So your team didn’t make it. They’ve been sent home from the World Cup, and now you’re left wondering whether there’s any reason to keep watching. Good news — there absolutely is.
Sure, cheering for a team that isn’t your own might feel a little strange, but we’re not here to judge. Instead, we’ve put together a guide to all eight quarterfinalists so you can find a new squad to get behind. We’ve included the latest betting odds from U.S. sportsbooks as of Wednesday, along with the fan chants you’ll need to blend right in. Here are your eight choices, listed alphabetically.
ARGENTINA
ODDS OF WINNING IT ALL: +400 (bet $10, win $40)
STAR PLAYER: Lionel Messi — you may have heard of him.
WHAT TO KNOW: Argentina is chasing history, aiming to become the first country to defend the men’s World Cup title since Brazil accomplished the feat back in 1962. Messi holds the record as the tournament’s all-time top scorer with 21 goals and has already found the net eight times in this year’s competition — the most of any player.
FAN CHANT: “Vamos, vamos Argentina” (“Let’s go, Argentina”)
PICK THIS TEAM IF YOU ENJOY: Safe bets, flavorful steak, and extraordinarily gifted No. 10s.
BELGIUM
ODDS OF WINNING IT ALL: 30-1 (bet $10, win $300)
STAR PLAYERS: Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois
WHAT TO KNOW: Belgium knocked the United States out in the round of 16 — a result that many felt carried extra weight given that President Donald Trump had stepped in to help get Folarin Balogun back into the U.S. lineup ahead of that match. Few expected much from Belgium coming into the tournament, given that so many of their longtime veterans were no longer on the squad.
FAN CHANT: “Waar is dat feestje” (“Where is the party”) or “Tous ensemble” (“All together”)
PICK THIS TEAM IF YOU ENJOY: Waffles, chocolate, memorable goal celebrations, and golden generations that never quite deliver.
ENGLAND
ODDS OF WINNING IT ALL: +450 (bet $10, win $45)
STAR PLAYERS: Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham
WHAT TO KNOW: It doesn’t come up often, but England’s men’s national team has not claimed a major international title since the 1966 World Cup. The English may have invented the sport, but they’ve rarely been the ones setting the standard.
FAN CHANT: “It’s coming home”
PICK THIS TEAM IF YOU ENJOY: Oasis, lions, fish and chips, and decades of heartbreak.
FRANCE
ODDS OF WINNING IT ALL: +180 (bet $10, win $18)
STAR PLAYERS: Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise
WHAT TO KNOW: France took the title in 2018, came in second in 2022, and enters this year as many people’s top pick. Their outgoing coach, Didier Deschamps, already has a legendary résumé — he lifted the trophy as France’s captain in 1998 and then led the team to another championship two decades later.
FAN CHANT: “Allez les bleus” (“Go Blues”)
PICK THIS TEAM IF YOU ENJOY: Baguettes, iconic towers, Champagne, and a ferocious attacking style.
MOROCCO
ODDS OF WINNING IT ALL: 27-1 (bet $10, win $270)
STAR PLAYERS: Achraf Hakimi, Yassine Bounou
WHAT TO KNOW: Morocco made history in 2022 by becoming the first African or Arab nation ever to reach the World Cup semifinals — a landmark moment for the sport. Now they have a chance to repeat that achievement, though they’ll have to get past France, the very team that ended their run four years ago.
FAN CHANT: “Dima Maghrib” (“Morocco Forever”)
PICK THIS TEAM IF YOU ENJOY: Deserts, open-air markets, and rooting for the underdog.
NORWAY
ODDS OF WINNING IT ALL: 14-1 (bet $10, win $140)
STAR PLAYERS: Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard
WHAT TO KNOW: Norway is competing in their first men’s World Cup since 1998 and has never advanced this deep into the tournament. Their supporters — both inside the stadiums and back home — have become well known for their energetic Viking Row routines.
FAN CHANT: “Ro! Ro!” (“Row! Row!”)
PICK THIS TEAM IF YOU ENJOY: Rowing, Snapchat, towering blond strikers, and upsets over Brazil.
SPAIN
ODDS OF WINNING IT ALL: +360 (bet $10, win $36)
STAR PLAYERS: Lamine Yamal, Rodri
WHAT TO KNOW: Spain has not allowed a single goal through five matches in this tournament. Their standout winger, Yamal, was just 16 years old when he helped Spain win the European Championship in 2024. He turns 19 on Monday — practically a veteran by his standards.
FAN CHANT: “Lolololo”
PICK THIS TEAM IF YOU ENJOY: Tapas, shutouts, possession-based soccer, and gifted young wingers.
SWITZERLAND
ODDS OF WINNING IT ALL: 30-1 or longer depending on the sportsbook — making them the longest shot of the group.
STAR PLAYERS: Granit Xhaka, Johan Manzambi
WHAT TO KNOW: Switzerland has long been a steady presence at the European Championship, and now they’re finally making their mark on the World Cup stage. This marks the first time in 72 years the Swiss have reached the quarterfinals. They are notoriously difficult to beat within 90 minutes.
FAN CHANT: “Hopp Schwiiz” or “Hop Suisse” (“Go Switzerland”)
PICK THIS TEAM IF YOU ENJOY: Roger Federer, countries with multiple official languages, cowbells, and reliable public transportation.
