​Team USA is well behind the favorites on the World Cup futures oddsboard and trails a dozen teams in all. But with the U.S. competing on home soil, there’s some patriotic play coming from the public betting masses. "In terms of the response that we’ve seen so far, the USA is our biggest liability," Caesars Sports head of soccer trading Mark Bickerdike. That liability will likely grow heading into the tournament, which opens Thursday, June 11. Bickerdike helps break down 2026 World Cup championship odds, with the English bookmaker adding plenty of informed opinions, as well. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Big Price, Big Liability The U.S. men’s national team is getting decent action in World Cup futures, though not boatloads of tickets or money. Several teams are ahead of the U.S. in both categories. But with odds of +5000 — meaning a $100 wager would profit $5,000 — it doesn’t take nearly as many bets and dollars for liability to start stacking up. "The U.S. isn’t our most-wagered selection. That would be France and Spain," Bickerdike said, alluding to the two favorites in World Cup odds, at +450. "But with the USA being a sizable price, that’s why they’re our biggest liability." That said, Caesars and other U.S. sportsbooks in the same boat aren’t particularly concerned. There’s a reason that Team USA is 50/1: It is not expected to win nor even come close to doing so. However, a decent run in the knockout round is certainly within reach. "I’m optimistic that the USA has an excellent chance of getting to the Round of 16," Bickerdike said. That would mean advancing from Group D — the Americans are +140 favorites to win the group — and winning a Round of 32 knockout match. "The U.S. has a really good manager in Mauricio Pochettino. Christian Pulisic is the main man and a high-quality player," Bickerdike said. "I think 16 is a sizable possibility." Take Us To Your Leaders As noted above, France and Spain are the +450 co-favorites in Caesars’ World Cup futures odds. That’s no surprise to knowledgeable bettors and fans, and, of course, oddsmakers. "France and Spain are our most-wagered-on teams, and understandably so," Bickerdike said. "Spain won the Euro 2024 and is finding its form coming into the tournament. They’re a really sound squad. "And it’s similar with France. They made the last two World Cup finals, winning in 2018. France has great depth and has Kylian Mbappé." In the 2022 World Cup final, France overcame a 2-0 deficit thanks to Mbappé, who scored two goals in speedy succession, in the 80th and 81st minutes. The match went to extra time tied at two, and both teams scored in those 30 minutes — with Mbappé completing a hat trick — but Argentina won the penalty-kick shootout 4-2. This year, Mbappé is the +600 favorite in odds to win the Golden Boot, given to the tournament’s top goalscorer. "The only downside for France is that they’ve drawn Norway," Bickerdike said, alluding to a potential challenger in Group I, which also includes Senegal and Iraq. "But given that two teams make it through from each group, France is still primed to advance." Bickerdike said the championship odds tell the story for France and Spain. "I struggle to split them — lots of good players and lots of depth," he said. "Depth is really key in the World Cup, especially in the heat." England Angle England hasn’t won the World Cup since 1966, when it hosted the tournament. The Three Lions bowed out in the semifinals in 1990 and 2018. In 2022, England lost to France 2-1 in the quarterfinals. Despite the title drought, the English side is always popular in World Cup futures, and this year is no exception. Caesars has England as the +725 third choice. "England is our fourth-most-wagered team in terms of tickets and is sixth in money. But it would be a good result for us," Bickerdike said. "Money on England is significantly less than France and Spain." Can Harry Kane & Co. finally get that elusive title, 60 years after last winning it? "It’s mixed chances. Too hard to tell at the moment. Manager Thomas Tuchel needs to do something a little different in order to beat France and Spain," Bickerdike said, noting England’s roster composition might help – or not. "England could bomb out very early in the knockout stages or have a really good run." Messi and Ronaldo Defending champion Argentina is the +900 co-fourth choice to lift the trophy, joined by Portugal. Which is interesting, since it ties at the hip two generational talents in Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo. It could be the last World Cup for both players, and bettors are intrigued by both squads. "There’s a lot of money on Argentina and Portugal, just because of the Messi and Ronaldo aspect," Bickerdike said. "Personally, I like Argentina. Their balance is good, with a really nice mix of youth and experience, and that squad is really talented. "Argentina would be my pick for the tournament, at the current prices." Dark Horses Bickerdike pointed to a trio of teams that he likes to potentially win their respective groups: Mexico in Group A, and Egypt and Iran, both in Group G. Mexico plays in the first match of the World Cup, hosting South Africa at 3 p.m. ET Thursday in Mexico City. Mexico is -110 to win the group, followed by Czech Republic at +300, South Korea at +325 and South Africa at +800. "In terms of other teams to have decent runs, I quite like Mexico, particularly to win that group," Bickerdike said. "Playing in Mexico City at altitude is a benefit. And in seven of the last eight World Cups, Mexico has made it to the Round of 16." In Group G, Belgium is the -250 favorite to win. But Bickerdike senses the possibility of an upset. "I think Belgium can be opposed in this market. It is an aging team. I think Egypt or Iran could win that group," Bickerdike said. "Egypt, with Mo Salah, can cause an upset here and get a favorable draw in the knockout stages." Then there’s one real outlier curiously drawing action to lift the trophy: Haiti, which, along with Curacao, is the longest shot in the 48-team field, at a huge +250000 (2500/1). "One of our biggest liabilities of the tournament is Haiti. They’re bizarrely popular with some of our customers," Bickerdike said. Read More

​On July 19, after 103 matches have been played, only two teams will remain standing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Those two nations, each chasing soccer immortality, will meet at New York New Jersey Stadium in what is expected to be one of the biggest sporting events ever held in the United States. So which countries are most likely to make it all the way to the title game? Let's take a look at the latest odds to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at FanDuel Sportsbook as of June 5. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. To Reach World Cup Final Spain: +240 (bet $10 to win $34 total)France: +240 (bet $10 to win $34 total)England: +340 (bet $10 to win $44 total)Brazil: +430 (bet $10 to win $53 total)Portugal: +460 (bet $10 to win $56 total)Argentina: +480 (bet $10 to win $58 total)Germany: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)Netherlands: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)Belgium: +950 (bet $10 to win $105 total)Norway: +1300 (bet $10 to win $140 total)Colombia: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)Uruguay: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)Mexico: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)USA: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)Switzerland: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)Croatia: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)Morocco: +2700 (bet $10 to win $280 total)Ecuador: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)Japan: +3300 (bet $10 to win $340 total)Türkiye: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)Austria: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)Senegal: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total) Here's what to know about this oddsboard. Long Shot History: While no true long shot has ever won the World Cup, Croatia was one of the biggest long shots ever to reach a World Cup final, entering the 2018 tournament at 30-1 odds. While the Croatians ultimately fell to France in the final, they still rewarded bettors with a massive payout in this market after their stunning run to the championship. The Favorites: Just as they do in the outright World Cup winner market, Spain and France are the two favorites to reach the final at +240. Oddsmakers view the two European powers as the most likely finalists, with many expecting at least one, and potentially both, to play for the trophy on July 19. USA and Mexico: The U.S. men's national team and Mexico have significantly shorter odds in this market than they do to win the entire tournament. Both nations are listed at +2200 to reach the final, but their World Cup winner odds are much longer, with the USA at +6000 and Mexico at +6500. Read More

​As if the sports calendar isn’t flooded enough — NBA Finals, Stanley Cup Final, French Open, MLB, WNBA and a massive World Cup on the doorstep — the final leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown has arrived as well. Although there’s not a Triple Crown winner at stake, there’s still plenty of interest in Belmont Stakes odds ahead of Saturday's race at Saratoga, which will be broadcast on FOX. Johnny Avello, renowned horse race oddsmaker and DraftKings director of race and sports, serves up his insights on the return of Kentucky Derby 1-2 finishers Golden Tempo and Renegade, among others. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Golden Again? Golden Tempo was the surprise winner of the Kentucky Derby on May 2. Jockey Jose Ortiz guided Golden Tempo, at 23/1 odds, from worst to first in the 19-horse field. Golden Tempo edged Renegade at the wire in a battle of sibling jockeys, with Ortiz’s brother, Irad Ortiz Jr., aboard the runner-up. Golden Tempo trainer Cherie DeVaux then opted to skip the Preakness Stakes, meaning that for the eighth straight year, a Triple Crown was not possible. Five weeks later, Golden Tempo is back, drawing the ninth post in a nine-horse field for Saturday’s 1¼-mile race, with post time set for 7:04 p.m. ET. It’s the final year of Saratoga’s three-year stint hosting the Belmont Stakes while Belmont Park undergoes renovations. But the Derby winner isn’t the favorite in the 2026 Belmont Stakes odds, sitting as the 9/2 third choice on the morning line. "Golden Tempo is a good horse who probably had a nice setup in the Derby," Avello said. "The numbers from the race came in slow. That’s not always the be-all, tell-all — 3-year-olds often improve over time. "But from what I’ve seen so far, I’m not sure that Golden Tempo is the right horse for this race." Avello outlined a couple of reasons for that opinion. "Some of the horses Golden Tempo ran against in the Derby went off at single-digit odds and were perceived to be better horses," he said. "But the Derby is a difficult race to run. You have to overcome too many horses and too much potential trouble. "This race has fewer horses and less potential for trouble. I think a different horse will win the Belmont." Does Renegade Have It Made? That horse could be Renegade, who is also fresh after skipping the Preakness. As of Thursday afternoon, Renegade sat as the 2/1 favorite after drawing the fourth post. Chief Wallabee, who finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby, is right next to Renegade in the third gate and is the 3/1 second choice in Belmont Stakes ML odds. Chief Wallabee also skipped the Preakness, as did the other two Derby runners in Saturday’s field: Commandment and Emerging Market, both listed at 6/1 on the ML. "Renegade is gonna be the favorite at post time," Avello said. "Chief Wallabee ran a good race in the Derby, and prior to that had a first-, second-, and third-place finish. Chief Wallabee and Renegade are pretty close. "I could see Renegade taking the most money of any horse. But I kind of like Chief Wallabee a little." Avello also noted that Commandment had won four straight races heading into the Kentucky Derby. And as for Emerging Market? "Emerging Market could be a wiseguy bet in the race," Avello said. Dark Horse If you’re looking for a more under-the-radar play with a better potential payout, Avello has one in mind at 12/1. "Growth Equity has won his last two races," Avello said. "This race is a little farther than he’s run before. But if he breaks well, there’s a chance he could steal this race. "If any long shot has a chance to surprise, I think he’d be the one." Growth Equity, who will break from the sixth gate on Saturday, has the third-longest ML odds. He is joined at 12/1 by Powershift. Ottinho is 20/1, and Vitruvian Man is 30/1. Read More