Soccer Odds Explained | Master Odds in Soccer Betting & Win Big!

Do you know the difference between decimal, fractional and American odds in soccer?

Some sportsbooks use one format and some use another, so you must understand all types of soccer betting odds. Our detailed soccer odds analysis will help you master the somewhat complex world of soccer odds.

This way, you can be certain that you’re getting the best soccer odds every time you place a bet. We’re going to start with the basics.

🔑 Key Takeaways

Find out how to read soccer odds.
Learn about the odds on top soccer events worldwide.
Discover the best platforms to use for your soccer odds comparisons.

What Are Odds in Soccer?

At their simplest, soccer odds represent the probability of any particular outcome in a soccer match or tournament, as determined by the bookmakers. Each bookie will set its odds, and they can vary from one sportsbook to another, so you might want to carry out a little soccer odds comparison before getting started with soccer betting.

They will also change over time as the probability of a particular outcome changes. You might, for example, get good odds on an underdog to win a tournament before it starts, but if they make it to the final stages, the odds will be different.

How to Read Soccer Odds

First, you need to learn how to read soccer odds and understand the different formats in which bookmakers tend to display them, as they don’t always make it easy for us. In fact, there are three different ways to express soccer odds, and they all indicate something a little different:

Fractional odds: They show the amount you’ll win relative to the stake you make, so they indicate the potential profit on the bet.
Decimal odds: They are displayed as a number in relation to a stake of $1, so they indicate the amount you’ll win for every $1 wagered on a successful outcome.
American odds: If you’ve seen a number preceded by either a plus or minus sign in sports betting, then you’ve seen the American Odds. They essentially indicate the wager you would need to make to win $100.

Remember that any time you make a soccer bet that pays out, you will receive whatever the odds indicate, plus your original stake. Visit our dedicated guide on how to read sports betting odds to learn more.

Example: In the case of decimal odds, if you place $1 with 0.85 odds, you get back 85 cents plus the original dollar you wagered: $1.85.

Understanding Odds in Soccer’s Biggest Events in the US

When it comes to betting odds, soccer fans have a few things to consider, depending partly on the event they’re betting on.

Soccer World Cup Odds

Taking place every four years, the FIFA World Cup is perhaps the most well-known soccer championship in the world. In the run-up to the tournament, you’ll start to see World Cup odds in your sportsbook, and you can place a wide range of bet types on all sorts of outcomes, including the outright winner.

In 2022, Argentina won, but if you placed a bet on them, you’ll know that the payout on this bet was not that high. During the tournament, the bookies placed Argentina the third most likely to lift the trophy, after France and Brazil. If you’d bet on Morocco to reach the final four though, you’d have got much better odds.

Fun fact: Morocco was the first African country to reach the final four in the World Cup!

Olympic Soccer Odds

Olympic soccer is well worth betting on if you’re a soccer fan, but it’s important to be smart about it. The Olympic Games take place over just a couple of weeks, but a lot can happen in that short timeframe. Olympic soccer odds will change throughout the event, so you may see an increase in odds if you wait until the finals, and you may be able to hedge your bets to guarantee some kind of return.

If you’re a US-based soccer fan, it’s tempting to bet on the home team, of course, but remember that the US will be going up against the giants of Europe and South America. The men’s team was defeated in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Olympics, though the women’s team took the gold medal.

MLS Soccer Odds

MLS soccer odds are determined by several factors and can change significantly as the tournament progresses, as there are a total of 34 matches over an eight-month season. Futures bets can be a good idea in MLS if you are confident in your ability to predict the results of later fixtures. You may get better odds on less predictable outcomes later in the season than on the results of a single upcoming match.

The 2023 season saw Columbus Crew go up against LAFC in the MLS final, with Columbus taking the cup. This would have been a great outcome to predict, as neither of those teams started out as favorites to win, so the odds would have been good at the start of the season.

US Women’s Soccer Odds

You can bet on the US Women’s Soccer League throughout the season. You might also like to take a look at US women’s soccer odds in the Olympics and other international tournaments, where the US Women’s team tends to have a pretty good track record.

However, you can’t always rely on a track record. If, like me, you bet on the USA to win the Women’s World Cup in 2023, you would, like me, have lost money. They were defending champions hoping to take the cup home for a third time, but got knocked out by Sweden early on, and failed to place at all.

Live Odds Soccer

Live betting on any sport can be pretty exciting, and it can be a fun option if your sportsbook offers it. When betting on soccer, live odds will constantly change. Every goal, penalty, and corner taken can change the odds you’re looking at.

You can place a live bet any time after the match kickoff, and you can then place more as the match progresses. Experienced bettors often wait until the last 15 minutes of the game. The thrill of live soccer betting is great, but there are also some challenges, not least because you’re making bets under pressure, which can lead to mistakes.

You’ll also want to make sure that you fully understand the terminology. When you bet on ‘rest of the match’, for instance, this is a bet on what will happen from the moment the bet is taken, not on the overall result.

Best Soccer Odds: Where to Find Them

What is the best betting site for soccer odds? This depends on several factors, so it’s worth doing a soccer odds comparison across different platforms. Here are a few reputable sportsbooks that offer the best soccer odds.

DraftKings

Welcome Offer	Up to $150 in Bonus Bets, plus a play-through bonus of up to $1,000
States Live In	AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MS, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VT, VA, WA, WV, WY
Minimum Deposit	$5

DraftKings is a reputable sportsbook with a good range of soccer betting markets and great odds on all kinds of soccer events. As someone who enjoys betting on live events, I particularly like the fact that its soccer page clearly labels opportunities for live betting on matches in progress. There’s also a low minimum bet and good bonus offers.

FanDuel

Welcome Offer	Get $200 in Bonus Bets if your first bet (of $5 or more) wins
States Live In	AZ, CO, CT, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VT, VA, WV, WY
Minimum Deposit	$5

FanDuel is a great choice for soccer fans, with a good bonus offer, lots of soccer markets to choose from, and competitive odds. While the site doesn’t label in-progress games like DraftKings, you can use filters to just search for live betting options. I really like the layout of this site and how easy it is to navigate. The top bar on the main page allows you to easily find the soccer leagues you might want to bet on. Then, just click on them to see the betting markets.

Fanatics

Welcome Offer	Up to $200 Bet Match in bonus bets each day for five days straight
States Live In	AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VT, VA, WV
Minimum Deposit	$5

Fanatics offers particularly good soccer odds on MLS markets, and I really like the app, which is intuitive and makes betting on the go quick and simple. The platform also clearly displays its pre-built parlays, any currently popular prop bets, and current odds boosts on the homepage – so you can see any specific bets and deals, you might be able to take advantage of.

BetMGM

Welcome Offer	First bet refund on losing bet of $1,500 in bonus bets
States Live In	AZ, CO, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WA, WV, WY
Minimum Deposit	$10

BetMGM offers a great user experience, quickly updated odds on live games, and lots of options for different bet types. Its soccer odds are pretty competitive, and it offers some excellent bonuses. However, as with any sportsbook, read the terms carefully before opting in, as there are sometimes restrictions.

Caesars

Welcome Offer	Second-chance first bet up to $1,000 if your first wager loses
States Live In	AZ, CO, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MI, NV, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY
Minimum Deposit	$10

Caesars is perhaps better known for its casino offerings, but its sportsbook offers various events, lots of bet types, and great odds on most matches and tournaments. The layout of the site, and the soccer page in particular, isn’t as slick and intuitive as some other options. But once you find your way around, it’s easy to find the events and bet types you need, and very simple to place a bet.

Key Factors That Influence Soccer Odds

There are various factors that influence soccer odds, so it’s a good idea to closely follow any league or event you want to bet on so that you’re fully informed.

Team and individual performance will greatly impact odds over a season, and even over the course of a single match in the case of live betting. A particular player seeming to be out of form can have an immediate effect on the odds being offered on prop bets concerning them, for example.
Injuries and suspensions will also impact the odds that a sportsbook will give to a particular team because even one player kept out of the game for a while will have a major impact on potential outcomes.
Bookies will also factor in the home advantage; teams are statistically likely to perform better in front of a home crowd.
The bookmakers also head-to-head records. This is a direct comparison of the records of the two teams playing each other.
Even weather conditions and crowd turnout can impact the odds. What’s more, you won’t always be able to identify exactly why the odds have changed on a specific outcome, even if you’re a big soccer fan.

Rest assured that the bookies always know what they’re doing, so when odds change, it’s usually the result of some calculable change in circumstances that could potentially impact the outcome being bet on.

Our Top Tips for Using Soccer Odds to Your Advantage

The important thing is to use soccer odds to your advantage, as much as possible. Here’s how we advise you to do this:

Follow all the events you want to bet on closely: Keep up to date with player form, injuries, and suspensions. Then, check to see if the odds have been impacted – if the odds have improved, I might increase my bet or place a new one.
Listen to expert predictions and analysis: Especially smart commentators who are going against the grain. This might be a sign to take a bet on a long shot.
Compare odds across different sportsbooks: I like to have a few different betting apps on my phone so that I can easily check the odds being offered wherever I am.
Manage your soccer betting bankroll carefully: So that you have a budget for making new bets if odds improve.
Take the time to look into and understand implied probability: As this is what odds are based on. Knowing the basics will help you better understand and predict the odds of various outcomes.

So, Ready to Check Out Some Soccer Odds?

We’ve dived deep into how to read soccer odds and what to watch out for when comparing odds on soccer matches and tournaments. Now, it’s time to visit your favorite betting platform and start comparing soccer odds today across different events.

Want an easy way to ensure that you’re getting the best odds? Check out our betting odds calculator.