The World Cup is known for its intense competition, showcasing the highest level of football talent on the global stage. Football World Cup betting is a thrilling dimension of the global tournament, offering fans an opportunity to engage with the competition on a different level. As the world's best teams vie for supremacy on the pitch, enthusiasts can immerse themselves in the excitement of predicting match outcomes, top goal scorers, and even the eventual champion. With online sportsbooks offering odds, live betting, and various promotions, football fans can enhance their viewing experience and potentially turn their foresight into winnings, making each match a high-stakes spectacle both on and off the field.
What is World Cup
The World Cup is the premier international football tournament organized by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). It is held every four years, bringing together national teams from around the world to compete for the title of champions. The tournament has a rich history dating back to its inaugural edition in 1930. Teams qualify for the World Cup through regional qualifying tournaments, and the final tournament consists of 32 teams (though this number may vary in future editions). The event typically spans a month, with teams competing in a series of matches leading to the knockout stages, ultimately culminating in the final to determine the champion.
2026 World cup winner odds
While the official confirmation of tournament participants through qualification results is pending, bookmakers have promptly established early odds for the nations anticipated to qualify. Presently, France and Brazil jointly hold the status of equal favorites with odds of 7.0. In the same vein, England has odds of 8.0, while Spain and Argentina are both listed with odds of 11.0. Germany follows closely with odds of 12.0, and Portugal rounds out the favorites with odds of 15.0.
For those engaging in serious betting, it's crucial to possess a firm understanding of Euro betting odds, as they act as indicators of the likelihood of a specific outcome. This probability is commonly known as the "implied probability." Take, for instance, France's odds of 7.0 to win the World Cup. What do these odds suggest about France's chances in the tournament?
Calculating the implied probability is a straightforward process, expressed by the formula: Implied probability = 1 / decimal odds. Therefore, for odds of 7.0, the implied probability of England winning the championship in 2026 is 14.3%.
When working with fractional odds, the calculation varies and can be determined using the formula: Implied probability = Denominator / (Denominator + Numerator). For instance, if the odds are represented as 6/1, the implied probability would be 1 / (1 + 6), equivalent to 1/7, or 14.3%.
World cup qualification
In 2026 the championship will see some major changes. To start with, the field will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams. It will also be hosted by three nations; the USA, Canada and Mexico. The action kicks off on June 8, 2026, and runs through July 3, 2026.
Teams within FIFA's purview are entitled to participate, and they are required to go through the qualification process to reach the ultimate stage of the tournament. The qualification rounds are segmented based on confederational association.
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group A | 67 | |||||||||
| 1 | Serbia | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 20 | 60 |
| 2 | Portugal | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 57 |
| 3 | Republic of Ireland | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 54 |
| 4 | Luxembourg | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 18 | -10 | 9 | 48 |
| 5 | Azerbaijan | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 18 | -13 | 1 | 48 |
| Group B | 43 | |||||||||
| 1 | Spain | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 19 | 37 |
| 2 | Sweden | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 33 |
| 3 | Greece | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 26 |
| 4 | Georgia | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 12 | -6 | 7 | 24 |
| 5 | Kosovo | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 15 | -10 | 5 | 24 |
| Group C | 21 | |||||||||
| 1 | Switzerland | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 13 | 18 | 14 |
| 2 | Italy | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 11 | 16 | 13 |
| 3 | Northern Ireland | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 9 | 11 |
| 4 | Bulgaria | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 14 | -8 | 8 | 11 |
| 5 | Lithuania | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 19 | -15 | 3 | 10 |
| Group D | 8 | |||||||||
| 1 | France | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 15 | 18 | 8 |
| 2 | Ukraine | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 7 |
| 3 | Finland | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 6 |
| 4 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 12 | -3 | 7 | 6 |
| 5 | Kazakhstan | 8 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 20 | -15 | 3 | 6 |
| Group E | 6 | |||||||||
| 1 | Belgium | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 6 | 19 | 20 | 6 |
| 2 | Wales | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 15 | 5 |
| 3 | Czechia | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 14 | 3 |
| 4 | Estonia | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 21 | -12 | 4 | 3 |
| 5 | Belarus | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 24 | -17 | 3 | 2 |
| Group F | 2 | |||||||||
| 1 | Denmark | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 30 | 3 | 27 | 27 | 2 |
| 2 | Scotland | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 23 | 2 |
| 3 | Israel | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 23 | 21 | 2 | 16 | 1 |
| 4 | Austria | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 19 | 17 | 2 | 16 | 0 |
| 5 | Faroe Islands | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 23 | -16 | 4 | |
| 6 | Moldova | 10 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 30 | -25 | 1 | |
| Group G | ||||||||||
| 1 | Netherlands | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 33 | 8 | 25 | 23 | |
| 2 | Türkiye | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 27 | 16 | 11 | 21 | |
| 3 | Norway | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 18 | |
| 4 | Montenegro | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 15 | -1 | 12 | |
| 5 | Latvia | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 14 | -3 | 9 | |
| 6 | Gibraltar | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 43 | -39 | 0 | |
| Group H | ||||||||||
| 1 | Croatia | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 4 | 17 | 23 | |
| 2 | Russia | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 6 | 13 | 22 | |
| 3 | Slovakia | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 14 | |
| 4 | Slovenia | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 14 | |
| 5 | Cyprus | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 21 | -17 | 5 | |
| 6 | Malta | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 30 | -21 | 5 | |
| Group I | ||||||||||
| 1 | England | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 3 | 36 | 26 | |
| 2 | Poland | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 30 | 11 | 19 | 20 | |
| 3 | Albania | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 18 | |
| 4 | Hungary | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 17 | |
| 5 | Andorra | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 24 | -16 | 6 | |
| 6 | San Marino | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 46 | -45 | 0 | |
| Group J | ||||||||||
| 1 | Germany | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 36 | 4 | 32 | 27 | |
| 2 | North Macedonia | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 18 | |
| 3 | Romania | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 17 | |
| 4 | Armenia | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 20 | -11 | 12 | |
| 5 | Iceland | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 18 | -6 | 9 | |
| 6 | Liechtenstein | 10 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 34 | -32 | 1 |
World cup winners
Here is comprehensive information about the winners of the championship.
| Hosts | Winner | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 North America | ||
| 2022 Qatar | Argentina | |
| 2018 Russia | France | |
| 2014 Brazil | Germany | |
| 2010 South Africa | Spain | |
| 2006 Germany | Italy | |
| 2002 Japan / S. Korea | Brazil | |
| 1998 France | France | |
| 1994 USA | Brazil | |
| 1990 Italy | Germany | |
| 1986 Mexico | Argentina | |
| 1982 Spain | Italy | |
| 1978 Argentina | Argentina | |
| 1974 Germany | Germany | |
| 1970 Mexico | Brazil | |
| 1966 England | England | |
| 1962 Chile | Brazil | |
| 1958 Sweden | Brazil | |
| 1954 Switzerland | Germany | |
| 1950 Brazil | Uruguay | |
| 1946 | not held | |
| 1942 | not held | |
| 1938 France | Italy | |
| 1934 Italy | Italy | |
| 1930 Uruguay | Uruguay |
World cup past top goal scores
Below is a list of record-holders for the most goals scored in the World Cup.
| Year | Top Scorer(s) | Country | Matches Played | Goals Scored |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Kylian Mbappé | France | 7 | 8 |
| 2018 | Harry Kane | England | 6 | 7 |
| 2014 | James Rodríguez | Columbia | 5 | 6 |
| 2010 | Thomas Müller | Germany | 6 | 5 |
| 2006 | Miroslav Klose | Germany | 7 | 5 |
| 2002 | Ronaldo | Brazil | 7 | 8 |
| 1998 | Davor Suker | Croatia | 7 | 6 |
| 1994 | Oleg Salenko | Russia | 3 | 6 |
| Hristo Stoitchkov | Bulgaria | 7 | 6 | |
| 1990 | Salvatore Schillaci | Italy | 7 | 6 |
| 1986 | Gary Lineker | England | 5 | 6 |
| 1982 | Paolo Rossi | Italy | 7 | 6 |
| 1978 | Mario Kempes | Argentina | 7 | 6 |
| 1974 | Grzegorz Lato | Poland | 7 | 7 |
| 1970 | Gerd Muller | West Germany | 6 | 10 |
| 1966 | Ferreira Eusebio | Portugal | 6 | 9 |
| 1962 | Drazen Jerkovic | Yugoslavia | 6 | 5 |
| 1958 | Just Fontaine | France | 6 | 13 |
| 1954 | Sandor Kocsis | Hungary | 5 | 11 |
| 1950 | Marques Ademir | Brazil | 6 | 7 |
| 1938 | Leonidas da Silva | Brazil | 4 | 8 |
| 1934 | Angelo Schiavio | Italy | 4 | 4 |
How to bet on the World Cup
Placing bets on the World Cup involves a few key steps to enhance your overall experience. First, familiarize yourself with the participating teams and their current form. Next, explore various betting options for Kenyans, including traditional wagers on match outcomes, top goal scorers, and unique prop bets. Researching team statistics, player performance, and historical data can provide valuable insights. Choose a reputable online sportsbook that offers competitive odds, a user-friendly interface, and reliable payment methods. Keep an eye on promotions or bonuses offered by the sportsbook to maximize your betting potential. Consider live betting for real-time engagement during matches. Lastly, gamble responsibly, set a budget, and enjoy the excitement of predicting outcomes in the world's premier football tournament.
World Cup Features
Here are some captivating features and interesting facts of the World Cup:
- The FIFA World Cup stands as the most-watched and anticipated sporting event globally, capturing the attention of billions of fans across continents.
- Legendary players like Pele, Diego Maradona, and Zinedine Zidane have left an indelible mark on the tournament, solidifying their status as football icons.
- The quickest goal in championship history occurred in under 11 seconds into a match when Hakan Sukur scored for Turkey just 10.89 seconds into the game against South Korea in 2002.
- The race for the Golden Boot, awarded to the championship's top scorer, adds an extra layer of excitement as elite strikers strive to etch their names in championship history.
- Brazil have won the most cups of any country - five times. Italy and Germany are close behind with four each.
- Ronaldo is the first man to score at 5 different World Cups
- The 2022 World Cup featured the utilization of the 'Smart Ball' crafted by Adidas. This innovative ball incorporated an embedded sensor enabling precise tracking of its position. This real-time data was instantly transmitted to a smartwatch worn by the referee, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of officiating during the matches.
- Since the inception of the competition, Brazil has been the exclusive country to take part in every championship, amounting to an impressive total of 22 appearances in the championship.
- The World Cup trophy, stolen before the 1966 tournament in England while on display at the Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, was discovered by a dog named Pickles under a bush. The thief managed to evade security, but Pickles played a crucial role in recovering the trophy.
Top Online Sportsbook for Betting on FIFA World Cup
888Starz is a trustworthy bookmaker, offering bettors an advantageous bonus program and the opportunity to place wagers on an extensive array of matches. This encompasses high-profile events such as World Cup 2026, Euro 2024, as well as smaller, local competitions. The platform prioritizes a secure gambling environment, implementing robust security measures. With a diverse range of payment methods, including cryptocurrency, it ensures flexibility for users. Notably, 888Starz caters to a broad spectrum of interests, providing betting odds spanning 50 sports, politics, and entertainment. Beyond sports betting, the platform boasts an eclectic selection of online casino games and live casino experiences, enhancing its appeal to a diverse gaming audience.
FAQ
Who are some of the favorites to win the 2026 World Cup?
As of now, traditional football powerhouses like Brazil, Germany, Argentina, and France are often considered strong contenders. However, favorites can shift based on team performance in the lead-up to the tournament.
Which country is the most successful in World Cup history?
Brazil is the most successful country in the history of the championship. The Brazilian national football team has won the FIFA World Cup a record five times. Their victories came in the years 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002.
Which is the most popular betting line for the World Cup?
The most popular betting line varies among individuals, but common options include betting on match outcomes (win, lose, draw), top goal scorers, and tournament winners.
Which is the best site for online World Cup betting?
888Starz stands out as the premier destination for online World Cup betting, offering a seamless and immersive platform for football enthusiasts. With a user-friendly interface, competitive betting odds, and a diverse array of betting options, 888Starz caters to both seasoned bettors and novices alike.
Who is the favorite to win the 2026 World Cup?
According to the odds from best sports betting predictors, France and Brazil are the favorites to win the championship in 2026.
Can I live bet on the World Cup 2026?
Yes, many online sportsbooks offer live or in-play betting options, allowing you to place bets during the course of a match.
Where can I find prop betting for the World Cup?
Reputable sportsbooks typically provide a variety of prop bets. Check popular platforms or consult with bookmakers to find specific prop bets for the World Cup.
Is spread betting one of the best world cup bets options?
Spread betting is one of many options, and its popularity depends on individual preferences. It allows for a broader range of betting strategies beyond simple win/lose scenarios.
Can you bet to win the World Cup via mobile app?
Numerous bookmakers provide mobile applications, enabling users to conveniently place bets on the World Cup and various other events. 888Starz is no exception, offering its users a user-friendly mobile app for convenient betting experiences.
Where can I find World Cup betting offers?
Check promotions and offers from various online sportsbooks. Many platforms provide bonuses for new users and special promotions during major tournaments like the World Cup.
Are there unique FIFA World Cup online betting markets?
Yes, sportsbooks often introduce unique betting markets for the World Cup, including team-specific bets, player performance bets, and special propositions related to the championship.
Who won the lasbet World Cup?
The last championship was won by Argentina.
Conclusion
From the intense qualification rounds to the grand spectacle of the World Cup itself, the betting experience adds an extra layer of excitement and engagement. As enthusiasts explore the odds, strategies, and diverse betting markets, the global stage becomes a vibrant arena for predictions and passion. Platforms like 888Starz emerge as pivotal players, providing not only a seamless and secure betting experience but also a gateway to the broader world of online gaming. Whether you're guessing who will win a match, trying out different bets, or getting excited about live betting, it's a cool way for fans all over the world to enjoy the sport even more.
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