Early Predictions for the…

Although it’s 188 days until the 23rd FIFA World Cup begins at the Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca) on June 11, 2026, the tournament’s landscape has become clearer after Friday’s draw. This draw has not only revealed the qualified teams but also those still vying for their spots in the group stage. Understanding these placements is a crucial step in predicting which teams may advance to the knockout rounds, or potentially clinch their groups outright.

Here are two early-value bets worth considering prior to the tournament.

Note: Odds provided by DraftKings and are subject to change.

Morocco to win Group C (+450)

Facing Brazil, Haiti, and Scotland in the group stage, Morocco is heavily anticipated to progress to the knockout stage. The critical question remains whether they can outperform the historic powerhouse Brazil. Led by coach Walid Regragui, Morocco has surged through FIFA’s men’s rankings since 2016, currently sitting at 11th, just six places behind Brazil, while Scotland is at 36th and Haiti at 84th.

Having made history as the first African team to reach the semifinals in the previous World Cup in Qatar, Morocco boasts a squad rich in experience and talent, led by captain Achraf Hakimi from Paris Saint-Germain, defender Noussair Mazraoui from Manchester United, midfielder Eliesse Ben Seghir from Bayer Leverkusen, and striker Youssef En-Nesyri of Fenerbahçe. The recent addition of Real Madrid midfielder Brahim Díaz, who switched allegiance from Spain to Morocco in 2024, enhances a formidable team that has achieved a record 16 consecutive victories in international matches, stretching from World Cup qualifiers to friendlies.

Coach Regragui provides the Atlas Lions with much-needed consistency, having taken the reins just months before the last World Cup. His systematic approach has significantly built upon their prior success, yielding impressive results recently.

On the other hand, Brazil finished fifth in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, trailing Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, and Uruguay with an 8-4-5 record. Under new coach Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil will face challenges in aiming to top the group against a well-prepared African team.

Long-shot special: Australia to lose all Group D games (+950)

While it may seem far-fetched to predict that a team with Australia’s caliber won’t manage even a draw in the group stage, the odds reflect this potential outcome. Assuming Türkiye wins UEFA Playoff C and enters Group D, Australia will face the hosting United States and South American dark horse Paraguay. The Socceroos, coming off a qualifier loss to Bahrain under former coach Graham Arnold, have shown vulnerability against lesser opposition, a scenario that could repeat in June.

Currently, Tony Popovic’s team ranks third in Group D with a FIFA ranking of 26, trailing the U.S. (14) and Türkiye (25). Although Paraguay ranks 39th overall, they’re listed at 150-1 odds to win the tournament on DraftKings, compared to Australia’s 500-1 odds. This notable disparity offers an intriguing avenue for bettors willing to take a chance on long odds months ahead of kickoff.