With less than two months until the opening match in Qatar, World Cup betting enthusiasts are getting prepared.
This is the first World Cup to be held in the Arab world. Plus, it’s the first time for the tournament to be played during British wintertime. Eight stadiums in five host cities will host the event, with the 80,000-seater Lusail Iconic Stadium holding the final.
From the latest betting odds to explaining the top markets, this guide covers all the bases. Furthermore, we have up-to-date tips and predictions on group matches through to the final.
If you’re yet to join an online sports betting site, it’s worth checking out the bet365 bonus code to see what promotions are available to new customers.
Here you’ll find some of the best betting sites and offers to claim when betting on the competition.
Favourites To Win
As sports betting sites take more wagers on the popular outright winner market, there is plenty of shuffling around in the odds. Here’s a rundown of the current favourites based on their prices at most sportsbooks.
- Brazil (6.00) – As the most successful nation with a record five World Cups, Brazil are always a threat in this tournament. The heat in Qatar will favour them compared with some other countries. Furthermore, attackers like Neymar Jr, Richarlison, and Jesus ensure they will score goals.
- France (6.50) – Reigning champions France will be looking to defend their crown in 2022. With a plethora of star players like Mbappe, Lloris, and Benzema still in the squad from Russia, France will be tough to beat.
- England (7.50) – After making the semi-finals in the last tournament and the final of the Euros, England are third-favourites in the betting. Harry Kane can score goals against any team, but how will they cope with the climate?
- Argentina (7.50) – Like Brazil, the weather should be more favourable to the South American teams, which benefits Argentina. With a solid record in previous tournaments and a host of star players, expectations are high in Buenos Aires.
- Spain (8.50) – After only one loss in qualifying and an unbeaten start to the latest Nations League campaign, Spain are back among the favourites for the World Cup. With players like Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati, maybe this is their time again.
AFCON champions Senegal are 101.00 (100/1) in the World Cup betting odds. They are the lowest-priced African side, with others, such as Morocco (201.00) and Ghana (251.00), having longer odds to win the tournament.
Favourites For The Golden Boot
A bet on which player you think will win the Golden Boot is another popular betting market. The interesting aspect of this bet is that a player can win the Golden Boot even if his country doesn’t win the tournament.
- Harry Kane (7.0) – Understandably, the England marksman and 2018 Golden Boot winner Harry Kane is the pre-tournament favourite at 7.00. He’s on the cusp of becoming England’s all-time top scorer and will be fired up for this tournament.
- Kylian Mbappe (9.0) – Second favourite at around 9.00, and with a strong French squad, Mbappe will be sure to add to the 27 goals he already has for the national team.
- Neymar (13.0) – Many bettors will like Neymar’s decent price. He has scored 8 goals in 8 games for PSG so far this season, so he’s arriving in Qatar in good form.
- Benzema (13.0) – Although Benzema is a threat, he’s not as prolific as some of the other names mentioned. Furthermore, he’s only played once so far this season.
- Ronaldo (15.0) – Does CR7 have one last dance? It’s a big ask for him to win the Golden Boot, but if anyone can do it, it’s Ronaldo.
If you are considering a bet on this market, you want to research the teams in each group. Then, plot a potential route to the final. As mentioned above, the Golden Boot winner doesn’t have to come from the winning country.
However, more often than not, the player’s team will at least make the quarter-finals or semi-finals. Therefore, look for the sides that you think are going to be in the latter stages when planning your Golden Boot strategy.
World Cup Betting Tips
With four matches each day throughout the group stages, World Cup betting is intense. It is different from betting on domestic soccer in Tanzania or the EPL because the games come thick and fast. That is why it’s best to get prepared.
Previous Years’ Trends
You may think that previous trends are not valid for a tournament that is held every four years, but history points to the opposite. For instance, these are the number of semi-final appearances for the top nations over the past eight tournaments (dating back to Italia 1990).
- 5 – Germany
- 4 – Brazil
- 3 – France
- 3 – Netherlands
- 2 – England
- 2 – Argentina
- 2 – Italy
These nations are the powerhouses of world football, which reflects in the betting. Of course, there are still ups and downs, but these previous trends can help identify the teams that historically perform best on the biggest stage.
Additionally, it’s worthwhile assessing trends on a country versus country basis. As an example, England play Wales in Group B.
Some bettors may fancy Gareth Bale’s Wales to cause an upset, but England have won the last six meetings between these teams. The last time Wales won was in 1984. This shows that there are possible trends to follow when planning your betting strategy.
Team Line-ups
Pre-match World Cup betting is a double-edged sword. Punters can often get better betting odds if they place their wagers early, but the downside is they don’t know the line-ups.
However, the huge amount of media coverage of this event can help you make a fairly accurate prediction. That said, some managers don’t like to give much away, which keeps the opposition guessing.
Therefore, if you want to place bets on individual players, such as the first goalscorer, the best strategy is to wait until the line-ups are official (usually one hour before kick-off). For other markets, knowledge of the teams is still important, but manageable.
Form Of Individual Players And Teams
With the international break from domestic football in September, it is the perfect opportunity to assess the current form of the 32 teams that will be playing at the World Cup.
For instance, Senegal faced Bolivia while teams in Europe played in the Nations League. Check out the squads, as these will be similar to those arriving in Qatar.
From this, you can also analyse the club form for individual players and apply that to your betting strategy. Make a note of the team and player performances that you can refer to later when you want to place your wagers.
What You Should Avoid When Betting On The World Cup?
There are 60+ matches in this World Cup, so you must give some thought to your bankroll. You should only bet with money that you can afford to lose.
Once you’ve decided on your betting budget, ensure that you stick to it. However, there are other things to avoid during this frenzy of football.
Not Researching Your Bets
Placing wagers on unresearched bets is akin to playing roulette. You may win some wagers, but the likelihood is that you’ll lose more. The good thing about betting research is that it mainly involves watching as many games as possible.
You can identify teams, formations, and how individual players are performing. After that, you can apply this research to future matches (once you know the line-ups). Furthermore, in-depth research will help to pinpoint optimal betting markets that may lead to higher returns.
Loss-Chasing
The urge to chase losses is very real, but you must resist because – more often than not – it leads to greater losses. Rule 101 of sports betting is to accept you will not win every bet you place.
An example of chasing losses is a bet on England to beat Iran in their opening group match on Monday 21st of November. However, Iran score in the 90th to claim a famous draw. The emotion of being so close to a winning bet, but it being snatched away, draws you into looking at the next match.
You see it’s Senegal vs Netherlands. The Dutch should win that easily. You bet on them to win and over 2.5 goals because the betting odds will recoup your losses. Netherlands win 2 – 0. The bet is lost.
Let’s rewind. Unfortunately, the England bet didn’t win. That is part of sports betting. The late match that day is Wales vs the USA; you have plenty of time to research the teams and players. You stick to your staking plan, so your World Cup bankroll is intact.
Only Choosing Low-Odds Bets
Many new bettors believe that low odds bets are ‘banker selections’. However, there’s no such thing. To offer an example, Italy vs Estonia (September 21st 2022) in the U19s European Championships. Pre-match, Italy’s odds to win were 1.03. They lost 2 – 0.
Therefore, you want to avoid only betting on low odds selections because you will come unstuck eventually. This is not to say that you should avoid them altogether; rather, you should mix your strategy based on your research.
Some punters look for wagers with odds around 2.40 – 2.80. The theory behind this strategy is that if you place 40 bets, you can lose 23 of them and still end up with a profit.
Potential World Cup Betting Offers
Online gambling sites will have a plethora of offers ready for the World Cup. Bettors can take advantage of these promotions to enhance their experience. These are some of the bonuses that you’re likely to find from most betting sites.
- Deposit bonuses – Several betting sites in Tanzania already offer deposit bonuses for new customers. Essentially, a customer’s deposit is matched by a certain percentage, so they have real money and bonus money to bet with.
- Free bets – We are sure that there will be an abundance of free bets available for the World Cup. These promotions come in ways, such as a free bet club. Here, bettors must place a certain number of wagers to qualify for a free bet.
- No deposit bonuses – An interesting betting offer is a no deposit bonus. These can be offered to new customers simply for registering an account.
- Accumulator bonuses – No doubt, there will be betting sites with accumulator bonuses. These work by boosting the payout of winning accumulator bets.
As a note, all World Cup betting promotions will come with certain terms and conditions. These can include wagering requirements for deposit bonuses and minimum betting odds for free bets. You should always read the t&cs before claiming an offer, so you’re fully aware of the rules.
In summary, if you’re a football fan, World Cup betting is fun and exciting if you do it the right way. The opening fixture sees hosts Qatar take on Ecuador on Sunday, 20th of November. The other Group A match featuring Senegal and Netherlands kicks off on Monday, along with the Group B games – England vs Iran and the USA vs Wales.
Of course, you don’t have to bet on every match. Instead, only choose those that you have researched and found good betting value for.
World Cup Betting FAQ
For more information about World Cup betting, browse through the frequently asked questions below.
No, Tanzania didn’t qualify for the World Cup. They finished 3rd in their CAF qualification group with 8 points. Only the group winners (DR Congo) advanced to the 3rd round of qualifying.
It is in Qatar. This is the first time it has been staged in an Arab world country. In 2026, the Tournament will be hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Brazil are the current favourites; however, that could change as the big money starts to flood in nearer the start of the tournament.
– Research every bet to find the best predictions
– Set a budget and never bet with money you can’t afford to lose
– Look for the best odds to maximise your returns
– Never chase your losses
– Utilise World Cup betting promotions from betting sites
