11 FIFA Betting Tips
International football’s top governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, or better known as FIFA, has been the adjudicator for nearly everything on the global football front for close to 120 years. It has the biggest international soccer tournament in the world in the FIFA World Cup (men’s, women’s, U-20 and U-17), which its members look forward to trying to qualify for every four years. And qualifying should get easier; in 2026, the tournament will expand from 32 teams to 48 and be hosted by the Canada, the USA and Mexico. FIFA is also home to the greatest soccer game around, and our 11 FIFA betting tips will set you on the right path.
The FIFA World Cup provides a unique betting opportunity for everyone. Even people who don’t necessarily follow the sport can join the action and support their national team. Just last fall, Canadians stood united as our men’s national soccer team made their first FIFA World Cup appearance since 1986. They’ll be included in the next World Cup too, as they automatically qualify as co-hosts.
There are so many ways to bet on FIFA events. You can bet on the winner or finalists of the World Cup, or on single matches both in the qualifying stages and the tournament. If that sounds like fun, read on; we’ll provide 11 FIFA betting tips to start you off in the right direction.
Get to Know the Sportsbook Rules
Soccer betting is a little different than other major sports leagues in North America. For one, you can bet on the tie. Match play bets are based on the outcome at the end of 90 minutes of play, which leads to our next point.
Consider the Draw
It doesn’t matter what sport you’re betting on, most people bet on the outcomes that they want to see, and they want to see their favourite team win by many goals. As a result, the draw doesn’t pull in as much action as betting on a team to win outright and often offers great value for shrewd bettors more concerned with earning a payout.
Do Some Research Before Betting
Soccer is an ever-evolving sport. For a long period of time, the teams that had the best possession went the furthest in international tournaments, but that changed in relatively recent times, as the focus on counter-attacks has given many teams an edge. Knowing the style of play and the strengths and weaknesses of both teams in a matchup will put you ahead of the average FIFA bettor.
Keep Track of Injuries
It’s not just the style of play that’s important. Injuries negatively affect a team’s performance, so being aware of which players are injured before placing a bet is paramount. If the player is part of the starting 11, it’s an even bigger deal.
Know the Limits of Team Rankings
Over the years, FIFA’s team ranking system has been under scrutiny as it has failed to predict the tournament winners—something that is very difficult to do. Many people have turned to the Elo rankings instead, as this ranking system outperforms FIFA, but still has its limits. Keep Elo in mind when comparing teams in a matchup but be aware that they are not the end all be all in team performances.
Shop the Betting Lines
Sportsbooks are always trying to balance the action between the betting options on a gameline, and that results in fluctuating lines. You can keep an eye on them and try to lock in your bet when the value is high—of course, this is easier said than done. Whatever odds you see when you place your bet are the odds used to determine your payout.
Time your Bets
Teams with big betting markets usually see their lines tighten as you get closer to game day, so if you want to bet on them, it’s best to get your bets in early. Conversely, teams with smaller betting markets usually offer the best value closer to game time. In the case of FIFA, nations with bigger populations usually have the larger betting markets.
Get in a Mix of Futures and Gamelines
Including both futures and gamelines on your bet slip is always the best way to go. If you only bet on the futures market, you need to wait until the end of the tournament to potentially cash in—and the risk is greater. Whereas if you only bet on gamelines, you miss out on the opportunity to say you boldly predicted the winner of the tournament right from the start. Both betting options cover all of the best parts of the FIFA betting experience.
Practice Sound Bankroll Management
The better your bankroll management is, the longer you stay in the game. Always bet with money you can afford to lose and don’t chase losses by making bigger bets. One good approach is to consider dividing your bankroll into “betting units” and staking one unit per bet.
Check the Props Page
Props often fly under the radar of serious bettors, but they shouldn’t. These side bets can offer great value and are a fun way to spice up your bet slip. You can bet on individual player performances, or team stats, among many other things. Props are typically reserved for bigger events like FIFA World Cup games.
Keep it Fun
It can be tempting to get overly involved in the outcomes of your bets and forget about the main purpose of sports betting: to have some fun. Wins and losses will come and go—don’t sweat it. Just enjoy the games and if you happen to win alongside your favourite team, all the better.
The FIFA page in our sportsbook already has futures posted for the women’s World Cup 2023 and the men’s World Cup in 2026. Brazil and France are +600 early favourites at press time, so if you intend to bet on them, now is the time to get peak value as anything can happen this far away.
Take our 11 FIFA betting tips to your next game and see if they help you out.