From predicting match winners to betting on which team will lift the trophy, our guide will teach you all you need to know to play along with the World Cup.
The FIFA World Cup is the biggest international football competition in the world. Every four years, millions of fans tune in to see which country’s football team can reach the finals of a month-long tournament and lift the iconic trophy. How can you bet on the action from home?
Our guide has everything you need to play along with all the biggest World Cup matches. From an explanation of betting odds to details on the most popular betting markets, you’ll be able to place a wager in no time.
Where to bet on the World Cup
You can find all the latest World Cup odds by heading to the relevant section of our football sportsbook page. Once you’ve found which match you’d like to bet on, simply log in to your Betway account or sign up as a new user and place your stake. Once you’re happy, click ‘Place bet’ and wait for the results!
Looking to place a World Cup bet on the go? You can also download the Betway app from the Play Store or App Store, letting you keep track of your bets and view the latest odds from anywhere in the world.
For more information on how to play, you can read our guide on how to bet on football, with all you need to know ahead of placing your first wager.
World Cup betting odds explained
At Betway, World Cup betting is typically presented using fractional odds. Each bet is assigned a fraction which represents how much of your original bet you could win from a successful prediction, as well as earn your original stake back. The less likely an outcome is, the larger its fraction will be, meaning you’ll earn more money if you correctly back an unexpected result.
You can learn more about how to read bets in fractional terms by using our ‘Fractional odds explained’ guide.
How to read World Cup betting odds
To read fractional odds, take your original stake and divide it by the number on the right-hand side of the fraction. Then, multiply the result by the number on the left-hand side.
This figure shows how much money you would win from a successful bet, with your original stake also being returned in full. If your bet is unsuccessful, however, you won’t win any money.
World Cup betting example
Let’s look at a real-world example of fractional betting odds to explain how you can use them to inform your choice. In this scenario, England’s odds of winning the World Cup are 5/1, and you’re looking to place a £10 bet.
You can calculate your potential winnings by dividing your stake by the right-hand number, which is 1, then multiplying the result by the left-hand number, which is 5.
In this case, 10 ÷ 1 = 10, then 10 x 5 = 50, meaning a correct bet is worth a £50 profit. Your original £10 stake will also be returned, so your total winnings would be £60 if England wins the tournament.
The same method can be applied to individual matches. For example, let’s say England is facing Croatia in the group stage. England’s chances of winning are 3/5, while Croatia’s betting odds are 4/1.
A £10 bet on either team would return different amounts. Placing £10 on England would return £16 in the event of a win (10 ÷ 5 = 2, then 2 x 3 = 6, plus the original £10 stake). However, if you put the same amount of money on Croatia to win, and they do, you would earn £50 total (10 ÷ 1 = 10, then 10 x 4 = 40, plus £10).
The catch is that Croatia is considered less likely to win than England, so while a correct bet would earn you a bigger profit, there’s a higher chance that you would lose your money.
Common types of World Cup bets
There are plenty of ways to play along with the World Cup at home, so if you’re looking to put your football knowledge to the test, there’s a market to fit your preferences. Here are some of the most common ways you can bet on the World Cup:
World Cup tournament betting
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Tournament winner: This outright market allows you to bet on which international team will win the World Cup final and lift the trophy.
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To reach the final: If you’re confident that a team will reach the World Cup final, but you’re not sure if they’ll win the match, then this betting market is for you.
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Group winners: The first stage of the World Cup sees teams split into groups of four. These teams face off in a round-robin format, with the top two advancing to the knockout stage. A group winner bet lets you predict which teams will score the most points in their group.
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Top goalscorer: This betting market allows you to place a wager on which individual player will score the most goals over the course of the tournament.
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Top assists: Similar to the top goalscorer, the top assists betting market is for predicting which player will receive credit for the most assists in the World Cup.
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Golden Glove: The Golden Glove, formerly known as the Lev Yashin Award, goes to the best goalkeeper at the World Cup. Bettors can predict the winner of the Golden Glove in this betting market.
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Golden Ball: The Golden Ball award recognises the best overall player at a World Cup, with previous winners including Lionel Messi, Zinedine Zidane, and Diego Maradona. If you want to predict the next Golden Ball winner, you can bet on the outcome using this market.
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Golden Boot: FIFA awards the Golden Boot to the top goalscorer at a World Cup, but placing a bet on the winner differs slightly from betting on the ‘top goalscorer’ market. Multiple players can tie as a tournament’s top goalscorer, but the Golden Boot is typically awarded to just one player.
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Best young player: The FIFA Young Player Award is given to the best competitor in a World Cup who is 21 years old or younger. Bettors can predict the winner using the ‘Best young player’ betting market.
World Cup match betting
There’s more to World Cup betting than just predicting outright markets, as individual matches also have multiple ways to play along. Here are some of the ways you can get involved in the action:
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Match winner: This betting market is as simple as it sounds. Simply choose a match, and place a bet on which side you think will score more goals by the end of the game.
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Goalscorers: You can bet on which individual players you expect to score a goal by the end of a match. This could be a bet on one player to score, or on multiple players to put the ball in the net.
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Under/over: An under/over bet sets a line for how many goals will be scored in a game, and allows you to wager whether more or fewer goals will be scored.
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BTTS: BTTS stands for ‘Both Teams To Score’. These bets allow you to predict whether both sides in a match will score a goal. A ‘yes’ bet predicts both teams will score, but if you think one team will earn a clean sheet or the game will end in a 0-0 draw, you can back a ‘no’ bet.
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Accumulator: Accumulator bets, also known as ‘acca’ bets, combine multiple predictions into one package. The twist is that each bet needs to be successful to receive a payout, so while the potential winnings are high, they also come with high risk.
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Handicap: A handicap bet is like a match winner bet, but one team is given a points deficit to overcome by the end of a game. If one side is favoured to win, a handicap bet allows you to predict whether the other side will win once a set number of goals is deducted. This means you could even receive a payout if the team you placed a bet on loses overall!
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Live betting: Bets don’t have to be placed in advance of a game. You can also take advantage of live, or ‘in-play’ betting, where you place wagers in the middle of a match. This allows you to react to unexpected events like injuries, red cards, and changes in form.
World Cup betting strategies
If you’re new to World Cup betting, it can be difficult to find a strategy that works for you. We’ve put together some tips you can apply to your play to help you make the most of your money. Here are our top World Cup betting strategies you can follow in your next game:
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Follow some of the favourites: While betting on the favourite for a match might not earn you as much in profits as an upset, it’s a more reliable choice and can help minimise losses. If one team looks particularly dominant during their World Cup displays, try following their games and see if you can capitalise on their momentum. However, there is of course no guarantee that the favourites will always win.
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Pay attention to the news: The World Cup can be a chaotic tournament where anything can happen. Players can be injured, sent off, or experience a run of poor form. By doing your research ahead of a game, you’ll be able to adjust your betting strategy accordingly.
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Explore multiple bets: While single bets are a reliable option, there are plenty of opportunities to boost your returns by placing multiple wagers and accumulators. Make sure to look into your options and find the best combination of bets for your style of play.
Common World Cup betting mistakes
When betting on the World Cup, new players often make common errors. These can not only affect your chances of winning, but also your enjoyment of the betting experience. Here are a few things to avoid when placing your bets:
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Betting with your heart, not your head: One of the most common mistakes bettors make is always backing their favourite team to win, even if it looks incredibly unlikely that their bet will be successful. Make sure to always bet rationally and do your research before placing a wager.
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Chasing losses and betting too much: The most important thing to remember when betting is that you should be playing for pleasure, not profit. If you stop enjoying your experience, take a break and set up some boundaries. Never wager more than you can afford, and avoid chasing unsuccessful wagers with more bets, as this can lead to even bigger losses.
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Tunnel vision betting: Some players fail to take the wider context of a game into account when placing their bets. For example, if a team has already secured a first-place finish in their group, they may feel less pressure to win their last game before the knockouts. Remember to consider the whole tournament, not just the one match you’re watching.
Start playing today with Betway
At Betway, we offer competitive odds on all the biggest football markets and matches, including the FIFA World Cup. With dozens of sports and leagues to choose from, there’s something for every kind of player! Sign up today and start playing along with your favourite teams.
You can also read our Betway Insider blog for all the latest updates, news, betting picks, and guides.
