As the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway, betting data suggests that football fans in England and Scotland are showing surprisingly little faith in their national teams’ chances of lifting the trophy this summer.
According to figures from Entain’s Patriotic Punter Index, patriotic betting remains a common trend across many countries during major international tournaments. However, the UK appears to be an exception, with supporters taking a far more cautious approach to backing their own sides.
The data shows that only 20% of UK bettors have placed wagers on England to win the World Cup despite the Three Lions being among the tournament’s leading contenders. Confidence is even lower north of the border, where just 9% of Scottish punters have backed Scotland to claim an unlikely title victory. Scotland entered the tournament as a major outsider, with odds of around 300/1 at the time of the study.
The historic rivalry between the two nations is also reflected in betting patterns. Just 1% of English bettors have put money on Scotland to win the tournament, while only 8% of Scottish punters have backed England.
The findings stand in contrast to the patriotic betting surges often seen during previous World Cups and European Championships, where home supporters frequently place bets driven as much by optimism as by realistic expectations. This year, however, bettors in both nations appear to be approaching the tournament with a greater degree of caution.
With England seeking to end decades of World Cup disappointment and Scotland making a long-awaited return to the global stage, the betting figures suggest that supporters may need more convincing before fully believing their teams can go all the way.