The 2026 FIFA World Cup Futures Market is Exploding, Now It’s Portugal on the Rise
Ronaldo back one more time...
The money is moving fast.
Prediction market platform Polymarket has already generated over $245 million in World Cup trading volume in just 10 days, a staggering pace compared to the nearly 11 months it previously took the market to surpass $1 billion in total lifetime volume — a milestone first reported by OddsLink on Sunday.
The surge reflects growing mainstream interest in World Cup betting markets as sportsbooks, prediction exchanges, and crypto-based platforms continue to collide ahead of the biggest tournament in football history.
And right now, no team is attracting more momentum than Portugal.
Portugal has surged to 11 cents on Polymarket — up roughly 2% in less than 48 hours — following reports that Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to return for one final World Cup run. The move has pushed Portugal dangerously close to overtaking England as the tournament’s third betting favorite behind France and Spain.
The hype is understandable.
Portugal enters 2026 with one of the deepest squads in international football. Alongside Ronaldo, the roster is loaded with elite talent including Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leão, João Neves, Vitinha, Bernardo Silva, and Rúben Dias. After years of underachieving despite world-class talent, bettors appear convinced this could finally be the tournament where Portugal puts everything together.
England, meanwhile, remains one of the market’s most respected teams despite recent tournament heartbreak. The Three Lions reached the semifinals in 2018, the Euro final in 2021, and the quarterfinals in 2022 before falling to France. With Jude Bellingham now emerging as a global superstar alongside Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, and Declan Rice, England still possesses arguably the most balanced young core in world football.
At the top of the board, France and Spain continue to dominate futures markets.
France skyrocketed from 10 Cents to 18 Cents in the last two months, meanwhile Spain has been the favorite in both Vegas and the Markets for much of the year.
France remains loaded with world-class depth and tournament pedigree after reaching consecutive World Cup finals in 2018 and 2022, while Spain’s young golden generation has quickly become the market favorite following dominant performances at Euro 2024 and throughout qualifying.
But with money now flooding into Portugal, the World Cup futures race may be shifting in real time.
