Group stage play in the 2026 World Cup is less than two weeks away. Group C brings a fascinating collection of teams, a mix of contenders and new faces. It wouldn’t be a shock to see the champion come out of this group. Let’s break down Group C with a preview of the four teams, predictions, best top goalscorer bets, and dark horses.
Group C Preview
Here’s a look at the odds to win Group C on the DraftKings Sportsbook:
Brazil has a commanding lead in the odds to win the group. Few teams can match the attacking talent the Seleçao boasts: Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, Matheus Cunha, Rodrygo, and Endrick will all see time in the top four of Carlo Ancelotti’s attack. It’s the rest of the team that gives pause; Bruno Guimarães is the only steady presence in the midfield with Casemiro aging. Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhaes form an elite center-back pairing, but the wing-backs are a big question. The group stage gives Ancelotti an opportunity to fill gaps in his team, but they can’t take these wins for granted.
Behind them are Morocco, the controversial champions of Africa. Putting aside the drama that led to their AFCON crown, Morocco is the dominant force on the continent, and a sneaky contender to win the entire tournament. Their strength starts with the wing-backs, bringing a potent duo between Noussair Mazraoui and Achraf Hakimi. The central defense is a bit of a question mark, but manager Walid Regragui has quality veterans at his disposal. Brahim Diaz gets all the attention in their attack, but Abdessamad Ezzalzouli is a quality attacker in his own right, and Youssef En-Nesyri gives them a strong veteran striker. The central midfield is a question as well, but Bilal El Khannouss has oodles of talent and could carry this group.
Scotland come in at third after a miracle qualification. On the back of Scott McTominay, the Scots pulled a huge upset over Denmark in the final UEFA qualification game to get into their first World Cup in 26 years. They’re strong in defense, especially on the wings, and McTominay can control the pace in midfield. John McGinn, the old standard in their attack, has been supplemented by Ché Adams and Ben Gannon-Doak. Though the odds are against them, they have the talent and the heart to swing an upset or two.
Haiti brings up the rear. While they’re extremely unlikely to advance beyond the group stage, being here in the first place is a tremendous accomplishment. In the midst of country-wide strife, the Haitian team advanced to the World Cup for the first time in 52 years. Simply setting foot on that pitch is a victory more valuable to the nation of Haiti than any trophy. No matter what happens, they’ll be leaving with their heads held high.
Now we know these squads a bit better. Let’s get into some predictions.
Group C Predictions
It’s awfully tough to pick against Brazil to win the group. But there are cracks: the central midfield and wide backs are definite concerns. They’re not so infallible as to think victory over the group is assured. That’s why I have my eyes on Morocco to win the group at +370; with the two teams facing off to begin the group stage, they have a chance to sucker punch Brazil and take command of the group. It’s tough to see Scotland as a serious dark horse to win the group, and I’d need much longer odds than +1000 to pull the trigger.
For top scorers, I love Raphinha to win the Golden Boot at +3000. He’s in great form for club and country, netting five goals in the CONMEBOL qualifiers. The Barcelona forward is looking to avenge a 2022 World Cup run where he was held off the scoresheet. If Brazil can make a deep run in the tournament, Raphinha will be finding the back of the net.
