Who is the favourite to win the World Cup? Team and Golden Boot odds

The World Cup is now just over a week away and England are one of several footballing heavyweights eyeing glory across the US, Canada and Mexico this summer.

The Three Lions are aiming to end their long wait to get their hands on their second world title in what is the 60th anniversary of their first triumph.

The victory on home soil in 1966 remains the only trophy the England men’s team has won to date but Thomas Tuchel will be confident that he has enough talent in his squad to end the six decades of hurt.

Standing in their way are the likes of Argentina, defending champions from four years ago, and Spain, who broke English hearts in the Euro 2024 final.

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France, meanwhile, look well-placed to avenge their World Cup final defeat against the Argentines in Qatar, while Brazil will be hoping to finally land their sixth title almost a quarter of a century after their last.

Favourites to win the World Cup

Spain (4/1)

Having conquered Europe two years ago, Spain are favourites with the bookmakers to add the World Cup trophy to their collection.

And for good reason, given Luis de la Fuente’s men have not lost a game – penalty shootout defeats aside – since 2023.

Spain would need to significantly improve on their recent World Cup performances since winning the tournament in 2010, however, with La Roja having fallen at the group stage in 2014 and having been eliminated in the Round of 16 in the previous two editions.

France (9/2)

Didier Deschamps once again boasts a ridiculous collection of talent in his ranks, with Kylian Mbappe spearheading an enviable forward line which includes the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise and Desire Doue.

Champions in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, France will have to do it the hard way if they want to add a third star to their shirts having been placed in the group of death alongside Norway, Senegal and Iraq.

But there are fewer coaches in world football who are as wily as Deschamps at navigating their way through international tournament football, with the French icon also tasting success as a player at the World Cup in 1998 and at the Euros in 2000.

England (13/2)

England headed into Euro 2024 as the outright favourites but never once played like a team who had the favourites tag hanging around their necks.

As such, the Three Lions will likely embrace not being the clear favourites, and their drab performances in the March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan have served to dampen expectations somewhat – even if they are still well-fancied with the bookmakers for the World Cup.

Should they progress from their group, Thomas Tuchel’s side face an extremely challenging run of knockout-stage fixtures with Mexico, Brazil and Argentina potentially awaiting England from the quarter-final stage onwards.

Brazil (9/1)

Few international sides have more pressure on them at a World Cup than Brazil.

But in Carlo Ancelotti, the Selecao have married together a world class squad with a world class manager, who should bring the best out of the attacking triumvirate of Vinicius Junior, Raphinha and Rodrygo, although an ageing defence could be their Achilles heel.

Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, Brazil have only made it past the quarter-finals once since claiming the trophy in 2002 – something they will be desperate to atone for this time around.

Argentina (10/1)

Things could scarcely be going better for Argentina right now.

Not only are they the World Champions and the double Copa America winners, but Lionel Messi’s side were the highest scorers in qualifying with 12 wins from 18 games.

And with Argentina’s famous travelling support set to flood North America, La Albiceleste have a very real chance of becoming back-to-back champions.

Golden Boot

Kylian Mbappe (11/2)

Mbappe has saved his best form for the World Cup, registering eight goals across his two tournaments to date.

The French superstar finished as top scorer last time around and is aiming to become the first player in history to win multiple Golden Boot awards.

Harry Kane (13/2)

Kane’s Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup saw him become just the second Englishman, after Gary Lineker, to finish the tournament as top scorer.

The Bayern Munich star needs three goals this summer, to add to the eight he already has, to surpass Gary Lineker as England’s all-time top scorer at the World Cup.

Erling Haaland (12/1)

Haaland will get his first taste of a major international tournament with Norway, who themselves are appearing in their first competition since Euro 2000.

The only thing that might stop Haaland, who topped the European goalscoring charts in qualifying with 16 goals, from claiming the Golden Boot is the fact the Norwegians are in a group with France and Senegal, meaning qualification from Group I won’t be straightforward.

Lionel Messi (14/1)

Messi finished as the second-highest scorer in Qatar behind Mbappe with seven goals, although the legendary Argentine was handed the Player of the Tournament award.

Despite being two years shy of 40, Messi was still hugely influential for Argentina in qualifying, notching up seven goals in 11 matches.

Lamine Yamal (14/1)

Yamal’s preparation for the World Cup has been far from ideal, having been ruled out of the final stretch of Barcelona’s season courtesy of a hamstring injury sustained in April.

Assuming he’s back to full fitness, and Spain have a deep run in the tournament, there is no reason why Yamal can’t become the youngest-ever player – and the first Spaniard – to get his hands on the Golden Boot.