Betting on the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Markets and Mistakes Explained

The 2026 FIFA World Cup offers a wide variety of betting markets. Here’s how you can bet on soccer and the World Cup.

FIFA World Cup Soccer Betting - What Markets Are There?

Soccer betting introduces a three-way moneyline, which includes a draw as a third option. This market allows bettors to wager on whether Team A or Team B will win or if the game will end in a draw. For example, if the United States plays Australia, bettors can choose to back the USMNT, back Australia, or choose a draw.

The two-way moneyline, also known as Draw No Bet, returns stakes to bettors in case of a draw. This market is settled during regular time, and extra time and penalties are not factored in. The moneylines are adjusted, and the reduction in odds depends on each bookmaker individually.

Totals, or over/under betting, involves wagering on whether the total number of goals scored in a match will be over or under a set line, usually 2.5 points. The odds of a specific outcome will vary depending on who is playing and how likely a bookmaker thinks a certain outcome is.

Future bets allow sports fans to place a bet on the outright winner of the event, with odds changing as the competition progresses. For example, if the USMNT has +6000 odds of winning a World Cup title at the onset of the event, these odds will shorten as the team progresses. Proposition bets are fun and out-of-the-box, potentially leading to more payouts based on knowledge of the game and player trends.