Football World Cup 2026

Quick Facts About the FIFA World Cup 2026™ for Bettors

The FIFA World Cup is a recurring competition played every four years in a different country or multiple countries, depending on the organisation. Qualifying tournaments are played on every continent to determine the national teams that will be participating in the next World Cup.

The host country of the current tournament is the first participating country, as its national team is pre-qualified and doesn’t need to compete for its place in the main event. That means that the hosts of the World Cup 2026™, Canada, Mexico and the USA, already have spots in the main draw.

The 2026 World Cup is the first with 48 participating countries. All 48 teams that qualify for the tournament will be divided into 12 groups of four. In this new format, the two best teams from each group will qualify for the round of 32, along with the eight best third-placed teams.

That’s where the knockout phase begins, and it all ends with the grand final that determines the World Cup winner.

Steps to Start Betting on the World Cup 2026™

If you have already selected the bookmakers you wish to bet with, then all you have to do is go ahead and find the World Cup betting markets you enjoy, and place your bet. 

If you wish to check out new sportsbooks, then you can take a look at our recommended options and compare them. Here are a few steps to follow:

• Make sure that the sportsbook is available in your country. Check out the licence it holds and whether it can conduct operations in your home country.
• Read our sportsbook review. It will give you the details about the operator and point out the pros and cons of betting there.
• Check out the bonus offers. Start with the welcome bonus offer, and then the offers for the existing customers. As the tournament approaches, event-specific promotions should also be available.
• Compare the odds for the available markets. When bookmakers provide better odds, that brings extra value in the long term.
• Create an account with the bookmaker you choose. You can sign up with multiple sportsbooks to give yourself more options for bonus funds and better odds.
• Place your wager. Make sure to check the statistics and available information to make an informed bet, whether it’s an outright bet or one placed after the tournament begins.

Popular World Cup Bet Types

Outright betting markets at football World Cup betting sites became available when we learned most of the participating teams, and that’s when the qualifications were complete. You can then snatch some quite generous odds should you decide to make your predictions early on.

Here are some of the most popular betting markets for football World Cup betting:

Outright (Futures)

Once the outrights are available, you can start tracking how the odds change as the event approaches. If you feel confident in your predictions, you can bet on the tournament winner, top scorer, best player, or any other markets you enjoy betting on when doing your football World Cup betting.

Winner (Moneyline) Market

The winner market (also known as moneyline) is a very popular market for both single and accumulator bets. It allows you to predict the match winner or whether the match will end in a draw. It is available outright for the group stage once the draw determines the match schedule.

It is a popular market for major football tournaments, so you can use it for the Euro Championship betting as well, for example.

Over/Under or Totals

Over/under or total is a goals market in football, allowing you to predict the number of goals you expect to be scored in a match. You are not guessing the exact number of goals in a match with this market, but whether the total number will be over or under a certain number.

For example, you can bet that the total number of goals in a match will be over three goals or under 1.5 goals. This can be a tricky market, especially for the first round, as you don’t know the shape of the teams.

Player Markets

Player markets are connected to a player’s individual statistics. You can go on and predict how many goals a player will score in a match or in the whole tournament if it is available as an outright market. You can also bet on a player to score a goal or get a yellow card in a match, for example.

WC 2026 Betting Promotions

FIFA World Cup betting sites will not miss a chance to create special promotions for this major football event. Promotions are designed to attract bettors and give them that little something extra when betting on these matches.

Here are some examples of the bonuses you can use at World Cup football betting sites:

Welcome Bonuses 

One part of the experience when signing up with a new sportsbook is its welcome bonus offer. These typically come in the form of a deposit match bonus or free bets.

The best offers at the best football World Cup betting sites will be available for multiple deposit methods and have low wagering requirements for the bonus funds, so make sure to check the bonus terms and conditions before claiming it.

Free Bets

Sportsbooks sometimes give free bets as a welcome bonus or as a promotion to reward players’ loyalty. They give bettors extra funds to use for their bets, whatever sport they enjoy betting on, unless otherwise specified. Free bets can typically be used for major football tournaments, and the World Cup shouldn’t be an exception.

Event-Specific Bonuses

The special promotions designed for FIFA World Cup betting should be a real treat. These promotions are active during the tournament and allow you to bet on select markets for the given round. Check the offers regularly once the tournament is underway so you don’t miss out on extra value for your money.

Cashback Bonuses

Cashback bonuses are always welcome as they give you a certain part of your stake back when your bet loses. Of course, the bigger the percentage of the cashback, the better, but the correct amount depends on the size of your stake. The best football World Cup betting site for you will be the one that offers the best promotions for you.

What to Look for in a Trusted World Cup 2026 Betting Site

When we talk about a trusted sports betting site, we don’t mean only that the bookmaker should have a valid licence in place. Here are some other factors that make a sports betting site the right choice for you:

• Good bonus offers: When we say a good bonus offer, we don’t mean just the amount of bonus funds, but also low wagering requirements and few or no restrictions on use.
• Varied selection of payment options: Bettors appreciate it when they have a selection of payment options to choose from, such as bank cards, e-wallets, and even cryptocurrencies.
• Plenty of betting markets: Starting with the outrights, it is really the more the merrier when it comes to betting markets for the World Cup.
• Betting features: We find that a dynamic live betting section and a robust Bet Builder are some of the essential tools for boosting bettors’ experience.
• The quality of odds: Offering competitive odds, or even slightly better odds than the competition, can bring value to bettors in the long term.
• Safe and fast withdrawals: Safe withdrawals are a must for the 2026 World Cup betting sites. Bettors also want withdrawals that are fast and fee-free.

Final Whistle: Football World Cup Facts You Need to Know

The first football World Cup was played almost a century ago, in 1930, in Uruguay. The host nation was also the tournament winner, defeating Argentina 4–2 in the final. The US national team won third place, with Yugoslavia claiming fourth.

There have been 22 editions of the World Cup so far, with the omission of the 1942 and 1946 editions for obvious reasons. Here are some interesting facts about the tournament:

• Eight countries have won the FIFA World Cup so far: Brazil, Germany, Italy, Argentina, France, Uruguay, England and Spain.
• Brazil is the only country that has played in every World Cup since 1930 and the one with the most titles, having won the tournament five times.
• It is estimated that five billion viewers watched or interacted with the 2022 World Cup.
• The 2026 World Cup™ will be the first to be hosted by three countries and the first one with 48 teams in the main tournament.
• The current trophy that is awarded to the winner was first awarded in 1974.

The World Cup is easily the most popular football tournament in the world, and there are plenty of FIFA betting sites where you can bet on the event. Check out the outright markets if you enjoy betting in advance, or you can maybe bet on the qualifiers, as there will be plenty of action before the tournament starts on 11 June 2026.