America hosts the World Cup in 2026, and the betting markets are already open. For El Paso — a city that lives and breathes fútbol, where Locomotive FC has built one of the most passionate soccer communities in the lower leagues — this tournament lands differently than it does anywhere else.
According to CBS Sports, sportsbooks have published early odds, schedules, group stage breakdowns and roster projections ahead of the tournament. For bettors looking to engage with the 2026 World Cup, a range of licensed apps are now accepting futures wagers, with promo codes and welcome offers available through platforms including DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM. Odds on traditional favorites like Brazil, France and England have already taken shape, while the host United States squad carries heightened expectations — and shorter odds — given home-field advantage across three nations.
El Paso sits at the center of a genuinely unique soccer geography. The Borderland's fan base skews heavily toward Mexico — El Tri remains the team of choice across much of the Sun City — and Mexico's odds will be among the most closely watched lines in the region. A deep Mexican run would be felt viscerally here in ways that national sports media rarely captures.
For those new to sports betting, CBS Sports outlines the basics: futures bets placed now on a World Cup winner pay out at the odds locked in at the time of the wager, meaning early money on a longshot carries real upside. Group stage betting, player props and individual match lines will open as the draw is finalized and rosters confirmed. The guide recommends comparing odds across multiple apps before committing, and taking advantage of first-deposit bonuses that can return significant value on an opening wager.
The practical advice holds especially true for casual bettors in El Paso who may be placing their first legal sports wager. Texas has not legalized retail or mobile sports betting as of this writing, which means El Paso residents face the same frustrating reality that has defined the state's relationship with legal wagering — proximity to opportunity without access. New Mexico, however, is a short drive north, and licensed sportsbooks operate legally there, including at several tribal casinos near the state line.
Locomotive FC's connection to the 2026 tournament is more than atmospheric. Several players who have come through El Paso's soccer ecosystem — at the club level and through the region's deep youth development pipelines — have legitimate pathways into CONCACAF national programs. When the groups are drawn and the rosters announced, some of those names may surface.
The 2026 World Cup kicks off in the summer of 2026, with matches spread across venues in the United States, Canada and Mexico. No games are scheduled for El Paso, but the nearest host city — Dallas — is close enough that local fans will make the trip. When those final rosters lock and the odds settle, El Paso will be watching with a stake that goes well beyond any betting slip.