World Cup Preview & Betting Guide
World Cup online betting is underway for Qatar 2022 – and here at LeoVegas we've got you covered with World Cup odds, specials and deals to captivate you throughout the tournament.
England and Wales will hope to impress out in Qatar, with managers Gareth Southgate and Rob Page seeking to go all the way. They will be backed by thousands of fans travelling to the Middle East, while millions at home will watch on TV and bet on World Cup odds online.
LeoVegas knows how seriously fans take football betting during the World Cup. And so we've crafted the ultimate World Cup 2022 sports betting guide to take you through the ins and outs of what to expect in Qatar.
You'll learn how to bet on World Cup games, what the best odds are, which teams could win the whole thing, and the special offers available to new and existing players.
What's more, discover some handy World Cup betting tips to get started, and activate bonuses when you sign up to Leo Vegas' community today!
18th December 2022: World Cup Daily Tips
Sunday is all about the 2022 World Cup final and, while most of us can watch with excitement, there are bound to be plenty of nervous French supporters and Argentinean fans inside the Lusail Iconic Stadium.
Didier Deschamps’ side can make history in Qatar this week as they look to retain the World Cup trophy and they are the first holders in 24 years to participate in the final.
Argentina have not lifted the trophy since 1986, but Lionel Scaloni's side will hope that they can win their nation's third World Cup and also give Lionel Messi the perfect send-off on the world stage.
Messi has already confirmed Sunday's tie will be his last at a World Cup, but he may have his work cut out if he wants to win the competition for the first time.
World Cup Final Betting Tips: Argentina v France
France to win @ 7/4
The football romantics will want Messi to win the World Cup before he hangs up his boots, but Argentina will be up against it on Sunday afternoon.
Neither side have managed to avoid defeat so far in Qatar, with Argentina stunned by Saudi Arabia in their opening match of the group stages.
Tunisia got the better of France in their final group match, but coach Didier Deschamps did rest several players in order to prepare for the Round of 16.
While Argentina do seem to have grown in confidence as the tournament has progressed, they also have shown signs of vulnerability.
They conceded against Australia and were taken to penalties by the Netherlands, but in their defence, they did show plenty of heart to come through those tricky encounters.
However, they have yet to face a side of France's quality and Les Bleus do have the experience of winning the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Argentina's players are bound to be nervous on the big stage and that should play into France's hands.
Over 2.5 goals @ 5/4
Argentina and France clashed at the 2018 World Cup and it was Deschamps’ side that prevailed 4-3 in a thrilling tie in the Round of 16.
Both sides have enough attacking talent within their ranks to score several goals and the formbook suggests we could be in for an entertaining battle in Qatar.
Over 2.5 goals would have landed in four of Argentina's six World Cup games, while it would have paid out in the same number of France's matches.
Olivier Giroud to score anytime @ 14/5
While both Messi and Kylian Mbappe have scored five goals each in Qatar, AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud still has a chance to win the Golden Boot.
The Frenchman has scored four goals at the tournament and he has continued to lead the line in the absence of Karim Benzema.
Giroud's aerial presence should cause Argentina's defence, in particular Lisandro Martinez, problems and he looks good value to find the back of the net inside 90 minutes.
Bet on World Cup winner
Of course, the first thing most of us think about when betting on the World Cup is who will win the entire thing! Right now the pre-tournament Leo Vegas odds suggest Brazil, France and England have the best chance of winning.
Brazil have won the trophy five times, while England's sole triumph was back in 1966. As for France, they head into the World Cup as defending champions, having won it for a second time in 2018.
The pre-tournament World Cup winner odds are:
- Brazil – 4.80
- France – 7.50
- Argentina – 7.50
- England – 9.00
Tip: Bet on World Cup winner early, perhaps from the first group game. The reason for this is that the odds on the favourites will gradually fall the further we get into the tournament. So going early locks in a better price.
World Cup group betting
The LeoVegas sportsbook gives bettors the freedom to bet on every World Cup group this winter – and this opens up a huge range of possibilities for winning bets. You can bet on which team will win each group, bet on individual games live and if-play, and bet on which group will produce the eventual winner in the final.
And so, let's take a look at each individual group and consider which teams are most likely to progress to the knockout stages…
World Cup Betting: Group A
Teams involved: Qatar, Netherlands, Ecuador, Senegal
The Dutch are heavy favourites to win Group A, which features hosts Qatar as top seeds. This was something of a gift for Netherlands as they were seeded in Pot 2, so risked facing the likes of Spain, England or France in the group stage.
Assuming Netherlands stroll to nine points, the big question is who finishes second. And it's probably a toss-up between Ecuador and Senegal. Right now Senegal are tipped to edge the other in their match on 29 November.
World Cup Betting: Group B
Teams Involved: England, USA, Wales, Iran
This is a near-impossible group for Iran, who are widely expected to finish rock bottom with no points. However, they do have the potential of upsetting one of England, USA and Wales, and blowing the group wide open.
Even a draw would greatly impact when most World Cup betting fans expect to be a routine group. England should top it and are 1.26 to do so. Whoever comes second is effectively a stand-off between Wales and USA. The Welsh are tipped to edge it and progress.
World Cup Betting: Group C
Teams Involved: Argentina, Mexico, Poland, Saudi Arabia
While most groups have a clear favourite to finish top, in Group C there's a little more uncertainty. That's because Argentina could come unstuck against the team unit of Mexico, or the firepower of Poland. Don't be surprised to see a few draws in this group.
Saying that, everyone should beat Saudi Arabia, who may even struggle to score in Qatar. Mexico are priced as more likely to progress compared to Poland, but Argentina aren’t guaranteed to advance here.
World Cup Betting: Group D
Teams Involved: France, Denmark, Tunisia, Australia Group D is one of the more exciting groups, especially when you consider Denmark recently beat France in the UEFA Nations League. It's therefore no given that Les Bleus finish top here.
What's more, Australia head into the World Cup in good form. They are the outsiders in this group at 18.000 to top it. Tunisia are 12.50 to win Group D and cannot be totally discounted either. Indeed, this group could end up being too close to call, although France should at the very least finish second.
World Cup Betting: Group E
Teams Involved: Japan, Germany, Costa Rica, Spain
If ever two teams were more heavily expected to progress from the group stage, it's Germany and Spain in Group E. Sadly for Japan and Costa Rica, it's likely that they will be batting it out for third place and nothing more.
Germany face Spain in the second match of the group stage on 27 November. Whoever wins that almost surely tops the group. And so punters can wager on this market, instead of the more limited match result odds, and earn bigger potential profits. Spain are narrow favourites to beat the Germans.
World Cup Betting: Group F
Teams Involved: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
Canada are hoping to make a big impact at the World Cup. And considering 2018 finalists Croatia aren't as strong as they once were, there's a very real feeling that the second spot in the group – behind Belgium – is open to everyone.
Saying that, even Belgium could labour here. They are 1.60 to win the group but their pre-tournament results haven’t been great. Group F is perhaps the most difficult group to call. And that's not good news for punters who prefer low-odds certainty over high-odds volatility.
World Cup Betting: Group G
Teams Involved: Brazil, Switzerland, Cameroon, Serbia
There are some odds World Cup bettors will always gravitate towards. And Brazil, as one of the favourites to win the World Cup, are expected to have little problem overcoming the competition in Group G. But Switzerland could equally have a strong shout at top spot, and at 6.75 may scare the Samba Boys.
Cameroon will hope to have a strong tournament but their most likely success will come against Serbia in Al Wakrah on 28 November. Throw in a couple of draws here and the group could become difficult to predict. But Brazil should go through.
World Cup Betting: Group H
Teams Involved: Ghana, South Korea, Uruguay, Portugal
One of the few groups that feature teams from four different continents, this is what the World Cup is all about. And football betting fans are minded to be wary of just piling in on favourites Portugal.
After all, their aged team have creaked their way through a 1-0 defeat to Spain recently. What's more, Uruguay look in good form, and South Korea are tipped to impress. This group also pits Uruguay against 2010 quarter-finalists Ghana, and sparks memories of the Luis Suarez handball that denied Ghana an historic place in the semis. Suarez will be playing once again.
World Cup: England Betting
Fans wanting to focus on England World Cup 2022 odds this winter have plenty of opportunity to back the Three Lions all the way with Leo Vegas! England are the fourth favourites to win the World Cup at 9.00 in the pre-tournament odds, and lead the football betting markets in every one of their individual group games.
What's more, Harry Kane is the 9.00 favourite to again be top scorer at a World Cup – as he was in Russia four years ago when he grabbed six goals.
Other England betting specials include:
**England to win + Kane golden boot **– Could it happen? Kane wins the golden boot again and steers England to World Cup glory? Anything is possible, and these odds are only going to fall if England get off to a flyer against Iran.
Trent Alexander-Arnold selected – There is a near-perpetual discussion around Trent Alexander-Arnold and his worthiness of being in the England team. Right now he looks likely to be named by Southgate, but the odds could well swing.
Raheem Sterling top assist maker – Raheem Sterling is a regular in the England XI, regardless of his club form. And with Kane playing through the middle, Sterling is well placed to potentially provide the most goals at this tournament. He has competition from Kevin De Bruyne, Neymar and Leroy Sane.
World Cup: Wales Betting
The Welsh will hope for a much better World Cup experience than the one endured in Russia four years ago. And with Gareth Bale potentially playing his last games for his country, this is the moment to strike.
Wales have evolved well under boss Page but suffered defeats to Belgium and Poland during their September internationals. They don’t have any official friendlies planned before the first group game with USA on 21 November.
Wales betting specials include:
Top Group B – It could well happen. Wales are second favourites behind England to win Group B, and came close to beating the English back at Euro 2016. Wales still have the impact players required to scare England, and should beat USA and Iran.
Gareth Bale top scorer – At 131.00 Gareth Bale isn’t expected to win the World Cup golden boot, but stranger things have happened. And if Bale bags a few against Iran and USA then he could well yield highly here. Five goals probably gets you close to winning the golden boot.
Wales to reach QFs – The World Cup odds currently give Wales a 21% chance of reaching the quarter-finals. Assuming they finish second in Group B, they will likely play Netherlands in the last-16. Win Group B and it could even be Ecuador or Senegal for a place in the quarters.
How to bet on World Cup
Placing a World Cup bet has never been easier. Here at LeoVegas we've made betting on World Cup 2022 odds simple, and there are thousands of markets to choose from.
Whether you're betting online or via our sports betting app, the process is always the same. First, make sure you've logged into your Leo Vegas profile or sign up for an account today. You can then head over to our World Cup betting page, where all our markets are featured.
Browse the page for World Cup 2022 betting odds either by looking for individual groups and matches, or looking at the outrights markets. You can learn more about these bet types further down this guide.
Once you've found an outcome you want to bet on, click on the odds and enter your stake in the bet slip. You'll be able to see your potential reward and your risk. If you're happy with the wager, hit Place Bet to complete the process.
Now, it's worth remembering that if you're a new bettor you might be able to trigger a welcome bonus when joining Leo vegas. After for existing members, be sure to head over to the Leo Vegas offers page for the latest promos and bonuses.
World Cup Tips: Outright Bets
Outright bets are where you can find all the tournament-long betting options, such as World Cup winner odds, top scorer, top assist maker, Player of the Tournament and group bets.
These are long-form wagers that may only pay out at the end of the competition. So, here are some tips for how to play the markets:
World Cup Winner – The World Cup winner odds are always changing so make sure you get in early here. This is a fluid market with live odds, and you can also cash out at any time.
Top Scorer – The World Cup top scorer isn't always from the team that wins the competition. In fact, it's often smarter to bet on an in-form striker that plays for a team that should make the quarter-finals at least. In this way, the striker has five games to score as many goals as possible, and perhaps even more. Robert Lewandowski, Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale fall into this category.
Top Assist Maker – Often it's the world's superstar playmakers who provide the most assists at a World Cup. The best thing to do is conduct smart research and find teams that have a core playmaker and core striker. So, Argentina with Angel Di Maria, Brazil with Raphinha, and Denmark with Christian Eriksen. These guys could well be the ones who tee up their teammates most often. Player of the Tournament – This can often go to the top scorer and is usually given to whichever player has the best match in the final. With that in mind, it's worth thinking about which teams could make the final, and who will be their most influential player. It was Luka Modric for defeated Croatia in 2018.
World Cup Tips: Live Bets
Punters can also bet live on World Cup games throughout the tournament with Leo Vegas. Our powerful sportsbook delivers fast data direct from Qatar to phones and computers of our players, so you can get the latest football odds on every market. Live betting requires millions of data points to be in constant movement, in order to accurately reflect the correct odds and ensure players get the best price.
For example, if England concede early in their game against Iran then the odds with automatically recalculate England’s chances of winning, who could score next, the possible half time score, etc.
Some football betting fans love placing live wagers instead of outrights or pre-match bets. And here are some top live bets to consider during the World Cup…
First goalscorer betting – Placing a live bet on the first goalscorer five minutes into a match is often a smart choice. It gives you enough time to figure out who could feasibly open the scoring, and then back them at accurate odds.
Half time score – An early goal in a game makes betting on the half time score much more fun! That’s because teams that concede early usually seek to retaliate straightaway, so we’re more likely to witness another goal before the break.
Corner betting – You can bet on corners at the World Cup, which is particularly good live when corners can be won at practically any time. The corner market is in constant flux, so it’s worth keeping an eye on.
World Cup top scorer betting
Betting on the World Cup top scorer can easily be done here at Leo Vegas. And our sportsbooks offers scores of player options to bet on in Qatar! Of course, there are some players who are favoured more than others to win the golden boot. We’re talking here about Harry Kane (England), Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Kylian Mbappe (France).
But there’s usually a big outsider who comes into a tournament, scores more than expected and threatens to win the golden boot. So, here are three viable outsiders who could fare well this winter…
Memphis Depay (Netherlands) – Depay is priced outside the top contenders to win the golden boot but could be a great bet here. The former Manchester United player has already found the net for Barcelona this season, is a regular in the Netherlands XI and could catch opposition defenders off guard.
Gabriel Jesus (Brazil) – Neymar gets most of the attention with Brazil, while Richalison and Raphinha also tend to catch the eye. But this could be Gabriel Jesus’ tournament to shine. The Arsenal striker is in fine form which cannot be ignored. He could thrive in the group stage, feeding off Raphinha’s balls, and is a great price to win the golden boot.
Timo Werner (Germany) – Eventually Timo Werner is going to hit top form for Germany, and it could happen this winter. The Leipzig forward may have struggled for goals ever since he joined Chelsea in 2020, but he has the ability to turn games in an instant. Give him a starting role and he could thrive.
World Cup Betting Offers
Betting on the World Cup is one of the best ways to get closer to the action – and here at Leo Vegas we’ll be offering some amazing offers throughout the tournament. You can already take part in the Leo King Predictor and stand to win great prizes every week by accurately guessing the result of sporting events.
You can also trigger the Leo Vegas welcome bonus and get £100 Extra with Your 100% Profit Boost by signing up today!
As for the World Cup itself, use our Bet Builder to create your personalised bets during every game of the tournament, and trigger better odds. Access player specials, bet boosts and more when you sign up to Leo Vegas!
World Cup FAQs
How do I bet on the World Cup?
You can bet on the World Cup with Leo Vegas today. Get access to thousands of match odds, player specials, tournament bets and special offers when joining the LeoVegas community!
What are the England to win World Cup odds?
England are the fourth favourites to win the World Cup. The currently England World Cup odds are 9.00, although these odds will likely change once the tournament starts.
What are the World Cup odds to win?
The current World Cup odds to win favour Brazil over every other team. France, Argentina and England are also expected to do well at Qatar 2022. Check out the LeoVegas sportsbook for the latest World Cup winner odds.
Why are Italy not in the World Cup?
Italy are not in the World Cup because they failed to qualify via the European qualification route. They finished second in their qualification group and then lost a playoff to North Macedonia.
Will Brazil win the World Cup?
Possibly. Brazil have won five World Cups in their history but it’s been 20 years since they last lifted the trophy. LeoVegas have Brazil as World Cup betting favourites, with Neymar, Raphinha and Gabriel Jesus tipped to shine in Qatar.
What are the latest World Cup top scorer odds?
Harry Kane is the latest favourite to be World Cup top scorer, at betting odds of 9.00. Other contenders for the World Cup golden boot include Neymar, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Romelu Lukaku.