As the FIFA World Cup is the biggest football tournament between national teams and the 2026 World Cup will be hosted in the United States‚ Canada, and Mexico‚ there are many questions about who will be the next champion after the world champions Argentina․ Traditional powers France‚ Spain‚ England, and Brazil have all expressed the desire to dethrone the 2022 champions. This article will show youthe World Cup champions list and 2026 World Cup favorites‚ as well as how to use MCW Philippines for football betting to give you a better experience.
World Cup Champions List (6 Most Recent Tournaments)
The most recent 6 FIFA World Cup finals are (year, host, champion, runner-up, score):
| Year | Host Nation | Champion | Runner-up | Final Score |
| 2022 | Qatar | Argentina | France | 3-3 (4-2 on penalties) |
| 2018 | Russia | France | Croatia | 4-2 |
| 2014 | Brazil | Germany | Argentina | 1-0 (extra time) |
| 2010 | South Africa | Spain | Netherlands | 1-0 (extra time) |
| 2006 | Germany | Italy | France | 1-1 (5-3 on penalties) |
| 2002 | Japan/South Korea | Brazil | Germany | 2-0 |
Quick Facts About These 6 Champions
- Argentina (2022), their third World Cup win and maybe Lionel Messi’s last World Cup, kinda pushed it into one of the most memorable finals‚ this time vs France․
- In 2018‚ France became 2nd time World Cup winners‚ with Didier Deschamps the second person to win the tournament as both a player (1998) and as a manager (2018)․
- Germany (2014) ‘s extra-time goal in Rio de Janeiro helped it to a fourth overall championship (including its time as West Germany)․
- Spain (2010): Andrés Iniesta’s 116th-minute winner against the Netherlands in the final saw Spain win their first World Cup.
- Italy (2006): Their fourth title came against France, whom they defeated in a penalty shoot-out after Zinedine Zidane’s red card for head-butting Marco Materazzi in the final.
- Brazil (2002): Having infamously underperformed in the 1998 final, Ronaldo scored twice against Germany to give Brazil its 5th and record World Cup victory in 2002.
These are the 6 tournaments that preceded the 2026 World Cup, which is currently being contested in the United States, Canada plus Mexico.
Current Favorites to Win the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final will be between Spain and Argentina.
Following two exciting semifinals, the final is set between Spain and Argentina, meeting for the first time in a World Cup final. The match will be played at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey in the United States on Sunday, 19 July 2026, after Spain defeated France 2-0 and Argentina narrowly overcame England 2-1 in Dallas and Atlanta, respectively.
Spain’s journey to the final
- Semifinal: Beat France 2-0 at Dallas Stadium
- Quarterfinal, beat Belgium 2-1, as Mikel Marino scored his second straight winning goal, right at the right moment.
- Round of 16: defeated Portugal 1-0, which finished it and sent Cristiano Ronaldo home, no arguments.
- Round of 32: routed Austria 3-0, pretty straightforward.
- Star Player: Lamine Yamal (still no goals in the knockout stages) is always a real goal threat.
Road to the Final: Argentina
- Semifinal: Defeated England 2-1 at the Atlanta Stadium
- Quarterfinal: beat Switzerland 3-1
- Round of 16: Defeated Egypt 3-2 (after extra time)
- Round of 32: Beat Cape Verde 3-2
- Messi is the top goalscorer of the tournament with 8 goals and 2 assists, and the all-time World Cup goalscorer with 21 career goals
Final Match Details
- When: Sunday, July 19, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. ET
- Where: MetLife Stadium (New York New Jersey Stadium), East Rutherford, New Jersey
- TV: FOX
- Streaming:FOX One
Why This Final Matters
It will also be the first World Cup finals match between Spain and Argentina, as well as the first meeting between Lamine Yamal and Argentine captain Lionel Messi, with Yamal being the new Spanish golden boy, and Messi being the longtime Argentine captain. Two decades after a photo of a young Lamine Yamal posing alongside Messi was taken for a photo used in an advertisement, both will be competing for football’s biggest prize.
Ahead of the final, Spain and Argentina are evenly matched in the betting market, with Spain seen as the strongest team in the tournament after eliminating France (the pre-tournament AI favorite), and Argentina seen as the defending champions, having three wins in extra time in the knockout.
Football Betting on MCW Philippines
Its sports betting brand, MCW Philippines (or MCW Casino Philippines), offers a full range of football betting markets, including the Football World Cup, aimed at football fans in the Philippines and Asia.
Reasons You Should Bet on Football with MCW Philippines
- Betting is available on the outright winner, match updates, correct score, and live in-play betting
- Competitive Odds: MCW Philippines‘ odds are those of some of the biggest sportsbooks internationally.
- Secure Platform: Your transactions are protected, and your gaming is regulated by a license.
- Mobile-Friendly: MCW offers a mobile-compatible web interface.
- Local Payment Options: Popular Philippine payment methods for smooth deposits and withdrawals are available
Popular World Cup Betting Markets on MCW
- Outright Winner: Bet on which country will win the tournament (France, Argentina, Spain, etc.)
- Match Result: Back your favorite team to win individual matches
- Over/Under Goals: Predict whether each match’s number of goals will be more or fewer than a specified number
- Both Teams to Score: Will both teams score at least one goal
- Correct Score: Predicting the precise score is rewarded with larger payouts
- Live Betting: Bet as the event is happening
Getting started with MCW Philippines.
- Register: Create an account on mcwcasinophilippines.org
- Deposit: Fund your account using the available payment methods
- Click on Sports, then football and select your World Cup markets from there
- Place Your Bets: Then select the markets and stake you want to bet on
Watch & Win: Watch the matches and see the bets unfold live.
Responsible Gambling Notice: Only gamble within your means and always consider football betting as a source of entertainment, not as a means of income. MCW Philippines provides responsible gambling guidelines.
FAQ
Which nation has won the most World Cups?
Brazil have won the most World Cups (5)‚ in 1958‚ 1962‚ 1970‚ 1994 and 2002‚ ahead of Germany and Italy‚ both with 4.
Who are the defenders of the World Cup?
Argentina are the reigning champions‚ having beaten France 4-2 on penalties following a 3-3 draw after extra time in the 2022 final in Qatar․
Who’s The Favorite For The 2026 FIFA World Cup?
As of July 2026‚ France and Spain are the heavy betting favorites to win the tournament‚ with Argentina‚ England, and Brazil considered next in line․ Artificial Intelligence computer models also slightly favor France with 18․66% to win‚ according to the Opta supercomputer.
Is gambling on the World Cup legal in the Philippines?
Betting sites like MCW Philippines offer outright World Cup champion as well as World Cup matches․ In-play betting is also available‚ but be sure to always bet with a licensed and regulated website.
When will the final of the 2026 World Cup be?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is set to be played at the MetLife Stadium‚ New Jersey‚ United States‚ on 19 July 2026․
