat both Spain and Portugal en route to the final four last time, and both of them were far better teams than the Dutch one, poised to head to North America. Morocco can certainly beat them, as well as their potential round of 16 opponents, which would be either the runner-up in Group A or Group B, the two weakest groups at the tournament.
In the quarterfinal, Spain would likely await, and La Roja will be highly motivated to secure revenge after what transpired four years ago. This could well spell the end of the road for the Atlas Lions after a commendable effort, and you can get lofty odds of 6/1 for them to suffer elimination in the last eight.
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Brazil: Quarterfinals
Brazil are the record five-time champions, but since they claimed their record-breaking fifth crown back in 2002, their story has had an ending. In four of the five tournaments that followed that success in Japan and South Korea, the Selecao have been dumped out in the quarterfinals, including most recently in Qatar when they were upset by Croatia. In 2026, we can see them meeting a similar fate.
Brazil will likely top Group C ahead of Morocco, Scotland, and Haiti. From there, they will likely face either Japan or Sweden in the Round of 32, before meeting any one of Ecuador, Norway, or Senegal, all of whom are possible round of 16 opponents. Carlo Ancelotti’s men will fancy their chances in all of those games, and so will the bookies, no doubt.
Mind the English
However, in the quarterfinals, they will likely meet an England team that is determined to finally have some success on the grandest stage.
The Three Lions have reached each of the last two European Championship finals, painfully losing both. However, with Harry Kane in the form of his life and Jude Bellingham returning to peak form and fitness at the perfect time, Thomas Tuchel’s side will fancy their chances. We think that England will beat Brazil in the quarterfinals, gaining revenge for their defeat to the Selecao at the same stage 24 years ago. 15/4 odds say they fall in the last eight once again.