The 2026 World Cup will be BIG. And we’re talking of BIG in the literal sense. Instead of having 32 teams like we had from 1988 to 2022 we’ll have 48. Does this change sound familiar? You might have noted it with the Champions league. The format overhaul fundamentally alters the entire structure of the competition, creating a longer tournament (39 days while we had 29) with a new, early knockout stage.And that’s not even the most surprising part yet. For us in Kenya, most of the matches will be kicking off at 2AM and ending at 4AM. We haven’t even accounted for all the ones that will end with extra time like they always do, or how referees give 9+ minutes of extra time due to the time wasting celebrations. Anyway, this is what is of interest to us gamblers.
World Cup 2026 fixtures and predictions
Favourite to win the tournament
While Spain currently tops the odds board screenshot from WRbet (registration link)
The margins are incredibly small between the top four European sides (Spain, England, France) and the South American giants (Argentina, Brazil). This suggests there is no single runaway favorite, and form closer to the tournament will be critical. Too soon to tell. Who knows, Salah might get his mojo back!
My heart is on Argentina. The sheer force of will that Lionel Messi and his team demonstrated in 2022, combined with the fact that this is likely his international performance, creates a narrative too compelling to ignore. They have a fantastic coach in Lionel Scaloni and a squad that has proven it can grind out results under immense pressure.
I also suspect that this will be his last world cup
More tips
Mexico vs. South Africa – June 11
Tip: 1:1 correct score
FIFA has a tradition where the host nation is automatically guaranteed entry to the tournament, and for the opening match, they usually get to play in their home stadium. Mexico, being one of the three co-hosts, was granted the top seed in Group A and the prestigious opening match at the iconic Estadio Azteca. The fixture against South Africa is symbolic. It was the same opening match for the 2010 World Cup (which ended in a 1-1 draw btw).
As hosts, Mexico are under immense pressure to break their historic “opener curse” (they have never won a World Cup opening match).
- 1930 Mexico vs France, 1–4 Loss
- 1950,Mexico vs Brazil, 0–4 Loss
- 1954,Mexico vs Brazil 0–5 Loss
- 1958, Mexico vs Sweden 0–3 Loss
- 1962,Mexico vs Brazil 0–2 Loss
- 1970,Mexico vs Soviet Union 0–0 Draw
- 2010,Mexico vs South Africa1–1 Draw
- 2026,Mexico vs South Africa ❓
Despite their traditional strength in the CONCACAF region, current odds place them as a mid-tier favorite to win the entire tournament, sitting around 1.55 Odds.
This screenshot is from Paripesa and they have higher odds than other betting sites (Registration link). They are favored to top Group A, but face strong competition from South Korea and the eventual European play-off winner (potentially Denmark).
Bafana Bafana are a physical, fast-paced team who will be highly motivated, especially in a match that carries so much nostalgia. Their current FIFA ranking is lower, and they are generally viewed as the underdog in the group, though they are certainly capable of springing a surprise, as they often do in high-profile matches.
A low-scoring draw (1-1) is a strong possibility, repeating the 2010 result.
Brazil vs. Morocco – June 13
Tip: Brazil Win
This is an early contender for the best Group Stage match, pitting the perennial five-time champions, Brazil, against the 2022 semi-finalists, Morocco. The Atlas Lions are drawn into a highly competitive Group C, which also features Scotland and Haiti.
Under new management (reportedly Carlo Ancelotti), Brazil is always a top favorite. They will be keen to start strong, especially after their disappointing exit in 2022. Early odds place them as heavy favorites for the match, Morocco will deploy a low block, making it difficult for Brazil.
Qatar vs Switzerland – June 13
Belgium vs. Egypt – June 15
Tip: Belgium Win
Tip 2: Under 2.5
This is the opening fixture for Group G, which also includes Iran and New Zealand. The match will take at a time that translates to 10:00 PM EAT which is one of the more favorable kick-off times for us here. The match will be easier to watch.
Though past the peak of their so-called “Golden Generation,” Belgium still possesses a core of world-class talent and is the highest-ranked team in the group. Their recent form in World Cup qualifiers has been strong. They will aim to dominate possession and exploit the pace of their wingers, potentially getting behind Egypt’s defense. However, they have a mixed head-to-head record in recent friendlies against Egypt, losing 2-1 in their last encounter in November 2022. Egypt has never actually won a match at a World Cup finals tournament. This opener will be a massive test.
France vs. Senegal – June 16
Tip: France Win
Football powerhouse versus African champion. This is a must-watch for African fans, as Senegal is widely viewed as the continent’s best shot at a deep run. France, the two-time winners and 2022 runners-up, led by Kylian Mbappé, are perpetual favorites. They have a deep, young squad and odds to win the tournament are among the shortest, sitting around 9.00 Odds from Playabets KE
. They are expected to comfortably win Group I, which also includes Norway.
USA vs. Paraguay – June 12
Tip: USA Win
Kickoff 4:00 AM EAT Kickoff on a Friday😄
The second co-host, the USA, kicks off its campaign in Los Angeles in what is considered a very favorable draw. The Americans will play their opener against Paraguay, a disciplined but low-scoring side from CONMEBOL. The USA is the favorite to win Group D, which also includes Australia and the winner of European Playoff C (likely Turkey or Slovakia).
FAQS
Will Ronalso play in the 2026 world cup?
When asked directly if the 2026 World Cup would be his last, Ronaldo replied, “Definitely, yes.” He cited his age, stating, “I’ll be 41 years old and I think that will be the moment,” referring to the tournament being his final bow on the biggest stage. He expects to play for “one or two more years,” which aligns perfectly with the 2026 tournament. His club contract with Al-Nassr runs until 2027, and he remains a goal-scoring figure for the Portugal national team, with Coach Roberto Martínez affirming that he selects Ronaldo based on his current performance and fitness, not just his past achievements.
Which Kenyan betting sites offer the best value for World Cup Multibets? F
International sites operating in Kenya like 1xBet (registration link) and 22Bet (registration link) offer the highest odds and permanent Accumulator Boosts (up to 70% extra winnings on successful ones with many legs). They are also known for Acca Insurance, which provides a refund or free bet if one leg of your multibet loses.
Has Kenya qualified for world cup 2026?
Unfortunately no. However, we have 9 African teams that have qualified with Senegal being the most favorited one. In fact, Kenya has never qualified for the World Cup. The closest we came was during the 1998 World Cup qualifiers under German coach Reinhardt Fabisch. The team led by the likes of Musa Otieno and Mike Okoth, managed a 1-1 draw in Nairobi against a star-studded Nigerian side that had Jay-Jay Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, and Emmanuel Amunike
When is the next world cup?
June 11 2026. It’s held every four years, with the exception of 1942 and 1946 due to World War II). FIFA World Cup, marks several firsts. It will be the first World Cup jointly hosted by three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament will expand from 32 teams to 48 teams with the new format featuring 12 groups of four teams, followed by a new Round of 32 knockout stage.
How to qualify for the club world cup?
Actually there are at least 5 ways of getting there. An easier way of explaining it is by “reversing” how a few of the teams qualified for the 2026 one.
USA, Canada and Mexico are hosts so they got an automatic qualification. African teams like Senegal and Nigeria qualified by winning the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, while European teams such as Germany and Spain earned their spots through their performance in the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League and domestic leagues. Other paths include winning continental competitions like the Copa Libertadores in South America, the AFC Champions League in Asia, or the OFC Champions League in Oceania.
How many teams qualify for world cup from africa
Africa will have 9 spots allocated for its teams, up from the previous 5 in the 32-team format.
