Previously we’ve look at the FanTeam World Cup game rules, now we look at which countries to target based on fixture difficulty ratings and betting odds. In a later article we’ll highlight which players to consider. FanTeam’s Fantasy World Cup Season Game has a £100,000 guaranteed prize pool and a £10 buy-in. The game starts on 11th June 2026 and gives managers the chance to build a full 15-man squad for the tournament, using a 110m budget. FanTeam’s game is 18+ only – please play responsibly. BeGambleAware. T&Cs apply. For more discussion, team planning and strategy chat, visit FISO’s FanTeam Forum.
Tier 1 – Primary Nations to Target
🇪🇸 Spain (9/2 Tournament Favourite)
| GW | Opponent | FDR | Opponent Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| GW1 | Cape Verde | 🟢 Green | 2000/1 |
| GW2 | Saudi Arabia | 🟢 Green | 1000/1 |
| GW3 | Uruguay | 🟢 Green | 66/1 |
Summary
- Best outright odds in the tournament.
- Three green fixtures.
- Two very weak opponents.
- Uruguay are respectable so possibly less chance of Spain’s main assets being rested in GW3.
Fantasy View: The safest team to build around. Spain attackers, defenders and goalkeeper all look viable.
🇧🇷 Brazil (8/1)
| GW | Opponent | FDR | Opponent Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| GW1 | Morocco | 🔴 Red | 50/1 |
| GW2 | Haiti | 🟢 Green | 2500/1 |
| GW3 | Scotland | 🟢 Green | 250/1 |
Summary
- One tricky opener.
- Followed by arguably the easiest GW2 fixture in the tournament.
- Scotland should also be heavily outclassed.
Fantasy View: Potentially the highest-scoring attack across GW1-GW3.
🇦🇷 Argentina (8/1)
| GW | Opponent | FDR | Opponent Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| GW1 | Algeria | 🟢 Green | 400/1 |
| GW2 | Austria | 🟢 Green | 150/1 |
| GW3 | Jordan | 🟢 Green | 2500/1 |
Summary
- Three green fixtures.
- No genuinely difficult opponent.
- Jordan one of the weakest teams in the competition.
Fantasy View: Possibly the best all-round fixture run in the entire tournament.
🇫🇷 France (5/1)
| GW | Opponent | FDR | Opponent Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| GW1 | Senegal | 🟢 Green | 125/1 |
| GW2 | Iraq | 🟢 Green | 1500/1 |
| GW3 | Norway | 🟢 Green | 25/1 |
Summary
- Second favourites behind Spain.
- Three green fixtures.
- Norway are a dangerous side but still clear underdogs.
Fantasy View: Strong captaincy options every gameweek.
🏴 England (6/1)
| GW | Opponent | FDR | Opponent Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| GW1 | Croatia | 🟢 Green | 80/1 |
| GW2 | Ghana | 🟢 Green | 400/1 |
| GW3 | Panama | 🟢 Green | 1500/1 |
Summary
- Three green fixtures.
- Panama and Ghana are particularly attractive opponents.
- Croatia are ageing and no longer among the elite nations.
Fantasy View: England assets should remain relevant throughout the group stage.
Tier 2 – Secondary Nations
🇩🇪 Germany (14/1)
| GW | Opponent | FDR | Opponent Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| GW1 | Curacao | 🟢 Green | 3500/1 |
| GW2 | Ivory Coast | 🟢 Green | 300/1 |
| GW3 | Ecuador | 🟢 Green | 100/1 |
Summary
- Softest group on paper.
- Curacao are the rank outsider of the entire World Cup.
- Germany may not be as strong as Spain or France but the fixtures are superb.
Fantasy View: Germany vs Curacao is one of the standout captaincy opportunities of GW1.
🇵🇹 Portugal (10/1)
| GW | Opponent | FDR | Opponent Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| GW1 | Congo DR | 🟢 Green | 750/1 |
| GW2 | Uzbekistan | 🟢 Green | 1500/1 |
| GW3 | Colombia | 🟠 Orange | 33/1 |
Summary
- Two excellent opening fixtures.
- Tougher GW3.
- Portugal’s players may be especially attractive for GW1-GW2 targeting.
Fantasy View: Strong short-term investment.
🇧🇪 Belgium (33/1)
| GW | Opponent | FDR | Opponent Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| GW1 | Egypt | 🟢 Green | 300/1 |
| GW2 | Iran | 🟢 Green | 500/1 |
| GW3 | New Zealand | 🟢 Green | 2500/1 |
Summary
- Best fixture run outside the elite nations.
- New Zealand are among the weakest teams in the competition.
- Belgium’s issue is their own quality rather than the opposition.
Fantasy View: Could offer outstanding value if priced attractively.
Combined “Fixture Strength Score”
Balancing outright odds and group fixtures:
| Rank | Team | Odds | FDR Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 9/2 | 🟢🟢🟢 |
| 2 | Argentina | 8/1 | 🟢🟢🟢 |
| 3 | France | 5/1 | 🟢🟢🟢 |
| 4 | England | 6/1 | 🟢🟢🟢 |
| 5 | Brazil | 8/1 | 🔴🟢🟢 |
| 6 | Germany | 14/1 | 🟢🟢🟢 |
| 7 | Portugal | 10/1 | 🟢🟢🟠 |
| 8 | Belgium | 33/1 | 🟢🟢🟢 |
Fixtures That Jump Off the Page
| GW | Fixture | Team Odds | Opponent Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| GW1 | Germany vs Curacao | 14/1 | 3500/1 |
| GW1 | Spain vs Cape Verde | 9/2 | 2000/1 |
| GW1 | Portugal vs Congo DR | 10/1 | 750/1 |
| GW2 | Brazil vs Haiti | 8/1 | 2500/1 |
| GW2 | France vs Iraq | 5/1 | 1500/1 |
| GW2 | Portugal vs Uzbekistan | 10/1 | 1500/1 |
| GW3 | Argentina vs Jordan | 8/1 | 2500/1 |
| GW3 | Belgium vs New Zealand | 33/1 | 2500/1 |
| GW3 | England vs Panama | 6/1 | 1500/1 |
By Gameweek
GW1 (11–17 June)
Best fixtures
- Germany vs Curacao
- Spain vs Cape Verde
- Portugal vs Congo DR
Next tier
- Argentina vs Algeria (400/1)
- England vs Croatia (80/1)
- France vs Senegal (125/1)
- Brazil vs Morocco (50/1) – tougher than the others
Early favourite captaincy nations: Germany, Spain, Portugal.
GW2 (18–24 June)
Best fixtures
- Brazil vs Haiti
- France vs Iraq
- Portugal vs Uzbekistan
Next tier
- Spain vs Saudi Arabia (1000/1)
- England vs Ghana (400/1)
- Argentina vs Austria (150/1)
- Germany vs Ivory Coast (300/1)
Favourite captaincy nations: Brazil, France, Spain.
GW3 (25–28 June)
Best fixtures
- Argentina vs Jordan
- Belgium vs New Zealand
- England vs Panama
Next tier
- Germany vs Ecuador (100/1)
- France vs Norway (25/1)
- Spain vs Uruguay (66/1)
- Brazil vs Scotland (250/1)
Favourite captaincy nations: Argentina, England, Belgium.
FanTeam Allows Captain Changes Each GW
An ideal premium captaincy rotation based purely on fixtures could be:
| GW | Captain Nation |
|---|---|
| GW1 | Germany |
| GW2 | Brazil |
| GW3 | Argentina |
with Spain and England providing excellent alternatives in every round.
That rotation gives you:
- Germany vs Curacao (3500/1 outsider)
- Brazil vs Haiti (2500/1 outsider)
- Argentina vs Jordan (2500/1 outsider)
which are arguably the three most attractive attacking fixtures of the entire group stage.
FanTeam’s Fantasy 2026 World Cup Season Game looks like a tactical fantasy contest with enough moving parts to reward planning and if well planned can add to the enjoyment of watching the matches.