2026 FIFA World Cup Betting at Betiton UK

The FIFA World Cup is by far the most highly anticipated and exciting event in association football. It’s also the most widely viewed sporting event in the world, drawing an estimated 1.5 billion viewers in 2022.

The World Cup is also a major football betting event in the UK and worldwide, with thousands of punters placing their bets on the teams with the best odds to win the World Cup. Betting on the 2026 World Cup is already available, and despite the competition being more than two years away, bettors are already looking for the bestWorld Cup 2026 odds and predicting the favourites to win.

If you’re interested in World Cup betting, this guide has all the information you need to get started. We’ll discuss the World Cup winner betting odds, how to bet on the World Cup, and how to read FIFA betting odds.

🤑 World Cup 2026 Free Bet	£10
⚽ World Cup 2026 Best Teams	France, Brazil, England, Argentina, Spain
🖋️ World Cup 2026 Betting Markets	Outright Winner, Match Winner, Correct Score, Handicap betting, Golden Boot, Golden Glove, etc
💳 Deposit Methods	VISA, Mastercard, Bank Transfer, Trustly, PayPal, AstroPay, MuchBetter, Skrill, Paysafecard

FIFA World Cup 2026 Format and Fixtures

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will have a new format, officially confirmed and announced in March 2023. For the very first time, 48 teams will compete in the World Cup, and the new format will consist of the usual qualification system, followed by a group stage, a round of 32, a round of 16, and three finals.

Qualifications

The qualifications for the 2026 World Cup are determined by the top teams over six football competitions. Here’s how it works:

• 8 teams from the AFC
• 9 teams from the CAF
• 6 teams from the CONCACAF
• The winners of the OFC Nations Cup
• 16 teams from the UEFA Qualifiers

The other two teams are chosen during a play-off tournament between six teams.

The next stage of the competition is the Group Stage, which will now have 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group and the best eight teams in third place will move on to the Round of 32.

Group Stage

⚽ Teams Playing	📅 Date	📍 Location	⌛ Time
48	11th June 2026	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City	TBA

Round of 32

⚽ Teams Playing	📅 Date	📍 Location	⌛ Time
32	28th June 2026	Los Angeles	TBA

Round of 16

⚽ Teams Playing	📅 Date	📍 Location	⌛ Time
16	4th July 2026	Houston	TBA

Quarter-Finals

⚽ Teams Playing	📅 Date	📍 Location	⌛ Time
8	9th July 2026	Boston	TBA

Semi-Finals

⚽ Teams Playing	📅 Date	📍 Location	⌛ Time
4	14th July 2026	Dallas	TBA

Final

⚽ Teams Playing	📅 Date	📍 Location	⌛ Time
2	19th July 2026	New Jersey	TBA

FIFA World Cup Betting Markets

Football World Cup betting markets are similar to regular football betting, which means there are many different types of bets you can place. From pre-match bets to World Cup qualifiers and live betting, you’ll find a wide range of options.

Below, we explain some of the best World Cup bets that are popular among bettors and how they work.

• Outright Winner – This is the most straightforward type of bet and involves trying to predict the country that will finish in first place and win the 2026 World Cup. This type of bet is also popular because it can provide a good cashout opportunity as the competition progresses.
• Match Winner – This is a common betting market for any football tournament or competition. For this market, you bet on the team you think will win the match. You don’t need to guess the final score, just the winner of the game.
• Correct Score —The correct score bet can be placed on any match throughout the 2026 World Cup. For this bet, you’ll need to predict the exact full-time score. Remember, this bet applies to the 90-minute result; goals scored in extra time (or during penalties) don’t count.
• Golden Glove —The Golden Glove is an award given to the best goalkeeper of the entire tournament. A panel selected by FIFA decides the winner based solely on his performance throughout the World Cup. As the name indicates, the Golden Glove market is a bet on the player you think will win this award.
• Golden Boot —The Golden Boot is another award given at the end of the competition. It is awarded to the player who achieved the highest number of goals in the World Cup. The number of assists will be considered if he’s tied with another player. The Golden Boot bet involves predicting which player will win this award.

World Cup Live Betting at Betiton UK

Pre-match betting tends to be the most popular among punters who bet on the World Cup, but live betting should also be considered for this event. Live betting for the World Cup refers to placing any bet once the competition has already started. It can be done from the first match until the last part of the final match.

Pre-match bets allow you to capitalise on better odds, but betting during a match or at any point during the whole competition also offers a number of advantages. Although the odds usually offer low payouts, your bets have a much better chance of winning if you have a good understanding of the game and you’re following the game closely.

FIFA World Cup Betting Odds

The first step to betting on the World Cup is to know how to read betting odds. Three formats can be used to display football World Cup odds: decimal, fractional, or American format. These are explained briefly in the following sections.

Decimal

The decimal odds format is the most popular way for online bookmakers to display World Cup odds. This format is commonly used in Ireland, and the UK, where it’s considered the standard type. Decimal odds are usually considered the easiest to read because they show the payout you will receive if you bet £1 and win.

For example, if the odds are 3.70, a £1 successful bet would return a £3.70 payout. If you bet £10 with the same odds, the return would be £37. As you can see from this example, it’s fairly easy to calculate your potential payout with this format. It also makes it easy to compare odds across different online sportsbooks.

Fractional

The fractional odds format is a more traditional way of displaying odds, but they’re still common in the US. Betiton also offers fractional odds, but you can choose your preferred format in the settings. This format is also quite easy to understand, although many find it more complicated than the previous format.

Let’s take another example to understand this format better. If the odds are 7/1, you win £7 for a £1 bet. Similarly, if you bet £10 with the same odds, you would receive a £70 payout if your bet wins.

American

The least common format used by Irish bookmakers is the American format, also known as moneyline odds. Of course, this is widely used to display sports betting odds in the United States, but not so much in Ireland or the UK.

FIFA World Cup odds in this format are displayed as a positive or negative number. The positive number represents the favourite (the side or player most likely to win), while the negative number represents the underdog (the side or player least likely to win). The positive number tells you how much you can win if you place a £100 bet, while the negative indicates the amount you need to wager to get a £100 profit.

Favourites to Win the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Although the World Cup is still two years away, most betting sites have already published their odds, which means you can already start betting on the World Cup. Three clear favourites to take the trophy in the first North American World Cup have already emerged, but with the competition still a few years away, it’s safe to say that the odds are highly likely to change.

The strongest contenders for the trophy at the moment are France, Brazil, and England. Argentina and Spain have also been predicted as top favourites to win, with nearly equal odds of taking home the title.

Below are the latest World Cup betting odds available. As the competition begins, these odds are very likely to fluctuate.

⚽ Team	⚖️ Odds
✔️ France	6.40
✔️ Brazil	6.50
✔️ England	7.60
✔️ Argentina	9.25
✔️ Spain	9.95

How to Bet on the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Betiton UK?

Now that you’ve reviewed the latest FIFA World Cup betting odds, you may be ready to place your inaugural wager! However, before you can do so, you’ll need to create an account with Betiton UK. Here’s a detailed guide to kick off your online World Cup betting journey:

1. Begin by navigating to the Betiton UK sportsbook section.
2. Locate and click on the Sign Up button positioned at the top left-hand corner of the screen.
3. Proceed to input your chosen email, username, and password, ensuring your username is distinct and your password is secure.
4. On the subsequent secure screen, provide your legal name, date of birth, physical address, and preferred currency. This information will be utilized to verify your identity and age, and to establish your new account.
5. Once your details are verified, you’ll see the Deposit tab and your account balance displayed at the top left-hand corner. Select your preferred payment method and deposit £10 or more. Remember, to be eligible for the Betiton UK welcome offer, you must deposit and wager at least £15.
6. Your deposited funds and any bonuses should be credited instantly. You are now ready to begin placing wagers and constructing your first World Cup football betting slip. Simply navigate through the relevant menu options on the left-hand side of the screen to find the matches you wish to bet on.

World Cup 2026 Betting Tips by Betiton UK

• Consider live betting – Many punters’ World Cup 2026 betting strategies are often limited to pre-match bets only. Our advice is to consider World Cup live betting as well because it allows you to capitalise on in-game knowledge and favourable odds.
• Combine different bets – One of the best ways to try online World Cup betting is to combine different markets or try ACCA bets. Rather than limiting yourself to outright or match-winner bets, diversify your bets across various teams, matches, and markets. You might also want to consider an ACCA, which combines at least three selections.
• Start thinking about your bets early on – Although predicting the winner of the 2026 World Cup a year or more in advance can be tricky, you can get much better odds when placing your bets in advance.
• Understand the new format – Remember that the 2026 World Cup will follow a new format. It’s important to understand how this might impact player and team performances.
• Stay updated with the latest World Cup news and developments – If you want to try FIFA World Cup betting, you should read the latest news to learn about recent developments in the tournament, injuries, or changes to the lineup.

Ranking the Best Football Teams

The best football teams in the world are determined by the official FIFA rankings. The FIFA Men’s World Ranking has been the official ranking system for all men’s national teams since 1992. Eight teams have consistently held a top position in these rankings.

Currently, these are the rankings:

⚽ Team	🔢 Ranking
Argentina	1st
France	2nd
England	3rd
Belgium	4th
Brazil	5th
Netherlands	6th
Portugal	7th
Spain	8th
Italy	9th
Croatia	10th

Who Won the World Cup Previously?

📅 Year	📍 Host Country	🏆 Winner	🥈 Runner-Up
2022	Qatar	Argentina	France
2018	Russia	France	Croatia
2014	Brazil	Germany	Argentina
2010	South Africa	Spain	Netherlands
2006	Germany	Italy	France

How Do Nations Qualify to Play in the World Cup?

The way the qualifications work is that only 32 nations from 6 different regions are allowed to qualify in the World Cup. Each region has a predetermined number of spots that nations will be able to qualify for. These regions, alongside their respective regional governing bodies, are:

• Europe – UEFA
• Asia – AFC
• Africa – CAF
• Oceania – OFC
• North America – CONCACAF
• South America – CONMEBOL

Europe has the largest number of spots due to having the most powerful teams on the planet. In fact, Europe has 13 spots. As for other regions: Africa has 5 spots, South America and Asia have 4 spots each, and North America has 3, whilst Oceania doesn’t have a spot.

For national teams from Oceania to be able to qualify for the World Cup, they need to win a playoff. Countries will play against each other in their respective regions, trying their best to secure their spots in the prestigious tournament.

On the other hand, the host country automatically qualifies in the tournament, so they don’t need to play for their spot in the World Cup. The World Cup 2022 host country is Qatar, so their spot in the tournament is already secured.

In the following sections, we’re going to briefly look at the regional bodies that govern the regions that we mentioned above as well as taking a closer look at the qualifying matches that happen in those regions.

World Cup Qualifiers Europe – UEFA

Europe has the largest number of spots due to having the most powerful teams on the planet. In fact, Europe has 13 spots. There are 55 UEFA nations, all of which get to participate in the qualifiers. The UEFA World Cup qualifiers are divided into the following 2 stages:

1. First round (groups): the qualifying nations are divided into 10 groups composed of either 5 or 6 teams. These teams then play every other team in their group garnering points depending on their performance. The top performing team of each group—a total of 10 teams—immediately qualifies for the FIFA World Cup.
2. Second round (play-offs): 12 teams (the runners-up of the group stages and best 2 UEFA Nations League teams) are then placed into 3 play-off paths consisting of 2 semi-final matches and a final match. The resultant 3 winners make it to the World Cup.

World Cup Qualifiers Africa – CAF

The African region is allocated 5 spots. The CAF World Cup qualifiers are split into 3 rounds, as we’ll be looking at below:

1. First round: 28 teams (those ranked 27–54 in the July 2019 FIFA World Rankings) play home-and-away 2-legged matches. The 14 winners then advance to the following round.
2. Second round: 40 teams (the teams ranked 1–26 and the 14 winners from the first round) are separated into 10 groups of 4 teams each. The teams play home-and-away matches with every other team in their group. The resultant 10 winners (the top team from every group) from round advance to the final round.
3. Third round: the 10 winners from the previous round are paired into home-and-away matches. The pairings are done according to the teams’ ranking in the FIFA World Rankings. The 5 winners from this round make it it to the World Cup.

World Cup Qualifiers Asia – AFC

Whilst we said that the Asian region has 4 spots, they technically have 4.5 spots, which is a weird thing to say. How can there be half a team? Well, let’s explain how the AFC World Cup qualifiers work. The World Cup qualifiers for AFC are split into 4 rounds as below:

1. First round: 12 teams (those ranked 35–46 according to the April 2019 FIFA World Rankings) play 2-leg home-and-away matches. The resultant 6 winners move forward to the next round.
2. Second round: 40 teams (those ranked 1–34 and the previous 6 winners) are divided into 8 groups of 5 teams each. The teams play every other team in their respective groups in home-and-away matches. The top team from each group and the 4 best runners-up then advance to the third round.
3. Third round: the 12 winners from the previous round are divided into 2 groups of 6 teams each. Each team will play every other team in their group in home-and-away matches. The best 2 teams from each group qualify for the World Cup—a total of 4 teams—whilst the 3rd best qualify from the fourth and final round.
4. Fourth round: the 2 3rd best teams from the previous round play a single match. The winner qualifies for the inter-confederate play-offs, which are 2 play-offs played between 4 teams from the AFC, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, and OFC regions. The winning 2 teams from the inter-confederate play-offs qualify for the World Cup.

South America World Cup Qualifiers – CONMEBOL

South America are also allocated 4.5 spots for their national teams to qualify. Thankfully, however, the CONMEBOL region has the simplest qualification process from all the regions. The CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers follow the below process:

• All 10 CONMEBOL teams participate in the qualifiers, where they play in a round-robin (each team plays every other team) series of home-and-away matches. The resulting top 4 teams immediately qualify for the World Cup whilst the 5th team qualifiers for the inter-confederation play-offs.

CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Matches

Similarly, national teams under the CONCACAF body (those in the North American, Central American, and Caribbean regions) are allocated 3.5 spots in order to qualify for the World Cup. The CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers are divided into 3 rounds:

1. First round: 30 teams (those ranked 6–35 according to July 2020 FIFA World Rankings) are divided into 6 groups of 5 teams each. Each team plays every other team in their respective group once in 2 home and 2 away matches, with the top team from every group—a total of 6 teams—advancing to the second round.
2. Second round: the 6 teams from the previous round play in predetermined 2-legged home-and-away matches. The resultant 3 winners advance to the final round.
3. Third round: 8 teams (the previous round winners and the top 5 CONCACAF national teams according to the same July 2020 FIFA World Rankings. The teams are: Mexico, the USA, Honduras, Jamaica, and Costa Rica) play against one another in home-and-away matches. The best 3 teams immediately qualify for the men’s World Cup whilst the 4th qualifies for the inter-confederate play-off.

Oceania World Cup Qualifiers – OFC

Oceania get the short end of the stick by receiving only 0.5 spots. Whilst they have a particular, 3-round format, due to the pandemic, the FIFA World Cup 2022 OFC Qualifiers had to be played in a different format. In fact, the OFC qualifiers for this edition of the World Cup had a very streamlined format:

• Due to many national teams withdrawing before playing, 8 teams were drawn into 2 groups of 4. Each team plays every other team in their group once. The top 2 teams in each group then advanced to a single-leg knockout match. The winner qualified for the inter-confederate play-offs.

The usual format for the Oceania World Cup qualifiers, however, works as so:

1. First round: the 4 lowest qualified teams according to the FIFA World Rankings play against each other in a round-robin format. The emergent winner advances to the next stage.
2. Second round: 8 teams (the winner from the previous round and the remaining OFC national teams) are divided into 2 groups of 4 teams. The top 3 teams from each group advance to the final round.
3. Third round: the previous 6 winners are then separated into 2 groups of 3 teams. The teams play home-and-away against every other team in their group. The 2 winning teams from each group then meet in a 2-legged match. The winner qualifies for the inter-confederate play-offs.

World Cup Promotions and Offers by Betiton UK

Betiton UK welcomes new players with a great Welcome Offer exclusively for sports bettors. You might also find other promotions and offers on our site from time to time, but the Sports Betting Welcome Offer is considered one of our best ones.

If you sign up and bet at least £15 on any of your favourite sports, you’ll be able to claim a £10 Free Bet to use on World Cup bets, subject to terms and conditions. You can also use your Free Bet on any other sport. Please read the full terms and conditions on the promotion page before depositing or claiming a bonus.

Responsible Gambling

The 2026 World Cup online betting is an exciting activity for many punters, and many agree that it increases the thrill of the whole event. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind the principles of responsible gambling to ensure you’re betting safely. We encourage you to bet responsibly and remember that it’s a form of entertainment, not a way to make money.

You can find several tools to help you stay on track and ensure you don’t gamble with money you can’t afford to lose when the World Cup comes around. These include deposit limits, time limits, reality checks, and the option to self-exclude. We also invite you to read our responsible gambling tips when betting on any sport or even playing at our online casino.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions About World Cup Betting