The 2026 World Cup stage is set and the bookmakers' odds have got everyone talking – but it's Norway who's stealing the show as punters put their faith in the underdogs. In a shocking revelation, England has attracted just half the number of bets to win the trophy compared to Norway, with Thomas Tuchel's squad accounting for only 5% of all betting tickets processed by Sportradar – a global sports data intelligence powerhouse.
No one saw this coming! Norway, led by Manchester City's strike sensation Erling Haaland, has garnered an incredible 10% of all bets on the World Cup winner. And what's more astonishing is that this Scandinavian team has only been to three quarters of the finals in history – their last appearance being way back in 1998, where they failed to progress beyond the last 16 stage.
It seems a significant chunk of punters from Norway and its surrounding regions have put their faith in Haaland's squad, with around 70% of bets coming from within Nordic borders. The remaining wagers are spread across various global regions. What's surprising is that despite being outsiders with odds ranging from 28/1 to 40/1, Norway has been backed more than any nation except France, Portugal, and Spain – albeit at significantly shorter odds.
But what's behind England's slipping share of the World Cup winner market? It's dropped from a respectable 8% in April to just 5%, placing them third favourites behind France and Spain. Sportradar's SVP Managed Trading Services Darren Small weighs in, "With the tournament underway, fans are responding to team performances on the pitch. England haven't even kicked off yet – their odds have drifted. It'll be fascinating to see how punters react after Wednesday's match."
Despite the lack of faith in a World Cup triumph for the Three Lions, football fans worldwide still expect an England win against Croatia. In fact, approximately 60% of the one million betting tickets handled by Sportradar are backing an England victory – showing that while overall tournament success is doubted, immediate match performance remains a key focus.