With the FIFA World Cup landing in North America this summer, Americans all over the country will get the chance to bet on soccer played on their home turf. The closest it gets to Iowa will be the games played in Kansas City, Missouri, but viewers from every state will be tuning in at kick off. If you’re one of them, then here are the early favorites expected to put on a show.

France is Ranked #1

By the numbers, France is the team to beat. Their men’s team is currently ranked at #1 in FIFA’s own rankings, leading by 1877.32. They’re closely followed by Spain and Argentina, so don’t be surprised if they tussle for the top spot before the cup visits the States. However, only France has Kylian Mbappé who has grown into a smart, renaissance forward who isn’t weighed down by age just yet.

The momentum seems to be with them, having recently beat another high ranker, Brazil, in pre-tournament friendlies. This has made them the early favorite to go the distance and take the World Cup. Both new and seasoned bettors will be watching them closely to see if they meet expectations, with bonus codes available from most sportsbooks for sign-ups. For example, they could use this ScoreBet promo to get started today with a first bet reset that caps out at $1,000. Those kinds of bonuses let newcomers try their hand at betting on sports and see if they like it.

There are other reasons some are betting on France as the favorite, like the fact it’ll be head coach Didier Deschamps last tournament. Between the World Cup and several UEFA events, he has a decade of reaching at least the semifinals, and many fans would love him to bow out on a high note.

Argentina Are The Reigning Champions

There are two big reasons why Argentina is one of the frontrunners to win the World Cup. The first is that they won the last one in 2022, leaving France in second place. The second reason is Lionel Messi, who was crowned best player in 2022 despite being outscored by Kylian Mbappé. If it comes down to an Argentina vs France showdown again, history is on Argentina’s side.

That said, Messi is four years older now, at an age where every birthday comes at a physical cost. He’s surely depreciated since 2022, but he’s still a far sight better than most soccer players who get close to 40.

Away from the star of the team, Argentina also benefits from a Group J placement. That pits them against Algeria, Austria, and Jordan for the first round which should be very, very easy for them.

Ancelotti’s Brazil is The Wild Card

Almost a full year ago, legendary coach Carlo Ancelotti surprised pundits when he left European football to coach Brazil’s national team. Having made his legacy as one of the most successful coaches in Europe, he’s now lending his uncompromising know-how to South America instead. Extensive strategic overhauls followed, emphasizing rigid teamwork over a looser approach that put more pressure on individual players.

Put simply, he’s European-izing Brazil’s national team and could unlock new talent in them. We also have the question mark that is Neymar hanging over the whole situation. Ancelotti won’t play him if he’s not ready, and we don’t know if he’ll be there yet. If he does make it, then Brazil will have their own legacy star player on the pitch. His impact won’t be as strong nowadays, but it’d be great for morale.

While these three countries stand out at the moment, never forget that other top-ranking teams like Spain and England are waiting in the wings. They’ll be sure to punish the others if they slip up. In the meantime, France, Argentina, and Brazil are the ones to watch.