World Cup betting guide 2026: Odds, bookmakers & expert strategies

Betting Guides

Ahead of what will undoubtedly be the biggest renewal, we’ve put together the ultimate World Cup betting guide. It covers a variety of key betting areas, from expert betting tips and experience-backed strategies to limited-time welcome offers and odds boosts. If you’re looking to brush up on your World Cup betting knowledge, then simply continue reading below.

Introduction to our World Cup betting guide

For those who don’t know, the 2026 World Cup will take place in Canada, Mexico and the US, and for the first time ever, it will contain 48 teams.

More teams mean more groups and more matches, which also means more betting action, making the 2026 FIFA World Cup the biggest of all time in terms of both betting popularity and turnover.

At Sports Mole, we pride ourselves on providing UK readers with in-depth betting content, and we’re here to help you improve your betting knowledge ahead of what will be a truly gigantic betting event.

Key details of the 2026 World Cup:

• Location: North America
• Host countries: Canada, Mexico, United States
• Date: 11 June 11 to 19 July 2026
• Competing teams: 48
• Number of games: 104

Read on for our FIFA World Cup betting guide, detailing exactly how to bet on the World Cup.

How to get started with World Cup betting

To get started, sign up with one of the best World Cup betting sites & deposit funds, navigate to the World Cup section, select your market, add your bet to the slip and confirm your stake. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Choose a bookmaker – Select a UKGC-licensed betting site such as bet365, William Hill or Ladbrokes.
2. Register an account – Complete the sign-up process and verify your identity
3. Deposit funds – Add money using your preferred payment method
4. Find the World Cup section – Navigate to football, then to the World Cup category
5. Select your market – Choose from outright winner, match result, goalscorer markets, etc.
6. Add to bet slip – Click the odds to add your selection
7. Enter your stake and confirm – Input how much you want to bet and place the wager

---

World Cup betting, explained

Football World Cup betting is no different from most football betting. For example, you will be able to bet on all of the same markets that you can bet on when it comes to domestic or continental football competitions, such as the Premier League or the UEFA Champions League.

The only real difference is that the World Cup is played over a much shorter, much more intense schedule. The matches come thick and fast and the competition only lasts for a month or so.

Understanding World Cup betting odds

World Cup betting odds are really no different to any type of football betting odds, so if you’re someone who has a good grasp of betting odds in general, then you should be good to go.

However, if you find betting odds a little confusing or need more information, don’t worry. We’ll look at how odds work below and detail the different types of betting odds.

World Cup betting odds are just a reflection of perceived probabilities.

Now let’s look at the different odds formats and how to read World Cup betting odds:

Fractional

Fractional odds are by far the most common. All of the best UK betting sites will display their World Cup odds in a fractional format.

It’s very easy to calculate potential returns using fractional odds. The figure on the right of the fraction represents your stake, and the figure on the left of the fraction represents your potential profit. That’s it.

Here’s a quick example:

If you place a bet at 4/1, you’ll receive £4 in profit for each £1 that you stake. Therefore, if you stake £10, you’ll get £40 in profit, plus your £10 stake, so you’ll receive a return of £50.

Decimal

Fractional odds are commonplace in the UK, but it’s also common to see decimal odds, especially if you’re using a betting exchange, like Smarkets or Betfair. You can also choose to change the odds display from fractional to decimal at most online sportsbooks.

Again, like fractional odds, you can very simply calculate your potential returns using decimal odds.

To calculate your potential return using decimal odds, all you need to do is multiply your stake by the decimal odds. If the odds are 4.00, and you’re planning to stake £5.00, multiply £5.00 by four and you’ll get your potential returns of £40. It’s as easy as that.

How to read World Cup betting odds

World Cup betting odds show your potential return on a bet. In fractional odds (e.g. 4/1), the left number shows profit per unit staked – so £10 at 4/1 returns £50 (£40 profit + £10 stake). In decimal odds (e.g. 5.00), multiply your stake by the decimal to get total returns – £10 at 5.00 returns £50.

Here’s how World Cup odds formats compare:

Fractional	Decimal	£10 stake returns	Implied probability
1/1 (Evens)	2.00	£20	50%
2/1	3.00	£30	33.3%
4/1	5.00	£50	20%
10/1	11.00	£110	9.1%

---

World Cup betting markets and bet types

There are hundreds of betting markets available to World Cup bettors, too many to list here, but see below for a breakdown of the type of World Cup betting markets that you’re likely to see.

World Cup pre-tournament markets:

• Outright Winner
• World Cup Top Scorer
• Group Winner
• To Qualify from Group
• Stage of Elimination
• To Reach Semi-Finals
• To Reach Final
• Top Assists
• Player of the Tournament

World Cup pre-match betting markets:

• Match Result
• First Scorer
• Anytime Scorer
• Both Teams to Score
• Total Goals
• Draw No Bet
• European Handicap
• Asian Handicap
• Result & Both Teams to Score
• Result & Total Goals
• Correct Score

---

Where to sign up for World Cup betting: Bookies with welcome offers

The Best World Cup betting sites typically offer welcome bonuses for new customers, free bets, bet boosts and money-back specials. Here’s what’s available from major UK bookmakers:

Bookmaker	Welcome Offer	Key Features
bet365	Bet £10, Get £30	Huge market range, live streaming, cash out
William Hill	Bet £10, Get £40	Trusted brand, easy-to-use app, bet boosts
Ladbrokes	Bet £5, Get £30	Low qualifying bet, acca insurance, money back
Coral	Bet £10, Get £50	Big welcome bonus, price boosts, bet builder
Betfred	Bet £10, Get £50	Generous bonus, unique promos, goals galore
Betway	Bet £10, Get £40	Slick app, player specials, free bet club

bet365 World Cup Offer

The bet365 bonus code unlocks a Bet £10, Get £30 deal. Register, deposit and place a £10 qualifying bet to receive £30 in free bets. For full details on how to claim, see our dedicated bet365 World Cup offer guide.

William Hill World Cup promotion

William Hill’s Bet £10, Get £40 welcome bonus is one of the most generous available. Check out our William Hill World Cup promotion page for claiming instructions.

Ladbrokes World Cup free bets

Ladbrokes are running a Bet £5, Get £30 promotion for new customers – the lowest qualifying bet of any major bookmaker. Read our Ladbrokes World Cup free bets guide to learn more.

Other World Cup betting offers

In addition to welcome offers and free bets, here are some of the likely World Cup betting offers and promotions:

Bet boosts

Bet boosts simply boost the odds of a particular bet. Bet boosts are sometimes presented to users with conditions that stipulate how and where the boost can be used, while other bet boosts have more freedom and can be used in a wide variety of ways.

Acca boosts

Like bet boosts, acca boosts result in larger odds, but only for multiple selections. For example, you may be presented with boosted odds on World Cup accumulators containing four or more legs.

Money back specials

This type of offer usually applies to a specific game. For example, you’ll be able to place a bet on a specific World Cup game and the offer will allow you a refund, usually in the form of a free bet, if your bet loses.

Pro tip: Always check the terms and conditions for wagering requirements, time limitations, minimum bet and odds requirements, and other fine print.

---

Best World Cup betting strategies & expert tips

If you’re looking to bet for anything more than a smidgen of fun, then having a clear strategy is key.

Naturally, every bettor is different, and there’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all approach, though there are a few things that you can do to form the basis of a basic strategy ahead of the World Cup. These are:

---

Common World Cup betting mistakes

We all make mistakes, that’s the nature of the game. Fortunately, there are lots of World Cup betting mistakes for us to tell you about, helping you to improve as a bettor ahead of the FIFA’s showpiece event.

Here are some common World Cup betting mistakes to avoid:

1. Not paying attention to the standings

One big error that some World Cup bettors make is not paying full attention to the standings during the group stages. For example, if you ignore the standings, you may bet on a team to win a game that they don’t really need to, or bet on a game to contain lots of goals when the two teams involved are both likely to be playing for a draw because doing so would be advantageous.

Ensure that you are familiar with the standings and understand the motivation of each team during the group stages. This will help prevent you from making poor betting decisions.

2. Not paying attention to team news

Paying attention to team news is crucial. For example, some players are more important than others, and if certain players are not playing, for whatever reason, a good bet can quickly become a bad bet. Always factor in team, injury updates and squad rotation news into the process of deciding on and placing World Cup bets.

3. Overstaking

Overstaking is often the downfall of a bettor. It’s important not to over stake on any given game or any given bet. No matter how confident you are, no matter how great a bet seems, any bet can easily lose, so it’s essential not to over stake on a single bet/game, as doing so can leave you in a poor position.

From a betting point of view, be smart, focus on the tournament as a whole, and don’t get carried away with any one particular game.

4. Not having a clear strategy

One big mistake that bettors often make when it comes to a massive tournament like the World Cup is failing to have a clear strategy. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and not have a plan, but not having a plan will lead to mistakes, placing poor bets and more likely than not, it will lead to unneeded losses.

5. Chasing losses

One of the worst things that any bettor can do is to chase losses. Chasing losses is nothing but a shortcut to losing, and often losing big.

Plan all of your World Cup bets in advance, don’t bet with money you cannot afford, don’t overstake, and don’t chase losses on unplanned bets when things go wrong. Stay patient, focus on the bigger picture and stick to your strategy.

---

World Cup mobile betting and apps

The above World Cup betting apps are well-designed and available on both iOS and Android devices, which means you can easily place World Cup bets on the go.

These apps offer the same markets, odds and promotions as their desktop counterparts, but with the convenience of betting from anywhere. Look for apps with quick deposit options, live streaming and push notifications for in-play betting.

Safety & responsible gambling

At Sports Mole, we take the subject of responsible gambling very seriously. We urge all of our readers to gamble responsibly, betting only with funds that they can afford to lose.

Suppose you have any questions or concerns regarding responsible gambling or problem gambling. In that case, it’s a good idea to reach out to one of several professional organisations, such as GameCare, GAMSTOP or GambleAware.

Each of the World Cup betting sites we recommend has a responsible gambling section, which can usually be found by scrolling to the bottom of the main page. This section typically includes helpful tools such as deposit limits, time-outs, spending limits, and self-exclusion options.

Last but not least, please do keep your World Cup betting fun. Do not bet on the World Cup in an attempt to make easy gains, and do not bet with money that you cannot reasonably afford to lose. For example, we do not condone or advise betting with money that is needed for bills or living expenses.

UKGC licensing

A significant part of choosing the right betting site involves selecting one that is legitimate. It’s essential to verify whether a side is licensed by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. All sites licensed by the UKGC clearly state this on their website, usually at the bottom of the main page.

If you cannot confirm whether a betting site is licensed and regulated by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, do not use it. All of the sites featured on Sports Mole are licensed by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission.

Ensuring that you’re betting with an officially licensed and regulated sportsbook is essential. If you’re betting with a licensed and regulated operator, you’re not going to fall victim to a lack of fair play.

FAQ on World Cup betting in the UK