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2026 World Cup Guide: Expert Tips and Strategies

Ready to crush it in World Cup betting? The FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of international soccer, offering unmatched excitement and endless wagering opportunities every four years. To boost your winnings and keep losses in check, you’ll need sharp strategies and smart choices.

This guide will arm you with expert insights and tips to bet on World Cup events like a pro.

🔑 Key Takeaways

  • Discover strategies to make winning World Cup bets.
  • Learn about the different markets available in World Cup betting.
  • Learn how to place a World Cup bet in simple steps.

Why Bet on the World Cup?

The World Cup is the ultimate stage for global soccer supremacy, where ‘nations clash, legends are born, and history is made.’ As such, only the best of the best play here. The men’s and women’s tournaments feature elite teams from different countries, giving fans an opportunity to experience different soccer tactics and cultures.

Beyond its prestige and entertainment value, the World Cup also presents unique and rewarding betting prospects. You can wager on a wide range of markets, from match winners to prop bets.

Furthermore, during high-profile sports competitions like the World Cup, sportsbooks offer bettors a range of exclusive promotions and bonuses as well as odds boosts. 

I vividly remember the 2018 World Cup when I placed a bet on France to win the final. The thrill of watching the team win and the rush of winning my bet made the experience unforgettable! I signed up at multiple sportsbooks and took advantage of their World Cup risk-free bet offers, which really saved me some cash! 

World Cup Betting Markets

The World Cup offers a range of betting options similar to the ones you will find in soccer betting. Here are some of the most common types of bets available:

  • Match betting
  • Tournament betting
  • Props
  • Live Betting

Match Betting

Match betting refers to wagers on the outcome of individual matches in the World Cup. You are staking on the performance of two teams in a single game and predicting the score, result, or other outcomes.

There are several bets you can place in this section:

  • Full-time/ Match result: The most popular market in the World Cup. Here, you are betting on either team to win or the match to end in a draw. 
  • Double chance: You are covering two outcomes with this wager. Bet on a team to win or draw.
  • Draw no bet: You bet on a team to win. If the match ends in a draw, your stake will be refunded. 
  • Over/under goals: A wager on the total number of goals that will be scored in the match, half-time or full-time. Usually starts from 0.5 goals and can go up to 5.5 goals. 
  • Asian Handicap: Bet on a team to win with a handicap applied to the final score
  • Correct score: This often comes with high odds; here, you predict the exact scoreline, such as 1-0, 2-1, 3-0, etc.
  • Both teams to score: You wager on both teams scoring or not. 

Keep in mind that, like traditional soccer betting, most match markets in the World Cup are tied to events that occur within the standard 90-minute playtime. If the match goes to extra time or penalties, original bets will not be carried over, unless specified in the market terms.

Tournament Betting

With tournament bets, you are focusing on the outcome of the entire World Cup and not individual matches. Some markets you can consider in this category are:

  • Outright winner: Here, you wager on the team to lift the trophy or overall winner. This type of bet is usually available as a futures bet well before the tournament starts. 
  • Top goalscorer: Predict the player to score more goals or win the Golden Boot in the World Cup
  • Group winners: Teams are usually divided into various groups before the tournament begins, and this bet involves which team will top or qualify in their respective groups.
  • Stage of elimination: You can also predict which stage a team will be eliminated. You can select from the group stage, the round of 16, quarterfinals, semis, or even the final.

Props

Beyond the standard win/loss or score outcome, the World Cup features other proposition bets you can wager on. Let’s take a look at some of them below:

  • Golden Glove: You are wagering on which goalkeeper will win the award for the tournament’s most outstanding goalkeeper. It is not necessarily given to the keeper with the most clean sheets. Instead, performances throughout the tournament are considered. 
  • Golden Ball: This award goes to the player who has made the most impact in the tournament. It isn’t necessarily based on the number of goals or assists. 
  • FIFA Young Player Award: Predict which player aged 21 or under will win the award for the most outstanding young player of the tournament.
  • Other prop markets: It can include the team to score the most goals, the team with the fewest yellow and red cards, and more.

Live Betting

Live or in-play betting allows you to wager on World Cup matches as they unfold in real time. Unlike traditional betting, which ends before kickoff, you can place live bets during the game. 

You can spot momentum shifts or wagering opportunities as the game progresses and quickly react to them.

You can bet on various outcomes like:

  • Next goalscorer
  • Next team to score
  • Total goals in the match
  • Correct score
  • Time of next goal
  • The number of corners or yellow cards

If the match leads to a penalty shootout, you can wager on in-play markets such as:

  • The next player to score their penalty 
  • The next player to miss
  • Will the goalkeeper make a save or not?

FIFA World Cup Betting: Strategies for Success

Adopting a betting strategy when you wager on World Cup matches can help you make more intelligent and calculated bets. The goal is to boost your winnings and minimize your losses. The tips below will show you how.

Understand World Cup Odds

If you are a regular sports bettor, you will understand the importance of odds in betting in general, and the World Cup is not an exception. While representing the probability of a specific outcome occurring, odds also indicate how much you need to bet and win.

The way the World Cup odds are displayed varies across sportsbooks. However, they all use one of these three formats:

  • Moneyline (American): This odd type displays the payout on a $100 bet. While a positive number indicates how much you will win betting on the underdog, a negative number shows how much you need to wager on the favorite to win $100. 
  • Decimal (European, African, Asia): This shows the total return on a 1-unit bet. Underdogs have higher odds than the favorites. To calculate your winnings, simply multiply the decimal with your bet. For instance, an odds of 1.50 means you will receive $1.50 for every $1 bet, including your stake.
  • Fractional: Mainly used by British bookmakers, these odds format displays the ratio of winnings to stake. For instance, 2/4 means you will win $2 for every $4 you bet. To determine your winnings, divide the first number by the second and multiply by your bet.

Use World Cup Picks to Your Advantage

One word you might have heard a lot when it comes to betting strategies is research. To excel in World Cup betting, you must do your homework about the teams, head-to-head, historical records, and more. You’ll agree that, at times, this can be time-consuming or tiring. This is where expert World Cup picks come in — to save you time and effort.

By leveraging the expertise of seasoned tipsters, you can gain valuable insights and quickly make smart betting decisions without sacrificing hours of research. Combine the picks with your own analysis to get a winning formula. As such, remember to stay up-to-date with the latest team news, injuries, and form.

Implement Effective Bankroll Management Practices

The World Cup is supposed to be fun, and if you want to keep it that way while betting on it, it is essential you must properly manage your bankroll:

  1. First, determine how much you can afford to lose and divide it into units for each match or round.
  2. Additionally, consider setting a “stop-loss” limit, meaning an amount that, if reached, will prompt you to stop betting.
  3. You should also stick to your budget, even if you are winning.
  4. Most importantly, you must never chase your losses.

How Can I Bet on the World Cup?

Follow this step-by-step guide below to learn how to start betting on World Cup events with ease.

1. Select a Sportsbook

Choose a licensed and regulated platform and sign up. It’s essential to find legal World Cup betting sites that offer extensive coverage of markets and promotions on the tournament. I particularly recommend FanDuel and DraftKings because they check all the right boxes and are available in most states that legalize sports betting in the US.

2. Create an Account

Click Sign Up on the site or app of your chosen sportsbook to register an account. You will be asked to provide your personal information like your name, address, and email. Verify your identity to proceed.

3. Deposit Funds

Visit the account or cashier section on the site to add money to your betting account. Select your preferred deposit method from the options available, such as credit card, e-wallet, and bank transfer. Thereafter, enter your deposit amount and follow the prompts to complete the transaction.

4. Explore World Cup Markets

Navigate to the “Soccer” section of the sportsbook to access World Cup betting markets. Click World Cup, and it will show you the event’s available betting markets, like match winners and tournament outcomes.

Note: The women’s World Cup will be denoted by a “W” next to the tournament name.

5. Add to Betting Slip

When you see the markets you are interested in, include them in your betting slip. You can do this by clicking on the odds. Tap on the odds again if you want to remove a bet. 

6. Place Bets

Input the amount you want to stake on the markets. The sportsbook will display the potential payout, which includes both the initial stake plus any potential winnings. Double-check the details of the bet, then submit to confirm your bet. 

So, Are You Ready for Some Soccer World Cup Betting Action?

The World Cup offers the most entertaining display of soccer. But it becomes even more thrilling when you have a stake in the game! With several sportsbooks offering World Cup betting markets, it’s easier than ever to get in on the action and profit from the tournament.

Remember to sign up with a legitimate sportsbook and implement winning strategies like the ones covered in this guide. You should also bet responsibly; bet within your means and avoid chasing bad wagers.

Now join the millions of soccer fans worldwide and make this World Cup one to remember!

Want to increase your level of betting skills to a professional or grandmaster? Join our Betting 101 class today.