The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico will make history as it will be the first to be held across three nations and the first to feature an expanded format with 48 teams.
The tournament will spark a worldwide betting frenzy, with bookmakers guaranteed to offer a plethora of different markets on football’s biggest showpiece.
With that in mind, read on as we show you how and where to bet on the World Cup before assessing some key betting options for the tournament.
How to Bet on the 2026 World Cup
Familiarising yourself with the terms and concepts of sports betting is imperative.
Wagering should always be done responsibly. Set aside a specific amount of money you can afford to lose and stick to it.
Make sure you analyse the odds and study the players, teams and their previous performances, including the head-to-head records in the World Cup and other major tournaments.
If you are new to betting, start with small wagers and work your way up. That way, you can learn the ropes without risking huge losses.
As you gain experience and confidence, you can adjust your stakes accordingly.
Where to Bet on the World Cup
The rise of online bookmakers has made betting on the World Cup easier than ever. However, make sure to use a fully licensed and regulated website to operate in your jurisdiction.
For example, if you are located in the Republic of Ireland, 22bet is a reliable platform. The 22bet site is one of the most popular and trustworthy betting sites for Irish punters.
You can also compare odds across multiple platforms to see which one offers the best value given that not all bookmakers offer the same prices.
Look out for a platform that has a user-friendly interface and a mobile-friendly site or app that allows you to place wagers at your convenience and monitor your bets even when you’re on the go.
Many sportsbooks offer welcome bonuses, free bets or special promotions for major tournaments. Those options also help you maximise your profits with as minimal stake as possible.
Betting Options
The World Cup offers a plethora of betting markets to suit all kinds of bettors. The simplest and most popular type of bet is predicting the winner of a match or the entire tournament.
Here are some other popular betting options:
- Double Chance: Covers two outcomes: a win for either team or a draw.
- Draw No Bet: Eliminates the draw as an option. If the match ends in a draw, your stake is refunded.
- Over/Under: Predict whether the total number of goals scored in a match will be over or under a specified number.
- Handicap Betting: This levels the playing field by giving the underdog a virtual advantage or putting the favourite at a disadvantage.
You can also make player-specific bets, predicting who will score the first goal or at any point during the match, or who will receive yellow or red cards.
Betting on the 2026 World Cup
It is difficult to predict who will be the next world champions, but the 2024 Copa America and European Championships tournaments have offered some useful pointers.
Argentina will have their eye on becoming the first side to win back-to-back World Cup titles since their South American rivals Brazil achieved the feat in 1958 and 1962.
It is unclear if Lionel Messi will lead Argentina’s title defence, but you can bet on the Copa America champions to reach the latter stages of the tournament.
Spain are also fancied to mount another title run after claiming the Euro 2024 crown and are a decent betting option for punters searching for potential World Cup winners.
La Roja have now gone 16 games unbeaten in all competitions, and they recently cruised into the Nations League quarter-finals by taking 16 points from a possible 18.
France and Brazil are also worth considering. France will be keen to conquer the world after a gut-wrenching final defeat in Qatar, while Brazil are aiming to break their title drought.
Punters looking for a value bet would be well-advised to consider backing Germany, who are one of the most improved teams in the world under head coach Julian Nagelsmann.
