2026 IIHF World Championship: Predictions and betting odds
By Klimentijs Konevs | Published: June 1, 2026, 15:20

Spain are the favourites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The reigning European champions have one of the most talented squads in the tournament and will be aiming to add a second World Cup title to the one they won in South Africa back in 2010.
This squad also marks a historic moment for La Roja, as no Real Madrid players have been selected for the tournament for the first time ever. With stars like Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Rodri, and Nico Williams leading the way, anything less than a deep run would be considered a disappointment.
The odds on Spain winning the World Cup currently sit at 5.50, making them the shortest-priced team in the outright market ahead of the tournament. Bookmakers are also confident that La Roja will go deep into the competition, with odds of 3.25 available on Spain reaching the final.
| Team | Odds to win | Odds to reach the final |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 5.50 | 3.25 |
| 🇫🇷 France | 6.00 | 3.75 |
| 🏴 England | 7.00 | 4.00 |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | 9.00 | 5.00 |
| 🇦🇷 Argentina | 9.00 | 5.00 |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | 11.00 | 5.50 |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 15.00 | 6.50 |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 21.00 | 9.00 |
If you're looking for our full tournament analysis, check out our World Cup winner prediction article, where we break down the favourites, dark horses, and best outright betting options.
Spain have been drawn into Group H alongside Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, and Cape Verde. On paper, it is one of the most favourable groups in the tournament, and bookmakers make La Roja overwhelming favourites to finish top.
Uruguay are available at 5.00 to win the group. The South Americans remain a dangerous side with plenty of experience and should be strong favourites to qualify for the knockout stage. Their final group match against Spain could determine who finishes top.
Saudi Arabia enter the tournament as clear outsiders but have shown in previous World Cups that they can cause problems for bigger nations. They famously defeated Argentina in 2022 and will hope to spring another surprise. Realistically, their battle is likely to be for third place and a possible route into the knockout stage.
Cape Verde are the biggest underdogs in Group H and are priced at around 41.00 to finish first. While progressing from the group would be difficult, they have developed into a competitive African side capable of making life uncomfortable for stronger opponents.
| ⚽ | To win group H | To qualify from group H |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 1.20 | 1.015 |
| 🇺🇾 Uruguay | 5.00 | 1.16 |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 21.00 | 2.10 |
| 🇨🇻 Cape Verde | 41.00 | 2.62 |
Spain begin their World Cup campaign against the lowest-ranked team in Group H. Cape Verde are making history by reaching the tournament, but La Roja should have far too much quality across the pitch. This is a perfect opportunity for Luis de la Fuente's side to start with three points.
Saudi Arabia caused one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history four years ago, so Spain cannot afford to take this match lightly. Even so, anything other than a Spanish victory would be a major surprise.
The final group match is likely to be the toughest challenge. Uruguay possess enough quality and experience to compete with Spain and are widely expected to finish second in the group. There is a strong chance both teams would already have qualified by this stage, but first place could still be on the line.
The betting markets give La Roja a very small chance of an early exit, with group-stage elimination priced at 21.00. Interestingly, the shortest-priced elimination outcome is the Round of 16 at 2.87. Spain are priced at 7.50 to finish as runners-up and 5.50 to go all the way and win their second World Cup title.
| Stage of elimination | Odds |
| Group stage | 21.00 |
| Round of 32 | 5.00 |
| Last 16 | 2.87 |
| Quarter-finals | 5.50 |
| Semi-finals | 7.00 |
| Runner-up | 7.50 |
| To win outright | 5.50 |
Spain possess one of the deepest attacking groups, which makes their player prop markets particularly interesting. Unlike some nations that rely on a single star, La Roja have goals spread across several positions.
The market is led by Mikel Oyarzabal at 2.75. As Spain's likely starting striker, the Real Sociedad captain is expected to play the most central role in attack and could benefit from chances created by the team's wingers and midfielders.
Lamine Yamal follows at 4.00. The Barcelona superstar is capable of producing moments of magic against any opponent, but his wider role and recent injury concerns may explain why he sits behind Oyarzabal.
In the overall Golden Boot market, Oyarzabal and Yamal both sit inside the top six favourites. Oyarzabal is priced at 15.00, while Yamal is available at 17.00. If Spain enjoy a long World Cup run, both players should have plenty of opportunities to add to their goal tally.
Unai Simón is also highly rated in the Golden Glove betting. The Spain goalkeeper is the second favourite at 5.50, sitting just behind reigning world champion Emiliano Martínez, who leads the market at 5.00.
Yamal is also among the frontrunners for the Golden Ball award, given to the best player of the tournament. The Barcelona star is priced at 9.00 and sits directly behind Harry Kane in the betting.
Goalkeepers: Unai Simón (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Joan García (Barcelona)
Defenders: Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Eric García (Barcelona), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao), Marcos Llorente (Atlético Madrid), Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspur), Marc Pubill (Atlético Madrid)
Midfielders: Pedri (Barcelona), Fabián Ruiz (PSG), Martín Zubimendi (Arsenal), Gavi (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Álex Baena (Atlético Madrid), Mikel Merino (Arsenal)
Forwards: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Víctor Muñoz (Osasuna), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Yéremy Pino (Crystal Palace), Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad)
THIS IS SPAIN’S SQUAD. 🇪🇸
👥 These are the players called up to represent Spain and all our hopes at the upcoming #FIFAWorldCup.#VamosEspaña pic.twitter.com/HNQZBtKT5g
— Spanish Football (@SpainIsFootball) May 25, 2026
Luis de la Fuente is expected to stick with his trusted 4-3-3 formation, the same system that helped Spain win EURO 2024. The midfield trio of Rodri, Pedri, and Fabián Ruiz provides a perfect blend of control, creativity, and experience, while Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal offer pace and directness from the wings. The biggest question marks are at right-back and centre-forward, although Marcos Llorente and Mikel Oyarzabal currently appear to be the favourites for those roles.
Predicted Spain starting XI: Unai Simón; Marcos Llorente, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri, Pedri, Fabián Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Nico Williams.
Spain's final group-stage match against Uruguay could decide the top spot in Group H. While Uruguay possess quality in attack, Spain's ability to dominate possession often limits opponents to very few chances. If La Roja control the midfield battle, they have enough quality to win this match while keeping a clean sheet.
At 3.25, Spain reaching the World Cup final offers excellent value. The bookmakers already rate them as tournament favourites, and their route out of Group H should be relatively comfortable. With one of the deepest squads in the competition and a manager who has already delivered EURO 2024 success, Spain have every chance of playing on the final weekend of the tournament.
Spain are expected to finish top of Group H, and there is a realistic path to a perfect group-stage record. Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia are clear underdogs, while Uruguay are the only side likely to challenge them. Given Spain's consistency under Luis de la Fuente, backing La Roja to collect all nine points looks like an attractive option.
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