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With the World Cup 2026 kick-off almost upon us, it’s time to analyse each of the 12 groups.
On this page, we focus on an intriguing Group C, involving Brazil, Scotland, Morocco, and Haiti. Which nation will top the set, which will qualify, and who are the key players?. Flashscore has everything you need to make data-led predictions on ‘We Are 26.’
Brazil are the obvious favourites, with most bookmakers and bettors expecting the Samba Boys to finish in pole position after three games. Could Morocco be the dark horse? Perhaps you fancy the Scots to secure a path to the knockout rounds for the first time in their history. Pundits have Haiti as the whipping boys, but we can take nothing for granted.
On paper, it appears to be a race between Scotland and Morocco to finish second behind Carlo Ancelotti’s stars. The major bookmakers featured on this page offer betting odds and markets on the World Cup, including Group C. You can pick a team to qualify, focus on a player’s performances or play a forecast. There’s something to suit every bettor and budget.
Keep reading as Flashscore’s football betting expert Frank Monkhouse covers Group C.
Group C at a glance
- Group C includes Brazil, Scotland, Morocco, and Haiti.
- Brazil are the highest-ranking team in the pool and the betting favourites.
- Morocco are 6/1 second favourites to top Group C.
- Scotland have never made it to the knockout stages of a World Cup.
- Haiti lost just one match in qualifying.
Group winner and qualification
In this section, we’ll discuss the teams most likely to qualify from Group C, according to the bookmakers’ odds.
Winner - Brazil is a five-time World champion, boasting a talented squad. They’re the betting favourite to top Group C.
2nd place - Morocco finished behind Brazil and above Scotland at France 98. Bookies have them as their second favourite in the group winner betting.
Dark horse - A strong start would put Scotland on a path to qualification. Traders have them third in the pool betting.
To finish bottom - Haiti will struggle at this level and finish in fourth place. That’s shown in their bloated betting odds to win the group.
Although you’ll find Brazil as the market leader in the Group C betting, they fully deserve to be. It would be a shock if Ancelotti’s team didn’t get the job done in style. When betting on a runner-up or playing the qualification markets, Scotland provide the value. It’s no mean feat, but the Scots have a good chance of beating Morocco to second place.
Team-by-team breakdown
Brazil
Brazil enter the World Cup under a different kind of pressure than usual. The talent is still there, the expectations never disappear, but this generation arrives with more doubts than certainty after an uneven qualification campaign and the beginning of Carlo Ancelotti’s new era on the bench.
The squad announcement was completely dominated by one name: Neymar. After almost three years away from the national team because of his knee injury, the Santos forward returns for what could be his final World Cup. Ancelotti publicly defended the idea that every decision was made for sporting reasons, although it is impossible to ignore Neymar’s influence inside the dressing room and the emotional impact his comeback generates around Brazil.
Even without Rodrygo and Estêvão, both sidelined through injury, Brazil still have frightening attacking talent. Vinicius Junior is now clearly the face of the new generation, expected to carry much of the attacking responsibility from the left side, while players around him offer mobility, speed and technical quality rather than relying on a fixed structure.
At the back, the injury to Militão forced Ancelotti to rethink his defensive options, with Flamengo’s Léo Pereira earning an opportunity alongside more established names like Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhães.
The biggest debate outside of Neymar centred on João Pedro. After an excellent season in England, many expected the Chelsea forward to be included, and even Ancelotti later admitted the striker had arguments strong enough to deserve a place.
Brazil no longer look as dominant as some of their legendary versions, but they still possess something few teams can match: match-winners capable of deciding games in a single moment.
Strengths and weaknesses:
Vinicius Junior is one of the most dangerous attackers in world football.
Brazil have elite technical quality across the squad.
Neymar’s return adds creativity and personality.
Few teams transition from defence to attack as quickly as Brazil.
Defensive balance can become fragile when attacking aggressively.
Breaking down deep defensive blocks remains an issue at times.
Morocco
When checking the betting, we see Morocco begin as the second most likely team to top Group C.
Will they spring a surprise and advance to the knockout rounds with confidence? It’ll come as no surprise to learn that the Atlas Lions have never won this trophy. They do start as the 2025 African Cup of Nations champions, also winning the Arab Cup that year.
Morocco remain one of Africa's most talented and athletic sides. New coach Mohamed Ouahbi has largely maintained the intense, transition-based style that brought success in recent years, although he has also looked to add more control in possession.
Achraf Hakimi continues to be the team's standout player, with Noussair Mazraoui expected to operate on the opposite flank. In midfield, Neil El Aynaoui has become increasingly important, while Brahim Diaz and Abde provide creativity and pace in attacking areas.
One of the players to watch is teenage midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, regarded as one of the brightest prospects in Moroccan football. However, the squad announcement also generated debate after several high-profile omissions, including Youssef En-Nesyri and highly rated youngster Eliesse Ben Seghir.
Despite those absences, Morocco retain much of the group that lifted the Africa Cup of Nations and should once again be one of the strongest African teams at the tournament.
Strengths and weaknesses:
Morocco conceded just two goals in eight qualifying matches.
The Atlas Lions beat Brazil in a friendly match when the nations last met.
Morocco arrive as the African Cup of Nations champions.
They struggle to create chances and score against elite defences.
Conceding the first goal often forces Morocco to drop their defensive structure.
The head-to-head stats on the Flashscore app show Morocco lost 3-0 when they faced Brazil in the group stage at France 98. Incredibly, Scotland was also included in that pool 28 years ago.
Morocco did beat Brazil 2-1 in a friendly match two years ago, showing it’s not an impossible task. They topped their qualifying group with a 100% record, scoring 22 goals.
Scotland
Scotland arrive at the World Cup with the feeling that this generation still has something to prove internationally. Steve Clarke has built a team that competes far better than its individual talent might suggest, relying on tactical discipline, physical intensity and a clear collective identity rather than star power.
The spine of the team is easy to identify. Andy Robertson remains the emotional leader and the main source of width from the left flank, while Scott McTominay continues to be Scotland’s most influential attacking midfielder thanks to his late runs into the box and physical presence. John McGinn provides creativity and energy between the lines, with Billy Gilmour responsible for organising possession from deeper areas.
Scotland are at their best when matches become uncomfortable and direct. Clarke’s side defends compactly, attacks set pieces aggressively and rarely loses structure without the ball. Lewis Ferguson’s return after a serious knee injury also gives the midfield greater balance and tactical intelligence.
Still, the limitations are clear. Scotland do not possess a reliable elite striker capable of consistently troubling top-level defences, forcing the team to depend heavily on crosses, second balls and dead-ball situations for goals. Goalkeeping is another concern, with Angus Gunn expected to start despite limited club minutes during the season.
This is not a flashy team, but Scotland are exactly the kind of opponent capable of dragging stronger sides into difficult, emotional matches. With the expanded tournament format, they may finally have their best opportunity yet to reach the knockout rounds for the first time.
Strengths and weaknesses:
Scotland won their qualifying group ahead of Norway and Greece.
Stats of four wins, one draw, and a defeat were good enough for pole.
Clarke’s team are defensively strong and organised.
They’ve never made the knockout rounds of a World Cup.
Scotland lack firepower in attack, scoring only 13 goals in qualifying.
Scotland have never made it out of a World Cup group, but the revamped format means they have a better chance than ever this summer. The Tartan Army have celebrated some massive wins in recent times, and they impressed in qualifying when winning Group C ahead of Denmark, Greece, and Belarus.
A team and nation that simply loves to upset the odds. Will we see another shock?
Haiti
World Cup gamblers can also bet on a team to finish bottom of their group. In this case, Haiti has been picked as the team that’ll finish fourth of the four teams.
Ranked a lowly 83rd in the world by FIFA, the Grenadiers may be happy just to make up the numbers. Qualifying for the World Cup is a huge achievement for coach Sebastien Migne, his staff, and his players.
Still, Haiti arrive with a few interesting names capable of making them more competitive than many expect. The standout figure is Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, the Wolverhampton midfielder who chose to represent Haiti instead of France and has quickly become the team’s main creative force. Another important addition is Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor, who made his debut for the national team earlier this year.
Migné usually sets the team up in a flexible 4-2-3-1 system that can shift into a 4-3-3 depending on the opponent. Veteran striker Duckens Nazon remains the reference point in attack and continues to be the national team’s all-time leading scorer. In goal, captain Johny Placide is still recovering physically, meaning Alexandre Pierre could step into the starting role.
Defensively, Ricardo Adé competes with Jean-Kevin Duverne and Hannes Delcroix for places in central defence, while Carlens Arcus has established himself at right-back after a strong season in France.
One of the most unusual stories in the squad belongs to Woodensky Pierre, the only player selected from the Haitian domestic league. The 21-year-old midfielder was recently named the best player in the country. Another surprise inclusion is Lenny Joseph, the PSG academy product who scored 16 goals in Hungary last season with Ferencváros.
Strengths and weaknesses:
Haiti boast pace and strength on the counter-attack.
They bring resilience and seem to thrive as the underdog.
A fluid setup allows the coaching staff to switch tactics and confuse opponents.
Haiti’s main weaknesses lie in defence, where they often lack structure.
Limited experience at this level means they could shrink under the spotlight.
Looking at some of Haiti’s past results suggests they’ll struggle with a step up in class. The underdogs lost to Tunisia in a World Cup warm-up match in March. Honduras beat them 3-0 in a qualifier, highlighting the frailties in Haiti’s defence.
Fans will want to see them ruffle a few feathers in the US, but the form and stats tell us they will likely suffer three defeats.
Key players to watch
Bookmakers gift football fans the ability to bet on the top teams at this summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Did you know you can also gamble on the performances of your favourite players?
Here are some of the most popular player prop bets:
Golden Boot winner.
Team top scorers.
Most assists.
Player of the tournament.
Young player of the tournament.
Here are the players to follow in June, and the best ways to bet on each.
Vinicius Junior: A great option in the World Cup Golden Boot winner market. Junior is a key name in a stunning attack, famed for playing attractive football and scoring many goals.
He’ll enjoy plenty of game time, and I’m confident he’ll put some impressive numbers on the board during the group phase. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him find the net against Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland.
Achraf Hakimi: Not in the same category as the man above, but bettors should pay attention to Morocco’s Hakimi. He has a key role in Morocco’s set-up, often breaking down attacks and getting his team up the pitch.
A great way to bet on Hakimi in Group C is in the assists and shots on target markets.
Scott McTominay: The Tartan Army loves their former Manchester United star. McTominay is the standout name in a talented Scotland squad and has scored some important goals for his country in recent years, including that overhead kick.
Scott brings experience performing at the highest level, and his recent form is nothing short of remarkable. You can back him to top score for Scotland.
Duckens Nazon: There aren’t too many household names in the Haiti team, but that’ll suit the underdogs. Little is expected of Haiti in June, meaning they can play with freedom. One man to keep an eye on is Duckens Nazon, the team’s main attacking threat.
If Haiti score a goal at the World Cup, Nazon will likely be involved, either as the scorer or in the build-up play. You can target a profit by backing him in the Haiti top scorer market or in the player props in each match.
Group dynamics
Studying the schedule, stadium, weather, rest days, and expected tactics gives bettors a clear angle and a strong bet. Here are some areas to consider from Group C.
Brazil will likely beat Haiti and score a few goals in the process. You can back them to win on the handicap or predict who will get the goals and back them in the Golden Boot market.
Scotland v Morocco is guaranteed to be a tense and low-scoring affair. You can wager on the match betting, betting on total goals, and the handicap.
Morocco will plot to take all three points and boost their goal difference when playing Haiti. You can bet on over 2.5 goals, first scorer, a player to assist, and more.
Scotland open their World Cup account against Haiti, and it looks like an ideal opportunity to start with a win. McTominay scored two goals in Scotland’s last three competitive matches.
Brazil take on Morocco in matchday one from Group C. Opening games are often low-scoring affairs, and with a tense match expected, I predict few goals. You can bet on Brazil to win or play under 2.5 goals or no in the both teams to score betting.
Group C predictions
Having set the scene for World Cup Group C, I’ll now round things off with my three best bets from the pool.
Brazil to win Group C @ 1/5 (bet365)
Brazil are one of the betting favourites in the World Cup outright betting. The Samba Boys were handed a winnable group, and I have no issues picking them to deliver on the big stage. The odds of 1/6 show that the traders at bet365 agree.
Scotland to qualify @ 2/9 (bet365)
Scotland are playing at their first World Cup since France 98. They’ve also never made it to the knockout rounds of a major international tournament. Steve Clarke has his side playing fearless football, showing their class when finishing ahead of Norway and Greece. At 2/9, Scotland to qualify will be a popular pick in World Cup 2026 accumulators.
Football bettors looking for a play at higher odds may wish to combine my picks in a Group C forecast. Brazil to win the pool with Scotland in second trades at 5/4, and I believe followers will get a good run for their money. If Scotland beat Haiti and Brazil down Morocco in the opening games, we’ll find ourselves in a strong position.
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