World Cup Group C Preview: Betting Predictions & Team Analysis

Group C presents one of the biggest gaps in the 2026 World Cup betting odds. Brazil enter the tournament as one of the leading contenders to win it all, with the Seleção listed among the five nations priced under 10-1 to lift the trophy. On the other end of the spectrum, Haiti have the longest odds of any of the 48 teams in the competition.

Oddsmakers clearly see Brazil as the dominant team in this group, while Haiti are expected to have a difficult time earning even a single point from their three Group Stage matches.

Odds to Win Group C

Brazil -492
Morocco +471
Scotland +1259
Haiti +12622

Brazil being listed as the heavy favorite to win Group C is hardly surprising. The Seleção have finished first in their opening World Cup group in every tournament since 1978. While Brazil have not looked as explosive in recent years as they have in past eras, they have still advanced beyond the Group Stage in every World Cup since their shocking early exit in England in 1966.

Morocco, meanwhile, will try to build on their historic 2022 run. The Atlas Lions topped a difficult group that included Croatia and Belgium before stunning Spain and Portugal with outstanding defensive performances. That run eventually carried them all the way to the World Cup semifinals.

Odds to Win World Cup for Group C Teams

Brazil +900
Morocco +6000
Scotland +25000
Haiti +300652

Five-time World Cup champions Brazil have not matched their usual standard in the knockout rounds over the last several editions of the tournament. They have been eliminated in the quarterfinals in four of the last five World Cups.

Their most painful result during that stretch came at home in 2014, when Germany handed Brazil a stunning 7-1 defeat in the semifinals. That loss, remembered by many Brazilians as a “national shame,” ended Brazil’s 62-match unbeaten run at home in international competitions, a streak that had dated back to 1975.

Match Schedule

Team Previews

Brazil

Brazil will enter the 2026 World Cup under the direction of Carlo Ancelotti, one of the most successful managers in soccer history. The five-time Champions League-winning coach is the only manager to win league titles in each of Europe’s top five leagues, and he is now aiming to add a World Cup title to his résumé. Ancelotti left Real Madrid after the 2025 season to take charge of Brazil, marking his first job at the international level.

The Seleção remain one of the most talented teams in the world, even if this group may not be as loaded as some previous Brazilian squads. One area where Brazil look especially strong is goalkeeper. Liverpool’s Alisson and Fenerbahce’s Ederson give Brazil two of the top options in the world at the position. Goalkeeping has occasionally been a concern for Brazil in past tournaments, but that should not be an issue this time.

The back line is a much bigger concern. Center back Eder Militao has been ruled out after it was confirmed that he needs surgery and will not recover in time for the World Cup. His absence leaves Brazil with limited experienced options in defense. Captain Marquinhos remains a steady presence, but Danilo Luiz and Alex Sandro are no longer in peak form, and both recently moved from Juventus to Flamengo.

In midfield, Casemiro continues to be a key figure, while Bruno Guimaraes should also be part of the Starting XI as long as his lingering hamstring issue does not create further problems. Beyond those two, there is still uncertainty over who will complete Ancelotti’s midfield. Lucas Paqueta remains a possibility despite not being called up since November 2025, while Fabinho and young midfielder Andrey Santos could also be considered.

At forward, it now appears likely that Neymar will be left off the final roster. He has not been called up since suffering a serious knee injury in October 2023, and he has not returned to the same level since then. Instead, Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior is expected to be the main attacking figure for Brazil. During the last international window, Ancelotti did not select any forward older than 26, suggesting Brazil could rely heavily on younger attacking players.

Morocco

Morocco’s 2022 World Cup campaign was one of the great stories of the tournament. Before that run, Morocco had advanced out of the Group Stage just once in five previous appearances and had never gone beyond the Round of 16. That changed in Qatar, where the Atlas Lions used an elite defensive structure to beat several major opponents before falling 2-0 to France in the semifinals.

Captain Achraf Hakimi was one of the standout performers at the last World Cup. The Paris Saint-Germain defender and winger was named to the FIFA FIFPRO World 11 and led all players in tackles during the tournament. His ability to defend, recover, and counterattack makes Morocco extremely dangerous in transition. Hakimi has also scored 11 goals in 95 appearances for the national team.

Manchester United’s Noussair Mazraoui and goalkeeper Yassine Bounou should also play important roles at the back. However, outside of Hakimi, Mazraoui, and Bounou, Morocco lack proven international experience in defense. None of the other recent defensive call-ups have more than 10 caps for the national team.

Sofyan Amrabat was another breakout player for Morocco in Qatar, but his status is a concern. The midfielder has not played for the national team since December because of a right ankle injury that required surgery. Fortunately, Morocco still have quality options in midfield, including Azzedine Ounahi, Ismael Saibari, and Bilal El Khannouss.

In the attack, Brahim Diaz is the main danger man. He has scored 13 goals in 24 matches for Morocco and gives the team a reliable creative presence. Olympiacos forward Ayoub El Kaabi is the active leading scorer and should also see minutes, while Abde Ezzalzouli is another attacking player worth watching.

Scotland

Scotland are returning to the World Cup for the first time in nearly 30 years. The Tartan Army secured their place by upsetting Denmark in qualifying, earning an automatic berth and a long-awaited trip to North America. However, Scotland have never advanced beyond the Group Stage in any of their eight previous World Cup appearances.

Their March friendlies raised some questions, as Scotland lost 1-0 to both Japan and the Ivory Coast. Those results highlighted concerns in the attack, where Lyndon Dykes and Che Adams are solid options but not considered elite forwards.

The midfield is the stronger part of this team. Former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay leads a group that also includes Aston Villa’s John McGinn and Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie. That unit should give Scotland energy, experience, and some attacking threat from deeper positions.

Defensively, Scotland will lean heavily on captain Andy Robertson. Beyond the Liverpool fullback, the back line is expected to include several domestic league players. Scott McKenna, Kieran Tierney, and Grant Hanley all bring useful experience, making defense likely one of Scotland’s more dependable areas. Former Norwich City goalkeeper Angus Gunn has taken over as the starter after longtime No. 1 Craig Gordon aged out, though Gunn has not seen much playing time with Nottingham Forest.

Haiti

Haiti’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup is one of the most surprising stories of the tournament. The Grenadiers took advantage of a weakened CONCACAF qualifying process without the United States, Mexico, and Canada involved, securing only their second-ever World Cup appearance. They finished first in a group that included Honduras, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua, making them one of the Cinderella stories of this World Cup.

Haiti’s only previous appearance came at the 1974 World Cup in Germany. They were placed in a very difficult group with Poland, Argentina, and Italy, and they failed to earn a result while finishing with a -12 goal differential.

Captain Johny Placide missed Haiti’s March friendlies because of an undisclosed injury, but he is expected to be the team’s first-choice goalkeeper at the World Cup.

In attack, Duckens Nazon and Frantzdy Pierrot have been Haiti’s most reliable goal scorers over the last decade. Nazon has scored 44 goals in 76 appearances, while Pierrot has added 33 goals in 49 matches. Derrick Etienne Jr. and Danley Jean Jacques will be familiar names to MLS fans, with Etienne especially recognizable after playing for five MLS clubs over the past 10 years.

Haiti are not expected to seriously challenge for a place in the knockout rounds. For this squad, earning any kind of result from one of their three Group Stage matches would be considered a successful tournament.