It’s every football fan’s favourite month, the World Cup is here. Four weeks of vuvuzelas, national anthems and non-stop football. We’ve put together our betting guide for the upcoming tournament to help you win some money in the run-up to Christmas.
Check out NetBet’s boosted odds for Qatar, including England at 10/1 to lift the World Cup! And why not give the score predictor a go? It’s free to play and could see you bag £1000 cash if you can predict all four scores on a single matchday.
World Cup 2022: How to Pick a Winner
Look, sometimes you might have a hunch. It happens to the best of us. Having a dark horse can sometimes end in disaster – think Turkey at Euro 2020. But being bold can also reap rewards – think Croatia finishing runners-up at World Cup 2018.
Backing a nation like Uruguay to win the World Cup at 50/1 might seem a fun option, but think about the quality they will face along the way. However, betting on them to reach the semi-final at 7/1 might not provide the same return, but there is far greater chance of it occurring.
If you’re looking to pick the World Cup winner, there are a few things you should consider:
- Squad – look at the squad selected. Are there holes in defence? A lack of a real goalscorer? The most well-rounded squads have the best chance of going deep into the competition.
- Tournament history – some nations just have a knack of getting over the line at crucial moments.
- Experience – a flashy, young squad might look exciting at face-value, but you never win anything with kids! Experience can be crucial in big moments.
- Group stage – it is not a foregone conclusion that the famous nations will cruise through the groups. Take a look at the group and weigh up their chances. There are no easy games at a World Cup.
These are just a few of the things you should consider before backing a team to go all the way. But the reality is, nobody knows what will happen. That’s the beauty of football, and that’s exactly why we adore the World Cup.
Outright Betting Guide
There is a huge variety of outright markets available at NetBet, the most popular of which is picking a nation to win the World Cup. Some of the highly ranked nations such as Brazil, France and Argentina won’t offer staggering odds, but they are favourites for a reason. Saudi Arabia might look tempting at 750/1, but you know in your heart its chances are slim.
One of our best tips is to take advantage of some of the lesser backed outright markets, as there can be some hidden gems. For example, you’d expect Cristiano Ronaldo to be Portugal’s top scorer at the tournament, right? Well, you can find him at 1/1, a nice little pick to double your stake.
This also goes for some of the smaller nations. You might not expect South Korea to have a particularly successful World Cup, but Heung-Min Son will likely be at the heart of everything they do. The Spurs forward is currently at 3.50 to finish as South Korea’s top scorer.
Individual Match Betting Guide
Betting on individual matches remains the most popular method of wagering on tournament football due to the sheer quantity of fixtures. There will be 64 games played at the World Cup, with hundreds of markets available on every match.
If you fancy delving into the pre-match market for a single game, here are a few of the most popular bet types:
- Winner – the simplest bet you can place. Just pick a winner!
- Total goals – you can bet on the exact number of goals, or over/under a specified number.
- First goalscorer – pick the player you think will break the deadlock.
- Both teams to score – back both teams to find the net, or one to keep a clean sheet.
- Scoreline – can you predict the exact score come the end of the match? There are bigger winnings on offer if so.
They are just a select few of NetBet’s most popular markets. You will often find a couple of them in conjunction with longer odds. For example, England to win and over 2.5 goals.
Accumulator Betting
Accumulators are hugely popular with the football crowds thanks to the mammoth odds you can generate. An accumulator is several selections in the same bet. For example, you pick four teams to win on a single World Cup matchday.
Whilst this can reward you with a bigger payout if it does land, the chance of it being successful are slimmer due to the number of outcomes that need to go your way. Backing 10 teams to win might look an attractive proposition, but football is a funny old sport!
Accumulator betting does give you the opportunity to benefit from the Cash Out feature. If you have backed four teams that are all winning, but one is on the back foot, you can Cash Out to claim a portion of your winnings early. This gives you complete control over your bet and allows you to react to the matches in real time.
Our betting guide is just a bit of fun to help with your bets. However you decide to bet on the World Cup, ensure it stays fun, and never stake beyond your means.
When you choose NetBet Sport, you can enjoy a whole range of top quality sports and markets. Whatever you choose, always remember to bet responsibly. Here at NetBet, player wellbeing is our number one priority – check out our Responsible Gambling tips and tools page for more information.
