Soccer fans — I’ve got genuinely great news for you. The world’s biggest sporting event is coming to our backyard. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is headed to North America, and my hometown Kansas City is one of the 11 host cities. That alone would be enough to get me fired up, but this tournament isn’t just coming here — it’s coming here bigger than ever.
FIFA has expanded the field to 48 teams, meaning we’ll get a record 104 matches across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It’s massive. And thanks to Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook, you can already wager on the entire tournament — futures, group winners, individual matches, all of it.
The favorites are predictable but powerful: defending champion Argentina, along with European giants England, France, and Spain, plus five-time champs Brazil. But the dark horses are fascinating. Norway, led by the most unstoppable striker in the world in Erling Haaland. Colombia, Morocco, Japan — all teams no one should overlook. And of course, because of the home-field edge, Mexico, Canada, and the United States will be expected to make serious noise.
Why I Love the United States Draw
Here’s something I really like — and something that has a great chance to happen. The United States got a great group draw.
They face:
- Australia
- Paraguay
- And a TBD playoff winner
That’s Group D. And right now, the U.S. sits at +120 odds to win their group.
Let me repeat that: U.S. +120 to finish first in Group D.
I like that a lot.
Australia is scrappy but limited. Paraguay is volatile. And whoever enters as the playoff winner won’t have the talent the U.S. has. The Americans have athleticism, continuity, and — for the first time in a long time — legitimate depth.
Once the full group is finalized, we’re going to do a ton of World Cup discussion on the show, but even before that, this is one of my favorite early futures plays on the board.
The U.S. winning Group D is not some patriotic leap of faith — it’s a realistic wager at plus money.
Another Early Bet I’m Eyeing
There is one more group I’m curious about — not a long shot, but not the favorite either.
Colombia to win Group K at +250.
Colombia has been quietly building something intriguing: a mix of young dynamism and experienced playmakers, plus a style that historically translates really well in tournament formats. +250 is juicy, and I would absolutely consider it.
But again, my favorite early play is still the U.S. in Group D.
A Tournament Built for Betting
Hard Rock Bet is already loaded with markets:
- Every first-round match
- Group winners
- Top scorer (Golden Boot)
- USA Top Scorer
- Future champion odds
- Ronaldo vs Messi
There are hundreds of ways to bet each game, and a massive futures menu. If you’re planning to enjoy this tournament — and you should — Hard Rock Bet is going to be your home for next summer’s soccer festival.
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