If your home country’s team has already been eliminated from the 2026 Men’s World Cup, continuing to watch the knockout stages can feel purposeless without a team to root for. For many soccer fans, switching support to a side that isn’t your national team feels unthinkable. But there is no shame in wanting to keep enjoying the world’s biggest sporting event – and this guide is here to help you pick a new favorite from the eight remaining quarterfinalists, complete with official tournament betting odds sourced from a consensus of leading U.S. sportsbooks as of Wednesday, key team details, and iconic fan chants to help you cheer along. The teams are listed below in alphabetical order:
### Argentina
Odds to win the World Cup: +400 (a $10 bet returns $40 in profit for a win)
Star Player: Lionel Messi (yes, *that* Lionel Messi)
What to know: Argentina is gunning for back-to-back men’s World Cup titles, a feat no nation has pulled off since Brazil claimed consecutive championships in 1958 and 1962. Messi, the global icon leading the side, is already the men’s World Cup’s all-time top goalscorer with 21 career tournament goals, and leads all players at this year’s edition with eight goals to date.
Iconic fan chant: “Vamos, vamos Argentina” (“Let’s go, Argentina”)
Choose Argentina if you love: Safe title contenders, flavorful South American steak, and generational talent wearing the iconic No. 10 jersey.
—
### Belgium
Odds to win the World Cup: 30-1 (a $10 bet returns $300 in profit for a win)
Star Players: Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois
What to know: Belgium knocked the United States out of the tournament in the round of 16, a result many fans around the world viewed as poetic justice after former U.S. President Donald Trump intervened publicly to push for Folarin Balogun’s inclusion in the U.S. starting lineup for the match. Entering this World Cup, expectations were low for Belgium, as most of the veteran players that defined its “golden generation” have aged out of the squad.
Iconic fan chants: “Waar is dat feestje” (“Where is the party”) or “Tous ensemble” (“All together”)
Choose Belgium if you love: Belgian waffles, artisanal chocolate, viral on-field dance celebrations, and long-running golden generations that consistently outperform expectations.
—
### England
Odds to win the World Cup: +450 (a $10 bet returns $45 in profit for a win)
Star Players: Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham
What to know: It is a fact that rarely gets highlighted, but England’s senior men’s national team has not won a major international tournament since hosting and claiming the 1966 World Cup. Despite inventing the modern game of soccer, England has rarely claimed the sport’s top prize despite consistent deep runs in recent tournaments.
Iconic fan chant: “It’s coming home”
Choose England if you love: Britpop, lions, classic fish and chips, and rooting for a side that has carried decades of near-miss heartbreak.
—
### France
Odds to win the World Cup: +180 (a $10 bet returns $18 in profit for a win)
Star Players: Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise
What to know: France claimed the 2018 World Cup title and finished as runners-up in 2022, making them the consensus favorite to lift the trophy this year. Didier Deschamps, the team’s departing head coach, is already a legend of the tournament: he won the World Cup as France’s captain in 1998, then led the side to the title 20 years later as head coach.
Iconic fan chant: “Allez les bleus” (“Go Blues”)
Choose France if you love: Traditional baguettes, the Eiffel Tower, fine Champagne, and one of the most fearsome attacking lines in the tournament.
—
### Morocco
Odds to win the World Cup: 27-1 (a $10 bet returns $270 in profit for a win)
Star Players: Achraf Hakimi, Yassine Bounou
What to know: Four years ago in Qatar, Morocco made history as the first African and Arab nation to reach a men’s World Cup semifinal, a transformative moment for global soccer. They have matched that run this year, and now have a chance to go one step further – but first, they must get past France, the same side that knocked them out of the 2022 tournament in the semifinal stage.
Iconic fan chant: “Dima Maghrib” (“Morocco Forever”)
Choose Morocco if you love: Sahara desert landscapes, bustling traditional souks, and rooting for a tenacious underdog.
—
### Norway
Odds to win the World Cup: 14-1 (a $10 bet returns $140 in profit for a win)
Star Players: Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard
What to know: This is Norway’s first appearance in a men’s World Cup since 1998, and the first time the side has ever advanced to the quarterfinal stage of the tournament. Norwegian fans, both inside tournament stadiums and back home, have become famous for their raucous “Viking Row” supporter celebrations that have gone viral throughout the tournament.
Iconic fan chant: “Ro! Ro!” (“Row! Row!”)
Choose Norway if you love: rowing, viral social media trends, towering world-class strikers, and upsets over powerhouse Brazil.
—
### Spain
Odds to win the World Cup: +360 (a $10 bet returns $36 in profit for a win)
Star Players: Lamine Yamal, Rodri
What to know: Spain holds a unique record at this year’s tournament: the side has not conceded a single goal across five matches heading into the quarterfinals. Their breakout star is winger Lamine Yamal, who was just 16 when he helped Spain win the 2024 European Championship, and will turn 19 the day after their quarterfinal match.
Iconic fan chant: “Lolololo”
Choose Spain if you love: Spanish tapas, clean sheets, possession-focused soccer, and generational young talent on the wing.
—
### Switzerland
Odds to win the World Cup: 30-1 or longer, the longest odds of any quarterfinalist across most sportsbooks
Star Players: Granit Xhaka, Johan Manzambi
What to know: Switzerland has long been a consistent contender at the European Championship, but this year marks the first time the side has advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals in 72 years. They are notoriously difficult to beat within 90 minutes of regulation play.
Iconic fan chants: “Hopp Schwiiz” (German) or “Hop Suisse” (French), both meaning “Go Switzerland”
Choose Switzerland if you love: tennis legend Roger Federer, multilingual national culture, more cowbell, progressive immigration policy, and efficient high-quality public transport.