How To Bet on the World Cup: Complete 2026 Guide with Expert Tips

Looking for how to bet on the World Cup? You’ve come to the right place. This World Cup betting guide helps beginners and experienced South African punters understand key markets and odds, compare bookmakers, and make more informed bets.

Register at the Best World Cup 2026 Betting Sites

The first thing you need to do when looking for how to bet on the World Cup is select a licensed and reputable bookmaker. The sports betting sector offers many excellent choices, which we have covered in our best World Cup betting sites guide, featuring platforms with tournament-specific promotions and competitive betting odds.

This table showcases top operators for the 2026 edition:

Select the Best Promotions

One of the most appealing aspects of World Cup betting is the sheer volume of promotions available. You should look for offers that give you extra value on your deposits or bets. We have listed five of the most relevant promotions bettors should consider for the tournament:

• Sports Welcome Bonuses
• World Cup Promotions
• Deposit Match Bonuses
• Free Bets and Risk-Free Bets
• Odds Boosts/Enhanced Odds

Sports Welcome Bonuses

A Sports Welcome Bonus is an offer available to new customers when they register an account. It is a one-time promotion that lets you explore a betting site without using too much of your own money.

These bonuses typically take one of two forms: a No-Deposit Bonus or a First Deposit Match. Sites like Betway offer a Deposit Match bonus: they will match your first deposit by 100% giving you double the funds to start betting.

You can claim this offer by using the current Betway Sign Up Code, SPMAX, when registering.

Those looking for an opportunity to bet without depositing can take advantage of the latest Hollywoodbets Promo Code offer instead.

World Cup Promotions

These are custom-designed for the tournament and are an ideal option to use as you understand how to bet on the World Cup. They typically include unique challenges such as leaderboards, predictor competitions or boosts on specific matches.

For example, a bookmaker might offer a refund if a match ends in a goalless draw or a bonus if a certain player scores a hat-trick.

Bafana fans can expect more of these promos as the tournament approaches, with bookmakers likely to roll out offers built around the national team’s campaign.

Deposit Match Bonuses

A Deposit Match Bonus is offered to both new and existing customers. The bookmaker matches a percentage of the funds you add to your account, effectively increasing your betting power.

While a first deposit match is a welcome bonus, deposit matches are also meant to reward active and loyal punters. These are often tied to specific events or time frames. For example, Easybet has a 50% deposit match bonus available on Fridays for weekend betting.

Free Bets and Risk-Free Bets

Free bets are vouchers that we can use on a World Cup match without spending our own money. If we win, we collect the profit, but not the stake. Risk-free bets mean that if our first bet loses, the bookmaker refunds the stake, usually as a free bet. We use these promotions to place a slightly more ambitious wager that we might otherwise avoid.

Odds Boosts/Enhanced Odds

Odds boosts directly increase the potential profit on a specific outcome. The bookmaker temporarily raises the odds for a market, such as a star player to score or a certain team to win. These are usually limited-time offers, and mostly available for pre-match markets.

When learning how to bet on the World Cup, these boosts can be a simple way to maximise your returns.

Diversify Your Bets

Knowing how to bet on the World Cup means moving beyond simply predicting the match winner. The key to long-term success is diversifying your wagers across various markets. This section explains both the different betting markets and how to interpret the odds.

Types of Betting Markets

The World Cup offers a number of betting options for every single match. Beyond the final outcome, we can find value in niche and special markets.

Full-Time Result (1X2)

This is the most common and simplest market. We bet on:

• 1: The home team (or the first team listed) to win.
• X: The match to end in a draw.
• 2: The away team (or the second team listed) to win.

This market is settled based on the score after 90 minutes plus injury time.

Outright Betting

These are long-term bets on the overall tournament winner, the top goalscorer, or which teams will win their respective groups. These markets are popular because they offer great odds well in advance of the competition.

Total Goals (Over/Under)

Here, we are simply betting on whether the total number of goals scored in a match will be over or under a specific number set by the bookmaker (e.g., Over or Under 2.5 goals). This market is ideal for matches when we are unsure of the winner but have a strong feeling about the match’s tempo. For example, when two attack-minded teams face off, they’ll likely be plenty of goals, so we can bet on the over option.

Both Teams to Score (BTTS)

This market involves predicting either Yes (both teams will score at least one goal) or No (at least one team will fail to score). It’s also another valuable option to explore when you don’t want to bet on the match winner. Group stage matches often produce goals at both ends.

Asian Handicap

This is a market where bookmakers give a ‘virtual advantage’ to one team to balance the odds. It eliminates the draw outcome and can increase potential returns on a favourite. For instance, a handicap of -1.5 means our chosen team must win by two or more goals for our bet to succeed. It’s useful when backing an overwhelming favourite.

Understanding World Cup Odds

There are 3 main types of betting odds formats:

• Fractional: Used in the UK (potential profit/required stake or deposit, e.g. 5/1)
• Decimal: Used mainly across Europe and Africa (e.g. 1.00)
• Moneyline: Used mostly in the US and Canada (whole number with a + or -, e.g. +200)

In South Africa, bookmakers primarily use Decimal Odds (also known as European odds). This format has been found to be the easiest to use when calculating potential winnings.

How Decimal Odds Work

Decimal odds represent the total return (including our original stake) for every R1 we bet.

Total Return = Stake x Decimal Odds

Scenario	Decimal Odds	Stake (R)	Calculation	Total Return (R)	Profit (R)
Favourite Win	1.50	100	100 x 1.50	150	50
Underdog Win	4.00	100	100 x 4.00	400	300

Implied Probability

You can also use decimal odds to quickly determine the bookmaker’s estimated probability of an event occurring. Calculate this as 1 /Decimal Odds x 100.

For the favourite at 1.50, the bookmaker estimates a 1 / 1.50 x 100 = 66.67% chance of winning.

By understanding these odds, you can quickly compare different bookmakers and identify value when learning how to bet on the World Cup.

Research Your Bets

A key difference between a casual punt and a successful betting strategy is the quality of research. We always advocate making informed decisions rather than relying on guesswork.

• Evaluate Historical Head-to-Head Records: Look back at how two teams have performed against each other in the past. Some rivalries have unexpected trends, with a historically weaker team often upsetting a stronger one.
• Study Player Form and Team Performance: Look beyond simple wins and losses. How has the team performed in their most recent qualifying matches or friendlies? Are their key players scoring goals, or are they struggling with injuries? During the tournament, we need to focus on performance over the six months leading up to it.
• Analyse Squad Depth and Injuries: The World Cup is physically demanding, so squad depth is crucial. If a team’s most important player is ruled out, adjust your expectations and bets accordingly.
• Consider Coaching and Tactics: The coach’s tactical approach can heavily influence a match outcome. Does the coach stick to an attacking formation regardless of the opponent, or do they adjust defensively? Understanding the tactical approach helps us predict goal markets, such as Over/Under 2.5.

Use this thorough, detailed approach when setting your World Cup betting strategy.

2026 World Cup Guide

The 2026 tournament marks an unprecedented expansion of the World Cup. It will be jointly hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico. This event, set for 11 June 2026 – 19 July 2026, will be the largest ever, featuring more teams, more games and a new format.

The key facts for the 2026 tournament include:

• Host Countries: USA, Canada, and Mexico.
• Participating Teams: 48 teams (up from 32).
• Matches: A record 104 total matches.
• Tournament Length: Approximately 39 days.

Tournament Format

The expanded 48-team format introduces significant changes to both the group and knockout stages. The goal is to provide more countries with the chance to compete at the highest level.

Group Stage

The new setup involves 12 groups of four teams each.

• Advancing Teams: The top two teams from each of the 12 groups will advance. They will be joined by the eight best third-placed teams.
• Total Qualifiers: 32 teams will move on to the knockout rounds.

Knockout Stage

The knockout stage begins with the Round of 32.

• Structure: This is a single-elimination bracket, moving from the Round of 32 to the Round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals and finally, the Final.
• Key Dates: 11 June 2026 (Opening Ceremony), 28 June (Knockouts/Round of 32) & 19 July (Final).

2026 World Cup Teams

The expansion to 48 teams has led to a significant increase in the qualification spots for every continental region. The six FIFA Confederations now have the following minimum qualification slots:

FIFA Confederation	No. of Teams	Qualified Teams
CAF (Africa)	9	Algeria Cabo Verde Côte d’Ivoire Egypt Ghana Morocco Senegal South Africa Tunisia
UEFA (Europe)	16	Germany Switzerland Scotland France Spain Portugal Netherlands Austria Norway Belgium England Croatia
CONCACAF (North & Central America, Caribbean)	6	USA (Hosts) Canada (Hosts) Mexico (Hosts) Panama Curaçao Haiti
CONMEBOL (South America)	6	Argentina Ecuador Columbia Uruguay Brazil Paraguay
AFC (Asia)	8	Japan Iran Uzbekistan South Korea Jordan Australia Qatar Saudi Arabia
OFC (Oceania)	1	New Zealand

The final two spots will be decided by an inter-continental playoff tournament on 26 and 31 March 2026.

This playoff will see DR Congo (CAF) join New Caledonia (OFC), Bolivia (CONMEBOL), Iraq (AFC), Jamaica, and Suriname (CONCACAF).

Key Stats and Trends

Understanding historical trends can give you an edge when you consider how to bet on the World Cup. Past performance often shapes future outcomes, especially for large tournaments.

• Host Nation Advantage: Historically, host nations have performed exceptionally well. Six out of 22 tournaments have been won by the host country. This could give the USA, Canada, and Mexico a boost.
• Continental Success: The World Cup has been won by European or South American nations, with the majority of these victories occurring when the tournament was held on their home continent. This factor is diluted by the North American setting, but it remains a strong trend.
• Tournament Winners: Only eight unique nations have ever won the World Cup. Brazil won the tournament five times, the most of any team in history.
• Final Appearances: Germany leads with 8.

African World Cup Records

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will mark the first time that 9 African (CAF) nations will be able to compete out of the total 48 nations.

It was previously 5 out of 32. Since 1934, there have only ever been 4 African teams to reach the quarter-finals/top 8:

• Cameroon (1990)
• Senegal (2002)
• Ghana (2010)
• Morocco (2022)

Records	Holders
Most Appearances	Cameroon (8 times)
Best Finish (Farthest Stage Reached)	Morocco – Qatar 2022 (Semi-finals)
African Player with Most Goals	Asamoah Gyan – Ghana (6 goals)
African Team with Most Match Wins	Nigeria (6 wins)

Bet Responsibly During the World Cup

While learning how to bet on the World Cup is important, the most critical lesson is betting responsibly. The high volume of matches and promotions during the tournament can lead to impulsive decisions.

All bookmakers featured in this World Cup betting guide offer responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits, self-exclusion options and cooling off periods that you can take advantage of if the need ever arises.

If needed, we also recommend contacting the National Responsible Gambling Programme’s (NRGP) toll-free counselling hotline: 0800 006 008/076 675 0710.

Final Thoughts

We have covered every aspect of how to bet on the World Cup, from finding the right bookmaker to understanding betting markets, odds and responsible gambling.

By using this World Cup betting guide, you are now equipped to make smart, informed betting decisions. We encourage you to start researching your favourite teams and exploring the promotions available today.

FAQs