Five-time champions
Brazil
Manager: Carlo Ancelotti · FIFA rank: 6 · Route: CONMEBOL fifth place · Last World Cup: 2022 · Best result: Winners (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)
The first World Cup of the Ancelotti era. After a difficult CONMEBOL qualifying campaign that finished fifth, Brazil arrive with question marks and the deepest attacking pool at the tournament. Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, Endrick, Martinelli, Neymar back in the squad — Ancelotti’s job is to make them defend like a team.
Key man: Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid) — the most decisive attacker in the squad when in form.
Betting angle: Group winner short, outright winner around fourth in the market. Vinicius and Raphinha anytime goalscorer markets are heavily backed.
Brazil full squad
GK: Alisson, Ederson (Fenerbahce), Weverton.
DF: Marquinhos, Gabriel, Bremer, Ibanez, Leo Pereira, Danilo (Flamengo), Alex Sandro, Douglas Santos.
MF: Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes, Fabinho, Danilo (Botafogo), Lucas Paqueta, Ederson (Atalanta).
FW: Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, Matheus Cunha, Luiz Henrique, Igor Thiago, Endrick, Gabriel Martinelli, Rayan, Neymar.
Full Brazil pageTournament hub
2022 semi-finalists
Morocco
Manager: Mohamed Ouahbi · FIFA rank: 8 · Route: CAF Group E winners · Last World Cup: 2022 · Best result: Fourth place (2022)
Morocco arrive as the most credible challenger to Brazil for top spot. The 2022 semi-final run was no accident — Hakimi, Mazraoui, Amrabat and Brahim Diaz form an elite spine. Ouahbi took over from Regragui in 2025 and has kept the same low-block-high-press identity.
Key man: Achraf Hakimi (PSG) — the best wing-back in the tournament.
Betting angle: Morocco to qualify is short; Morocco to win the group is the value play if you think Brazil are wobbling under Ancelotti.
Morocco full squad
GK: Yassine Bounou, Munir Mohamedi, Ahmed Tagnaouti.
DF: Noussair Mazraoui, Anass Salah-Eddine, Youssef Belammari, Nayef Aguerd, Chadi Riad, Issa Diop, Redouane Halhal, Achraf Hakimi, Zakaria El Ouahdi.
MF: Samir El Mourabet, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui, Sofyan Amrabat, Azzedine Ounahi, Bilal El Khannouss, Ismael Saibari.
FW: Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, Chemsdine Talbi, Soufiane Rahimi, Ayoub El Kaabi, Brahim Diaz, Yassine Gessime, Ayoub Amaimouni-Echghouyabe.
First World Cup since 1998
Scotland
Manager: Steve Clarke · FIFA rank: 43 · Route: UEFA Group C winners · Last World Cup: 1998 · Best result: Group stage (eight previous appearances, no knockout round)
Scotland’s first World Cup in 28 years. Steve Clarke has built a side around Premier League and Serie A experience — McTominay at Napoli running the midfield, McGinn at Villa, Robertson and Tierney providing the experience, Adams and Dykes leading the line. Scotland will pick their moments to attack and otherwise frustrate.
Key man: Scott McTominay (Napoli) — the engine and the most-decisive Scottish midfielder.
Betting angle: The qualification price is the angle — not the group winner. Scotland to qualify from third looks the play.
Scotland full squad
GK: Craig Gordon, Angus Gunn, Liam Kelly.
DF: Grant Hanley, Jack Hendry, Aaron Hickey, Dom Hyam, Scott McKenna, Nathan Patterson, Anthony Ralston, Andy Robertson, John Souttar, Kieran Tierney.
MF: Ryan Christie, Findlay Curtis, Lewis Ferguson, Ben Gannon-Doak, Tyler Fletcher, John McGinn, Kenny McLean, Scott McTominay.
FW: Che Adams, Lyndon Dykes, George Hirst, Lawrence Shankland, Ross Stewart.
First World Cup since 1974
Haiti
Manager: Sebastien Migne · FIFA rank: 83 · Route: CONCACAF Group C winners · Last World Cup: 1974 · Best result: Group stage (1974)
One of the great stories of the tournament. Haiti’s first World Cup in 52 years, and the squad is built around European-based players — Bellegarde at Wolves, Isidor at Sunderland, Delcroix at Lugano. The lowest-ranked side in the group on paper, but a side with nothing to lose and the freedom that comes with it.
Key man: Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (Wolves) — creator-in-chief.
Betting angle: Three-game tournament for Haiti realistically — backing the upset in the Scotland opener is the value angle.
Haiti full squad
GK: Johnny Placide, Alexandre Pierre, Josue Duverger.
DF: Carlens Arcus, Wilguens Pauguain, Duke Lacroix, Martin Experience, Jean-Kevin Duverne, Ricardo Ade, Hannes Delcroix, Keeto Thermoncy.
MF: Leverton Pierre, Carl-Fred Sainthe, Jean-Jacques Danley, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Pierre Woodenski, Dominique Simon.
FW: Louicius Deedson, Ruben Providence, Josue Casimir, Derrick Etienne, Wilson Isidor, Duckens Nazon, Frantzdy Pierrot, Yassin Fortune, Lenny Joseph.