How World Cup 2026 Might Affect Next Season's Odds

World Cup 2026 is the biggest tournament ever: 48 teams competed in the group stage, and only 12 exited before the knockouts. A total of 104 matches means the world’s top players could be more tired than ever during the 2026-2027 club season. The World Cup came after several seasons of packed club schedules, with some giants (Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United and more) coming under scrutiny for pushing their players to the limits with high-intensity pressing, press commitments, and pre-season and mid-season exhibition matches played across the globe.

So how might such a tiring year affect next season’s odds? And will any other factors – some big nations falling early, the race for the Golden Boot, and mistakes haunting defenders – affect how you might choose a top goalscorer, a league winner, or the results of Week 1 fixtures?

Hot players, tired players?

The so-called “hydration breaks”, widely perceived as an excuse for television companies and therefore Fifa to make more money, may end up benefitting club football in 2026-2027. Extra breaks of just a few minutes won’t entirely negate the effects of pressing, concentrating in the heat, and sprinting for counterattacks after a long club season, but those breaks might result in fewer injuries and less fatigue when players return to their regular schedules.

Many of the world’s top players – Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Harry Kane, Vinicius junior and more - thrived in the group stage and progressed as predicted. Not many stars looked too tired to perform to their usual standards. They were helped by the slower pace of international football, and the results of a long season may be seen more clearly in club football. We may see slower possession play, less pressing, and fewer counterattacks, just as we did during the start of the 2020-2021 European season after the pandemic had resulted in the previous one running closer.

German players may be less concerned with fatigue levels than by their early exits. Kai Havertz just won the Premier League with Arsenal, but wasn’t celebrating for long before losing the Champions League final and then Germany falling to Paraguay on penalties.

There weren’t too many horror shows for defenders and goalkeepers, but Senegal’s Edouard Mendy and others won’t like catching any replays of the swerving shots that beat them. Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart predicted that goalkeepers would get used to the World Cup ball by the knockouts, and that appears to have been true. Mendy eventually helped Senegal progress to the knockouts before they lost to Belgium.

Slower club football?

The fatigue – if it is indeed a trend – could encourage coaches to favour a slower style of play. The trend in England last season was to prioritise set pieces and more direct play compared to that of the previous few seasons.

Pep Guardiola has left Manchester City and new coach Enzo Maresca may encourage a more extreme possession-based style after Guardiola had leant towards direct play in his latter years. Maresca also favours a high press, however, and his demands – and those of rival coaches – are unlikely to be swayed by any complaints from tired players. Prize money, salaries, and intense scrutiny online and in the stands has meant managers are under as much pressure as ever to deliver quick results. The best soccer betting odds in South Africa suggest Man City are second favourites behind champions Arsenal to lift the Premier League trophy. Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta could benefit from Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka linking up for England, although both struggled with fitness issues.

Some nations in the World Cup combined moments of relative rest with fast counters. France were praised after their 3-0 win over Sweden in the Round of 32, with some pundits calling them a “complete” team.

If the traditional powers are to dominate over the weaker clubs – who have had fewer players at the World Cup – in 2026-2027, they may need to combine similar periods of lower intensity with more demanding play.

South Africa’s exit

South African stars like Ronwen Williams won’t feel too downheartened by their World Cup performance. Falling to a well-organised Canada side was no great shame. Williams and his defenders, arguably most notably Aubrey Maphosa Modiba, made things difficult for the Canadians before a late winner.

The relatively early exit in the round of 32 means that South Africans will have more of a rest than many others. Those who progress all the way to the final on 19 July will only have a few weeks before the club season kicks off. Williams’ Mamelodi Sundowns played a friendly with RB Leipzig in May but have had a chance to rest otherwise.

Relebohile Mofokeng completed an R56 million move to Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, who revealed the move was agreed prior to the World Cup. The former Orlando Pirates attacking midfielder will aim to move on quickly from national team heartbreak, as the Belgian Premier League season begins on 7 August. Mail & Guardian said his move was a sign that African talent was being recognised in Europe.

Orlando Pirates had announced six new signings by the beginning of July. Last season, Orlando Pirates pipped Mamelodi Sundowns to 1st spot, taking the title by just a point. Kaizer Chiefs finished 3rd, missing out on the two CAF Champions League spots.