The Beautiful Game, played by the finest competitors on the planet, is taking over North America for five-plus magical weeks this June and July. Whether heavily invested in success for the United States -- in addition to another favorite nation or two -- or just interested in taking in the grand spectacle, there are plenty of opportunities to further enjoy the show by diving into the betting pool.
Here's a simple overview of how to approach betting on the World Cup 2026, whether you're a seasoned wagerer or brand new to the fun.
Match bets
Moneyline/Three-way Betting
The most straightforward match bet involves three possible outcomes: an outright win by either side or, contrasting with many other sports, a draw. While not quite as common as decisive results, draws happen all the time. Of 48 group stage matches in Qatar 2022, 13 ended in a draw. If squaring up two squads as rather evenly matched, particularly those who play strong defense, settling on the draw might be the right move.
Tie No Bet
But those pesky draws can also serve as annoyances, particularly when a late goal breaks up what would have otherwise amounted to a valuable victory by one side or the other. A favorite play by those who would rather win or lose their play outright, this type of wager removes the tie from the picture entirely. If no one emerges on top, your wager is simply refunded. The odds aren't as robust, but playing a Tie No Bet is less stressful with the third outcome out of the equation. These options are particularly attractive when siding with an underdog.
Spread Bets
Here's the opportunity to glean better odds if you feel one team is set to pummel the other or the dark horse isn't nearly as weak as perceived. If convinced the United States will have their way with an inferior Australian crew, playing them to emerge victorious by at least two goals (-1.5) could be the right move. If attracted to an underdog, like South Africa in the tournament opener against Mexico, +1.5 provides a payout if the visitors win, draw, or only lose by a single goal.
Over/Under Totals
This is a fun play when both sides sport robust defenses or the complete opposite. Regularly set at 2.5, this scenario gives you the chance to root for plenty of scoring. Or not.
Match/Player Propositions
If you are convinced something specific is going to happen in a certain match, there's an excellent chance the corresponding proposition wager exists. Whether it's predicting an exact score, both teams to score, neither, first/last to find the back of the net, or individual player props - goals, shots, assists, saves - there are plenty of opportunities to get creative in assembling your slip for a specific game.
In-Game bets
Is Paraguay up by a goal at some point mid-match but you remain convinced the U.S. is more than capable of coming back to draw, or even win? Here's your chance to jump in and take advantage of longer odds than otherwise.
Future Bets
Appealing to those who want to play the long game, there is an extremely wide variety of offers to tempt your wagering palate, between now and when the FIFA World Trophy is hoisted in late July.
Group Futures
Set on Germany finishing top of Group E? There's a bet for that. Or maybe you're convinced of the exact finishing order, with Ivory Coast, Ecuador and Curacao landing first through fourth. Or perhaps just the top-two? The world is your wagering oyster when it comes to how specific you want to prognosticate the final sequence in any quartet.
Other group offers include selecting sides to qualify, win/lose every match, score in every tilt, or not at all, and much more. Just remember, if selecting France, for instance, to win every one of its opening stage matches, even one draw spoils the slip.
Team Futures
These offers go beyond the group stage, encompassing more prophecies with longer odds. For instance, you can settle on which nation will score the most goals, how many of them, at what point will they be eliminated, and, of course, who ends up victorious -- or loses the Final and finishes Runner-Up -- once we're through.
Player Futures
These vary in both large and small scope. If you are convinced France's Kylian Mbappé will lead all goalscorers by the tournament's end, that play is available. So is siding with American Christian Pulisic to finish with Over 1.5 goals. If you like Brazil's chances at going the distance, goalkeeper Álisson could be in contention for the Golden Glove at +500.
Parlays
Obviously, the more offers you link together, the greater the payout. Whether you want to assemble your own multi-faceted slip -- usually adhering to a common theme -- or prefer to settle on a featured offer, this is when even a small investment can pay out substantially. One such example available through DraftKings backs all three host teams -- United States, Mexico and Canada -- to finish top of their respective groups. Priced at +1088, $10 pays out $118.80 Not too shabby. But if even one of however many elements fails to come through, game over, so as with any bet, you'll want to weigh the risk against the reward.