The World Cup is a football festival as much as it is a tournament, and with the upcoming 2026 event heading across the Atlantic to North America, we’re ready for an exciting summer.
With the world’s biggest sporting event heading towards the colossal stadiums of the USA, Canada and Mexico, it’s probably a clever idea to get a good idea of which sportsbooks are worth your time.
In this article, I’ll be guiding you through my personal preferences about the top bookie picks for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. If you want to know the best approach to betting in this wild market, look no further.
If you’re lucky, I’ll even mention who I think could be lifting the famous trophy next summer!
Best betting sites for Football World Cup 2026
Betting Sites for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
With the next World Cup just around the corner, it’s important that you choose a betting site that meets your needs for the big tournament. What does this mean, though? Everyone is different, but I would personally be looking for things like competitive odds, excellent in-play and streaming options and a strong selection of markets. Here are my top overall picks:
Bet365
I have always been a huge fan of bet365, which has been my go-to option for many years now. They are one of the most established names in the industry and the site has an excellent range of sports and different betting markets to choose from.
They are arguably the best in the business for in-play betting on football, with hundreds of games each day and a very strong live streaming service. There are some excellent offers to be had, too, including their early payout offer on sides that go two goals ahead that’s available on more than 80 competitions.
I’m also a big fan of their ‘Sub On, Play On’ offer, which allows you to still have an interest if your selected player exits the field, while the bet builder offering on site is one of the strongest on the market. It makes sense to stick to an established name for the biggest event in world sport and you can’t go far wrong with bet365.
Betfred
Another established bookmaker on the market, Betfred has always been my go-to when I’m looking for stable odds, fair prices and reliable boosts - especially when a World Cup comes around.
My particular favourite features are their “Double Delight” and “Hat-Trick Heaven” promotions. In layman's terms, if your first goalscorer finds the back of the net twice in selected games, your payout will be doubled. If they score three times, it will be tripled. This is a simple offer, but it has the potential to be very lucrative indeed if your luck is in.
Betfred is renowned for variety, with outright “specials” being their forte. There are endless possibilities in terms of the World Cup, but markets include things like betting on any European team to make the knockouts next summer, or even placing a bet on the hosts the USA to reach the final. Betfred is a solid choice of mine for good-old-fashioned punting.
Midnite
Midnite is the latest bookie to enter the market and the site has grown fast, by targeting a younger audience and relying primarily on mobile play. With more of an emphasis on the social side of betting, it might be a shock to the system for some at first, but it’s quickly become one of the frontrunners in the football betting market.
In-play bets are the focus here and the site runs smoothly to complement this. As far as odds are concerned, they’re great. You can expect live updates, deep markets and data-driven analysis to supplement your betting choices, which is perfect for on-the-go stakes on World Cup matches.
With the World Cup coming up, Midnite seems sure to offer plenty of boosted odds pre-match on top tournament fixtures, as well as multiple-leg enhancers. You can also check out trending bets from their social-feed conveyor belt - so if a pattern is emerging, you’ll soon know about it.
Who Is Winning the Football World Cup 2026?
England look well placed for a solid World Cup run under Thomas Tuchel, whose tactical decisiveness could give the team the much-missed edge they missed previously. Harry Kane’s extraordinary form with Bayern and the rise of young talents like Morgan Rogers and Elliot Anderson add further promise to their journey across the USA next summer.
With most of the squad playing top-flight football across Europe, England are my top contenders, alongside Spain, France and Brazil. Argentina have the potential also to pose a threat, especially if Lionel Messi uses what could well be his final World Cup as extra motivation. They are a tasty 8/1 at the time of writing, which is a big price for the defending champions and they could be worth a look.
Favourites:
England
Spain
France
Brazil
Argentina
General Info About the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico and will be the largest edition of the tournament ever staged, featuring 48 teams instead of the usual 32.
Key Facts:
Dates: 11 June - 19 July 2026
Hosts: United States, Canada, Mexico
Teams: 48 (up from 32)
Matches: 104
Groups: 12 groups of 4 teams
Format: Top two teams from each group + eight best third-placed teams qualify for the knockout stages
Final venue: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, USA
Opening matches: Yet to be confirmed, but possibly split between Mexico City, Los Angeles, and Toronto
Time zones: There will likely be a mix of times for kick-offs for UK fans, with some games taking place in the evenings as well as early in the morning.
Bonuses for the 2026 FIFA Football World Cup
With the World Cup just around the corner, you can expect plenty of free bets and promos running alongside the upcoming matches between now and next summer. Below are some of the top bookies to check out if you’re after top-quality bonuses for the World Cup.
Football World Cup bonuses
Bet365
New customers can benefit from what I feel is one of the best offers out there with bet365. You can get up to £30 in free bets when you sign up and stake £5 or more on the sportsbook at odds of 1/5 or greater, making it a good option for boosting your betting bank ahead of a major football tournament.
There are plenty of other promotions on site, too, and during major events like the World Cup, they regularly roll out event-specific boosters like ‘Early Payouts’, ‘Scorecast Insurance’, and ‘Multi-Bet Bonuses’.
Though it’s not always guaranteed, they will often run “Money Back in Free Bets” offers for top match-ups (quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals). This promotion acts as a safety net for riskier bets, offering you money back in bet credits whenever a Bet Builder falls through.
I’m a big fan of this money-back offer and it’s worth keeping an eye out for it as the World Cup starts to get really tasty.
Betfred
It’s hard to find a UK bookie that offers the quality Betfred has come to be known for. My favourite, and the most well-known, is their “Bet £10, Get £50 In Free Bets” sign up offer. Once a bet of £10 is made on odds of evens or higher in any sports market, players will be gifted 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets. If you’re frugal, this can go a long way when betting on the 2026 World Cup.
Aside from the regular promotions like “Double Delight” and “Hat-Trick Heaven”, I got a lot of value out of the “Anytime Goalscorer” (Extra-time included) bonus that ran during the 2022 Qatar World Cup. If this makes a return, it is an excellent option during the knock-out stages, because so many matches carry on past the full-time whistle.
Midnite
Although Midnite is fairly new to the game, their dynamic, community-focused bonuses are some of the best. As well as a “Bet £10, Get £30 In Free Bets” welcome offer, I had a great time joining their “World Cup Bet Club”. This rewarded me with £5 each day throughout the previous tournament simply by placing four separate bets of £5 or more.
Aside from this exclusive tournament bonus, Midnite regularly runs a “Weekly Bet Club”, an “Acca Club”, and a “Bet Builder Club”. Opting in to these clubs regularly rewards you with things like free bets, free accumulators and free bet builders based on how much you’re playing.
What’s the best type of bet for the World Cup?
Betting on match results is the way to go in the World Cup. It’s the pinnacle of the sport and there are always upsets, particularly in the group stage. Finding a plucky underdog can reap big reward
Betting on match results is the way to go in the World Cup. It’s the pinnacle of the sport and there are always upsets, particularly in the group stage. Finding a plucky underdog can reap big reward
Are early bets worth it?
Betting early (or ante-post) on the World Cup is wise, as the outright prices for the big teams (Spain, England, France) often shorten during the tournament as hype builds.
Do bookies boost odds during the tournament?
Bookmakers are highly likely to offer things like odds boosts during the World Cup, as they compete for your custom. It’s worth keeping an eye on Betfred, bet365 and Midnite for World Cup enhanced odds.
Is in-play betting safe?
In-play betting on football is completely safe, but it’s worth using caution when betting, as prices can change quickly depending on what’s happening. My advice is to set a budget before the match starts.
Who should I avoid betting on?
If you’re betting on the 2026 World Cup winner, it’s best to stick to the old guard. Only eight nations have ever won the World Cup, with Spain being the last ‘first-time’ winner of the trophy back in 2010.
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