How to Bet on FIFA World Cup Soccer

The FIFA World Cups are international soccer competitions played by the senior men’s and senior women’s national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association aka, FIFA. The championships have been awarded every four years since the tournaments started, the men’s in 1930, with the exceptions of 1942 and 1946, when the Second World War put the event on hold; and the women’s in 1991.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest in tournament history. Hosted jointly by Canada, United States, and Mexico, the event expands from 32 to 48 participating nations for the first time.

With more teams, more matches, and more betting opportunities than ever before, the 2026 World Cup promises to deliver a month of world-class soccer action and excitement for fans and bettors alike.

FIFA World Cup Format

The road to the World Cup begins years before the opening match. National teams from around the world compete in regional qualifying tournaments for a chance to earn one of the coveted spots in the finals.

For 2026, the tournament expands to 48 teams. As co-hosts, Canada, the United States, and Mexico automatically qualified for the competition.

The 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of four teams each. During the Group Stage, every team plays three matches against the other teams in its group.

Points are awarded as follows:

Win: 3 points
Draw: 1 point
Loss: 0 points

At the end of the Group Stage, the top two teams from each group advance to the knockout rounds. They are joined by the eight best third-place finishers, creating a 32-team knockout bracket.

From there, the tournament becomes single elimination:

Round of 32
Round of 16
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Third-Place Match
Final

One loss and a team’s World Cup dream is over.

FIFA World Cup Betting Options

The World Cup offers a wide variety of betting markets for casual fans and experienced bettors alike. Whether you’re backing your favorite nation to lift the trophy or wagering on individual match outcomes, there are betting options to suit every style.

World Cup Moneyline Betting

Moneyline betting is the simplest and most popular way to bet on soccer.

A moneyline wager requires you to pick the outcome of a match. Unlike many North American sports, soccer betting typically includes three possible outcomes:

Team A wins
Team B wins
Draw

For example, consider the following World Cup match:

Outcome Odds
Canada +100
Bosnia and Herzegovina +270
Draw +240

Canada enters the match as the favorite. At +100 odds, a $100 wager would return $100 in profit if Canada wins.

Bosnia and Herzegovina are the underdog at +270. A $100 bet would return $270 in profit if they pull off the upset.

If the match ends level after regulation time, bets placed on the Draw at +240 would pay $240 in profit on a $100 wager.

Remember that standard soccer moneyline wagers are settled based on regulation time only. Extra time and penalty shootouts do not count unless otherwise specified.

World Cup Over/Under Betting

Spread betting, often called handicap betting in soccer, gives one team a virtual advantage or disadvantage before the match begins.

Using Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina as an example:

Team Spread Odds
Canada -0.5 -110
Bosnia and Herzegovina +0.5 -135

A wager on Canada -0.5 means Canada must win the match for the bet to cash.

A wager on Bosnia and Herzegovina +0.5 wins if Bosnia and Herzegovina either win the match or earn a draw.

This type of wager is popular when bettors believe a team is being undervalued despite not being a heavy favorite.

World Cup Futures Betting

Futures betting allows bettors to wager on outcomes that will be decided later in the tournament.

Popular World Cup futures markets include:

Tournament Winner
Tournament Runner-Up
Golden Boot Winner
Group Winner
To Reach the Final
To Reach the Semifinals
To Advance From Group Stage

Because futures bets are placed well before the outcome is known, they often offer larger payouts than traditional game bets.

A bettor who identifies a dark horse contender before the tournament begins may find significant value in the futures market.

World Cup Soccer Team Betting

Many sportsbooks offer betting markets focused on the performance of individual teams throughout the tournament.

Examples include:

Will a team advance from its group?
Will a team reach the quarterfinals?
Will a team reach the semifinals?
Will a team make the final?
Will a team win the World Cup?

These bets allow fans to support their favorite nation beyond individual matches and throughout the entire tournament.

World Cup Prop Bets

Proposition bets, commonly known as prop bets, focus on specific events rather than game outcomes.

Popular World Cup prop bets include:

First team to score
Player to score anytime
First goalscorer
Total corners
Total cards
Clean sheet bets
Exact score

Prop betting can add extra excitement to matches and allows bettors to capitalize on specific insights about teams, tactics, or players.

Betting the World Cup Responsibly

The World Cup is one of the most exciting sporting events on the planet, but successful betting requires discipline.

Before placing any wager, consider:

Current team form
Injuries and suspensions
Head-to-head history
Travel and scheduling factors
Weather conditions
Tactical matchups

No outcome is guaranteed, especially in international soccer, where a single moment can change the course of a match or an entire tournament.

The best bettors focus on finding value, managing their bankroll responsibly, and enjoying the tournament for the spectacle that it is. Check out Sports Interaction’s Responsible Gaming page for more info.