As World Cup Kicks Off, Brazil Narrowly Favored to Win It All

There are 32 teams playing in the World Cup, but only a few of those squads actually have a serious chance of winning the thing.

The first of those is Brazil, a team that, according to FiveThirtyEight, has a 19 percent chance of emerging victorious from the World Cup. “Neymar, the world’s most expensive player, is back from injury, the midfield has a blue collar tint and the goalkeeper, Allisson, is one of the best around,” ESPN writes. “These are men on a mission.”

Right behind Brazil, however, with a 17 percent chance of winning the Cup, is Spain. The Spanish team enters the tourney with a brand-new coach but a recent World Cup pedigree—they won in 2010—and plenty of talent.

With 13 percent odds, Germany is trying to win back-to-back Cups for the first time since Pele’s Brazil accomplished the feat in 1958 and 1962. It won’t be easy, but Germany has reached the final four in each of the past four World Cups.

Following those three teams is France (eight percent chance), followed by Argentina, England, and Belgium (all with a seven percent chance).

Russia, the host nation, is given only a one percent chance to win.

Meet your guide

Evan Bleier

Evan is a senior editor with InsideHook who earned a master’s degree in journalism from NYU and has called Brooklyn home since 2006. A fan of Boston sports, Nashville hot chicken and Kentucky bourbon, Evan has had his work published in publications including “Maxim,” Bleacher Report and “The Daily Mail.”