With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, teams are running out of time to secure their place at the tournament. The World Cup qualifying campaign is a high-stakes affair, featuring some of the best national teams in the world as they fight for a chance to compete for the greatest honour in world football.
All the direct qualification spots from the CONMEBOL, AFC, CAF and OFC confederations have already been filled. Meanwhile, 3 more teams can qualify directly from the CONCACAF confederation, and there are also 15 spots still remaining for UEFA nations.
The first round of the UEFA qualifiers concludes on 18 November, while the playoffs will take place on 26 and 31 March.
Meanwhile, 1 team from the AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL, and OFC, along with 2 from CONCACAF, will make the inter-confederation playoffs for a chance to qualify for the World Cup. These playoffs take place in March 2026.
At Betsafe Sportsbook, you’ll be able to follow the action of the World Cup qualifiers and the World Cup, with betting odds available on all major sports.
How to bet on the World Cup at Betsafe
It’s easy to start betting on football at Betsafe. All you have to do is follow these steps to begin:
- Sign up or log in if you already have an account.
- Make a deposit using an accepted payment method.
- Search for the nation you want to bet on or use the menu to find live and upcoming World Cup matches.
- Select a match to see all the betting options and football odds.
- Choose a bet to add to your bet slip, enter your stake and confirm.
World Cup Betting Markets
There are lots of different betting markets available on the World Cup at Betsafe. Check the latest World Cup odds on this page, with betting markets such as:
- Match Result - Predict the final outcome of the World Cup match, choosing either a “home” win, a draw or an “away” win.
- Total goals - Bet on the total number of goals scored in the match or within a specific half.
- Both teams to score - Bet on whether both teams will score during the match. For example, if you think both teams will score during France vs Argentina, bet on yes.
- Double chance - This option lets you cover two potential match results, for example, betting on England win or draw.
- Draw no bet - Bet on the match result, but in the event of a draw, your stake will be returned. For example, if you bet on Germany vs Spain and it ends in a draw after 90 minutes, you’ll get your stake back
- 1st half result - Predict the match result at the end of the first half. For example, betting that the US will be winning at halftime Halftime/fulltime - This market allows you to choose the halftime result and fulltime result together in one bet.
- Handicap - Bet on either side with a goal handicap applied. For example, if you bet on Brazil -1.5, they’ll need to win their match by 2 goals or more for your bet to be successful.
How Do World Cup Odds Work?
When placing your World Cup bets, you’ll need to consider the odds and how they affect your potential payout. Higher odds mean bigger wins, but the odds also tell you the implied probability. Outcomes that are less likely to occur, such as Australia (500.00) winning the World Cup, have much larger odds. If you were to bet £10 on Australia at these odds, you would win £5,000 if they won. Make sure you understand risk and know how to read betting odds before you begin.
World Cup Betting Tips
Before you start placing bets on the World Cup, we recommend considering your betting strategy. Here are some tips to help you get started:
- Check the recent form and fixtures - Make sure you look at the recent form of each team, seeing who they’ve beaten and who they’ve struggled against. Make sure you also look at upcoming fixtures to see if any key players might be rested.
- How important are the qualifiers? - Some teams breeze through their qualifying campaign early, meaning they don’t have to take their remaining fixtures as seriously. Check the standings of each team and see if either has already qualified before you bet, as this will affect how they play the match.
- Pay attention to team news and changes - Player injuries can wreak havoc on a qualifying campaign, causing top nations to miss out on the World Cup. Look out for betting odds on teams that are missing a key player or that have a fully fit squad against a depleted side.
- Check your odds before you bet - Make sure you’re getting the best odds, as this will have an impact on your potential payout. Look through all the different betting options to find value in your bets.
- Bet responsibly - It’s important to be responsible when it comes to betting. Always set a budget and avoid going over it. Never bet what you can’t afford to lose, and use responsible gambling tools to stay in control.
Benefits of Betting on World Cup at Betsafe
- Lots of betting options - You can bet on all games of the World Cup and find a huge range of different markets available to bet on. These include betting on the result, the total number of goals and much more.
- Live betting - Betsafe also offers the opportunity to bet on matches as they happen. Simply open the event page and select a match to see the live scores and World Cup odds as they’re updated in real time.
- Competitive odds - You’ll find excellent World Cup odds at Betsafe, ensuring your winning bets payout fairly.
