World Cup 2026
Football
The FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event on the planet, and the expanded World Cup 2026 promises to be the most exciting edition yet. With 48 teams, 104 matches and more betting markets than ever before, there are countless opportunities for bettors to find value throughout the tournament.
At Oddsator, our goal is simple: help you compare World Cup 2026 odds from multiple bookmakers in one place. Instead of checking every sportsbook individually, you can quickly compare prices, identify the best available odds and make more informed betting decisions before placing your bet.
Whether you're looking for World Cup betting odds on individual matches, outright winners, player specials or group winners, comparing odds should always be your first step. Even a small difference in price can significantly increase your long-term returns over the course of a tournament.
Every bookmaker prices markets slightly differently. While the favourites often look similar across sportsbooks, the odds can vary enough to make a real difference to your potential payout.
For example, one bookmaker may offer France at 5.00 to win the tournament while another offers 4.50. If you always accept the first price you see, you're potentially leaving money on the table.
Oddsator makes comparing odds simple by collecting prices from multiple bookmakers into one easy-to-use comparison page. Instead of spending time switching between websites, you can instantly identify the highest available price before placing your wager.
The World Cup lasts more than a month, meaning hundreds of betting opportunities become available. Whether you're betting on one match or following the tournament from the opening fixture to the final, consistently comparing odds can have a major impact on your overall results.
Bookmakers also adjust prices throughout the day. Team news, injuries, betting activity and market confidence all influence the current price. Because odds change frequently, checking several bookmakers before kick-off is one of the easiest ways to improve your betting value.
The World Cup offers one of the widest selections of betting markets available in football. From simple match predictions to detailed player specials, there's something for every type of bettor.
The traditional 1X2 market remains the most popular option for every World Cup match.
You simply predict whether the home team wins, the away team wins or whether the match finishes in a draw. Although the tournament is played at neutral venues, bookmakers still display markets using home and away designations.
This market is ideal for bettors looking for straightforward predictions and often forms the foundation of accumulator bets.
Beyond the standard 1X2 market, bookmakers also offer a range of match result options.
These include:
Draw No Bet
Double Chance
Half Time/Full Time
Win Either Half
Win to Nil
These markets provide more flexibility depending on how you expect a game to unfold. In matches featuring a strong favourite, alternative match result markets can sometimes offer better value than backing the outright winner.
Goals markets remain among the most heavily bet options during the World Cup.
Rather than predicting who wins, bettors simply estimate how many goals will be scored during the match.
Popular options include:
Over 2.5 Goals
Under 2.5 Goals
Over 1.5 Goals
Over 3.5 Goals
High-scoring teams often attract significant interest in these markets, especially during the group stage where attacking football is more common.
Another extremely popular market is Both Teams To Score.
Instead of predicting the winner, you simply decide whether both teams will find the net during the 90 minutes.
This market often appeals when two attacking nations face each other or when defensive weaknesses are expected to play a major role.
Handicap betting gives one team a virtual head start before kick-off.
If France are heavy favourites against a smaller nation, bookmakers may offer France -1.5 goals. For the bet to win, France would need to win by at least two goals.
Likewise, underdogs receive a positive handicap, giving bettors more attractive prices on competitive matches.
Handicap betting is especially useful when backing favourites with shorter odds.
Correct Score is one of the most challenging markets available but also offers some of the highest potential returns.
Instead of predicting only the winner, bettors attempt to forecast the exact final score.
Results such as 2-1, 1-0 or 3-2 usually offer considerably higher odds than traditional match markets.
Many bookmakers now allow customers to combine multiple selections from the same game using a Bet Builder.
You might combine:
Match winner
Harry Kane to score
Both Teams To Score
Over 2.5 Goals
These customised bets allow bettors to create higher-priced selections based on their own match predictions.
While match betting attracts the most attention every day, outright markets remain among the biggest betting opportunities throughout the competition.
Instead of predicting a single match, outright bets focus on events that unfold across the entire tournament.
The most popular outright market is simply predicting which country will lift the trophy on July 19.
As of June 2026, France and Argentina are considered the leading contenders by most bookmakers. Spain follows closely behind, while England and Brazil continue to attract significant betting interest.
Because outright prices change throughout the tournament, many bettors place wagers before the tournament starts before deciding whether to trade or hedge their positions later in the knockout rounds.
The expanded tournament introduces more groups and additional qualification scenarios.
Rather than backing the outright winner, bettors can simply predict which nation finishes top of its World Cup group.
This market often provides attractive value when one team has a favourable schedule or strong squad depth.
Qualification markets are also popular, allowing bettors to back teams to reach the knockout round without necessarily winning their group.
Bookmakers also offer markets on how far each team progresses.
Popular options include:
Reach the Round of 32
Reach the Round of 16
Reach the Quarter Finals
Reach the Semi Finals
Reach the Final
These markets are often less volatile than outright winner betting because a team does not need to win the tournament for your bet to land.
For example, Argentina and France are heavily backed to reach at least the semi-finals thanks to their experienced squads and consistent tournament performances.
Several nations enter the tournament with genuine ambitions of lifting football's biggest trophy.
France are widely considered one of the strongest squads in international football.
Their depth across every position, combined with elite attacking talent and tournament experience, explains why many bookmakers currently price them among the favourites.
Kylian Mbappé is also expected to feature prominently in Golden Boot markets thanks to his consistent scoring record.
The defending champions once again enter the tournament among the favourites.
Argentina combine experience with emerging talent, making them one of the most balanced teams in the competition.
Their recent tournament pedigree continues to attract significant betting support in outright markets.
Spain have become one of the fastest-rising teams in world football.
A new generation of technically gifted players has transformed the national side into one of the most exciting attacking teams heading into World Cup 2026.
Nico Williams is expected to play an important role and also features in several player special markets.
England arrive with another talented squad and renewed expectations.
With Thomas Tuchel in charge and Harry Kane leading the attack, bookmakers expect England to challenge for the latter stages of the tournament.
England's outright odds continue to place them among the strongest European contenders.
Brazil remain one of football's most successful nations.
Although their outright odds have drifted slightly following inconsistent recent form, few bettors are willing to overlook a team with such remarkable World Cup history.
Their attacking quality means Brazil will continue attracting betting interest throughout the tournament.
The expanded FIFA World Cup introduces a brand-new format, with 48 teams competing across 12 groups. Every group stage fixture plays a crucial role in determining which nations progress to the knockout round, making this phase one of the busiest periods for football bettors.
Unlike previous tournaments, there are more matches, more betting opportunities and more markets available from bookmakers. Every day features multiple games, allowing bettors to compare odds across dozens of fixtures while looking for the best available prices.
The group stage is often where value can be found. Some favourites start slowly, while underdogs frequently exceed expectations in the opening rounds. Monitoring form, injuries and team selection throughout the group stage can help identify opportunities before the bookmakers fully adjust their prices.
Markets available during the group stage include:
Match winner (1X2)
Both Teams To Score
Total Goals
Asian Handicap
Correct Score
Draw No Bet
Bet Builder
Player Specials
Many bookmakers also offer markets on individual groups, including group winners, teams to qualify and exact group finishing positions.
Once the group stage concludes, attention shifts to the knockout round, where every match becomes a winner-takes-all contest.
Knockout football creates unique betting opportunities because teams often adopt more cautious tactics. Extra time and penalty shootouts also become possible, leading bookmakers to offer additional markets unavailable during the group stage.
Popular knockout betting markets include:
Team to Qualify
Match Result (90 minutes)
Extra Time
Penalty Shootout
To Lift the Trophy
Because there is no room for error, odds often react quickly to injuries, suspensions and tactical changes. Comparing bookmakers becomes even more valuable during the latter stages of the competition.
Player specials continue to grow in popularity during every major international tournament.
Rather than focusing on team results, these markets allow bettors to back individual players to achieve specific outcomes across one match or the entire tournament.
Common player specials include:
First Goalscorer
Anytime Goalscorer
Score or Assist
Total Shots
Shots on Target
Assists
Cards
Player to Score in the Tournament
Golden Boot Winner
The Golden Boot is awarded to the tournament's leading goalscorer.
Historically, players representing nations that reach the semi-finals or final have a significant advantage, simply because they play more matches.
Kylian Mbappé is widely considered the favourite heading into World Cup 2026 thanks to his outstanding scoring record for France.
Harry Kane is expected to be one of his biggest challengers. England's captain has consistently delivered at major tournaments and remains one of the world's most reliable finishers.
Bettors should also keep an eye on emerging attacking stars. Players from teams expected to make deep tournament runs often provide strong value before the competition begins.
Goalkeepers and defensive units also feature in numerous betting markets.
Bookmakers commonly offer odds on:
Team to keep the most clean sheets
Goalkeeper to win the Golden Glove
Team to win to nil
Individual match clean sheets
Defensively strong nations often attract attention in these markets, particularly during the knockout stages where matches are generally tighter.
Understanding betting odds makes it much easier to compare prices and identify value.
Although bookmakers around the world display odds differently, the underlying probability remains exactly the same.
Decimal odds are the most common format across Europe.
They show the total return for every unit staked, including your original stake.
For example:
Odds of 2.00 return €20 from a €10 stake.
Odds of 3.50 return €35 from a €10 stake.
Odds of 5.00 return €50 from a €10 stake.
Decimal odds are straightforward, making them the preferred format for most football bettors.
Fractional odds remain popular in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
For example:
2/1 returns £20 profit from a £10 stake.
5/2 returns £25 profit from a £10 stake.
7/1 returns £70 profit from a £10 stake.
While some experienced bettors still prefer fractional odds, decimal odds are generally easier when comparing prices across multiple bookmakers.
Every betting price represents an implied probability.
A team priced at:
2.00 implies a 50% chance.
4.00 implies a 25% chance.
10.00 implies a 10% chance.
Bookmakers build their prices around these probabilities while also including their own margin.
Successful bettors often compare the bookmaker's implied probability with their own assessment of a match. If they believe the true chance is higher than the odds suggest, they may have identified a value bet.
Many casual bettors underestimate how important odds comparison can be.
Imagine placing 100 bets during the World Cup. If you consistently accept lower prices instead of finding the highest available odds, your overall return can decrease significantly over time.
Some bookmakers may offer odds that are 10–15% higher than competitors on certain markets.
That difference may seem small on one individual bet, but across an entire tournament it can represent a substantial increase in potential profit.
That's why Oddsator is built around one simple principle: helping bettors compare prices quickly before every wager.
Instead of opening multiple bookmaker websites, you can see available odds side by side and choose the best value.
Whether you're betting on today's fixtures, the outright winner or player specials, comparing prices should always be part of your betting routine.
No betting strategy guarantees success, but making informed decisions can improve your chances of finding long-term value. The World Cup is one of the most analysed sporting events in the world, which means prices can move quickly as new information becomes available.
Here are a few practical tips to consider before placing your next World Cup bet.
The easiest way to improve your potential return is by comparing odds from multiple bookmakers. Even if the difference between two prices appears small, consistently taking the best available odds can have a significant impact over time.
Oddsator helps you compare betting odds in one place, making it easier to identify the highest available price before kick-off.
World Cup odds rarely stay the same for long. Prices can change following injury news, confirmed line-ups, tactical announcements or heavy betting activity.
Keeping an eye on market movements allows you to understand where money is being placed and whether there may still be value available before the match begins.
Many bettors focus solely on predicting who will win a match, but the World Cup offers hundreds of additional markets.
Depending on the fixture, markets such as Both Teams To Score, Correct Score, Total Goals, Player Specials or Bet Builder may offer better value than the traditional 1X2 market.
Exploring multiple betting markets also gives you more flexibility when analysing each game.
The expanded World Cup format creates different betting opportunities throughout the competition.
During the group stage, stronger teams may rotate their squads after securing qualification, while nations needing a result often take greater attacking risks.
The knockout round brings a different dynamic, with teams becoming more cautious as every mistake can end their tournament.
Understanding these tactical differences can help you make more informed betting decisions.
Even the strongest favourites lose football matches.
Rather than increasing your stake after a losing bet, many experienced bettors prefer using a consistent staking plan throughout the tournament.
Responsible bankroll management helps reduce emotional decision-making and allows you to focus on identifying value instead of chasing losses.
Oddsator is designed for football fans who want to make smarter betting decisions.
Instead of acting as a bookmaker, Oddsator allows you to compare World Cup betting odds from multiple licensed sportsbooks in one place. This makes it easier to identify value, compare prices and choose the bookmaker offering the best available odds for your selected market.
Whether you're looking for match odds, outright bets, player specials or group winner markets, Oddsator gives you a fast overview without the need to switch between different betting sites.
By comparing prices before every wager, you can maximise potential returns while making more informed betting decisions throughout World Cup 2026.
World Cup 2026 is set to be the biggest FIFA World Cup ever, featuring 48 teams, 104 matches and an enormous selection of betting opportunities from the opening game through to the final.
Whether you're backing the outright winner, predicting group winners, betting on individual matches or exploring player specials, comparing odds should always be your starting point.
Bookmakers regularly offer different prices on the same outcome, and even small variations can make a meaningful difference over the course of a tournament. By using Oddsator to compare World Cup 2026 odds, you can quickly identify the best available prices, monitor changing markets and place your bets with greater confidence.
From the group stage to the knockout rounds and the final, Oddsator helps you stay one step ahead by making World Cup odds comparison fast, transparent and easy to use.
