The biggest international soccer event is coming to the US next year – as well as Canada and Mexico – and many fans will be looking forward to watching the very best players in the world battle it out for the chance to lift the iconic World Cup trophy. The competition is bigger than ever before, with 48 nations now taking part.
You may be taking a look at a Sportsbetting.ag online review to see if they offer the big markets. But, once you choose a sportsbook, you will also need to know some basics when it comes to wagering on the World Cup – an event that only happens every four years.
In this article, we will look at some of the kinds of bets that are available before and during the World Cup, as well as which teams you might want to keep an eye on. The eyes of the world will be on this tournament next year, and even though we only know the identity of a few of the nations definitely competing at the moment, there is still a lot to take in before the first ball is kicked next summer.
The Tournament
If you are not a huge soccer fan, you may be unaware that the FIFA World Cup is the most prestigious international competition in the game. Club tournaments, such as the Champions League in many regions, may now attract the most attention, with the top players performing for legendary clubs, but the World Cup is an event like no other.
First held in 1930, the tournament has grown in size and stature for almost 100 years and is still regarded as the best way to determine which nation is the best. It is held every four years, with the current champion being Argentina, after Lionel Messi led his team to glory in Qatar in 2022.
Types of Bets
When it comes to the types of bets available to soccer fans, the World Cup is remarkably like many other soccer competitions. Although it doesn’t have the regular season format of most leagues, there is an opening group phase, before teams play each other on a single-game elimination basis until the final.
That means that there is a wide range of bets open to the fans. Individual games can be wagered on, with all the different live, or in-play, markets that are available. But you can also bet on group winners, the top goal scorer for the tournament, and – of course – the outright winner.
Research Teams
Even the biggest soccer fans might not have always heard of some of the players competing at the World Cup. Due to the global nature of the tournament, some athletes might be little known to a wider global audience. So, it will really help if you do a lot of research before the games kick off.
With the event bigger than ever before, there are even more teams competing, meaning that some “smaller” nations will be represented. If you follow world soccer at all, you will probably know about the top teams from Europe and South America, but there will be more countries from Oceania, Africa, and Asia to do your homework on to ensure you place your bets with as much information as possible.
The Favorites
Even over a year away from the kick-off of the 2026 World Cup – and with only a handful of the participating nations actually known – we can still make a fairly accurate prediction of the teams with the best chance of winning the tournament. With a few exceptions, the nations still playing in the later rounds are usually very familiar.
It looks as though Lionel Messi may use this World Cup as a farewell to the international game, but even if possibly the greatest of all time isn’t playing, reigning champion Argentina would have a good chance of winning again. Bitter rival Brazil will also want to be involved towards the end, and the likes of Spain, France, and England are the best in Europe at the moment.
There has never been a World Cup champion from outside of Europe or South America, but all three of the hosts will want to put their home advantage to good use. All games from the quarterfinals on will be played in the US as well, so local fans might want to take that into consideration when thinking about a patriotic wager.
Group Stage Upsets
As much as the final might well include one of Argentina, Spain, or France, the other almost guaranteed aspect of any World Cup is that we will see some upsets in the opening phase. Even though the groups are seeded and should provide little in the way of shocks, relaxed attitudes and complacency can sometimes ruin the chances of the big teams.
With so many teams competing next year, there is likely to be a number of strange scores in the group stage, and it could be worth taking a close look at the schedule once the qualification campaigns have ended. Opening games in groups always provide some good betting opportunities, as well as the final games of the phase, especially when progression might have already been assured.
Heat Will Play a Part
There are plenty of factors that need to be taken into consideration when you are planning your betting strategy for the World Cup. One of those that is sometimes forgotten about is how the different teams will react to the host nation’s climate. Top players are well-used to playing all across the globe these days, of course, but it will be very hot in some host cities towards the end of the tournament.
The previous World Cup was held in Qatar and was actually moved to the winter to combat the intense heat of the Middle East. Even though places like Atlanta and Miami will be very hot in July, there has been no such schedule alteration this time around. So, pay special attention to how the athletes fare in the early games and make a note of any fatigue caused by the temperature.
