World Cup: Each of the Three Favourites’ Likely Route to the Final

Heartbreak for England is a constant on the big stage…

+700 to bring home a World Cup for the first time since 1966 ??????? pic.twitter.com/oO0cPRYomD

— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) June 4, 2026

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They must navigate perennial banana skin Croatia in their opening game, before then facing Ghana and Panama in Group L, a quartet that they’re 1/4 favourite to top. They will also face one of the best-placed third-place teams in Atlanta on July 1st, before gearing up for a likely clash against tournament co-hosts Mexico in front of thousands of Mexicans at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. 

The task gets no easier in the quarterfinals as the Three Lions will likely gear up for a clash with Brazil in a repeat of their 2002 quarterfinal. They will then probably face one of their two modern rivals in the semi-finals, either Argentina or Portugal, with those two set to square off in the quarterfinals and the winner facing England in the semis.