Football fever is in the air with World Cup 2022 in Qatar fast approaching.
It’s time to take your betting hat off and get focused on one of the real-life sport’s biggest global events. And to get you in the mood we’ve put together this World Cup guide with the latest tips and predictions, the best odds, and an exciting World Cup-themed game or two to get your teeth into as well.
World Cup Dates and Times – Get It In The Diary!
Let’s start with the where and when.
The World Cup 2022, hosted by Qatar, kicks off on Sunday, November 20th as the host nation takes on South America’s Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium. During the first 12 days of the tournament there will be no less than four fixtures every day as the teams in each of the 8 groups battle it out for a place in the round of 16.
After the second round, quarters and semi-finals, the final of the World Cup in 2022 will take place on Sunday, December 18th at Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail, with kick-off at 3 pm.
What Bets Can I Place?
This is football, my friend! So there is NO END of betting opportunities. From outright winners to top goal scorers via every in-play bet imaginable, you will never be short of a wagering opportunity.
Here are some of the biggest draws and the current betting odds.
World Cup 2022 – To Win Outright
Here are the big six favourites to win.
- Favourites – Brazil – 4/1
- France – 11/2
- England – 13/2
- Argentina – 13/2
- Spain – 15/2
- Germany – 9/1
So, who should you bet on?
The favourites haven’t bagged the trophy since 2002 but thanks to a high-profile squad that features such talents as Neymar from PSG and goalkeeper Alisson from Liverpool, and the benefit of playing in the kind of climate their players are used to, many are tipping them to go all the way.
But hold on, because one of Europe’s hottest teams, France, featuring talents like Mbappe and Pogba, is also worth a punt. As is a resurgent Germany, whose recent form belies its outsider status. And what about England, at 13-2, finalists in Euro 2020 and with Harry Kane up front? Their form hasn’t been great but you can’t write them off.
In short, you could stick a pin in either of those top 6 and it would be worth a wager!
Golden Boot Winner – Top Scorer
Moving onto the goal scorers themselves, this is always a tricky choice as the best strikers don’t always get a good run if their team doesn’t perform well. But players like Benzema or Ronaldo rarely fail to deliver in spite of their team’s performance. So consider any of the following.
Here are the current favourites to land the Golden Boot.
- Harry Kane – 7/1
- Kylian Mbappe – 8/1
- Christiano Ronaldo – 14/1
- Karim Benzema – 14/1
- Lionel Messi – 14/1
In-Play Bets and More
Aside from these headline bets, you can always bet on the winner of any game, at any time. And with top sportsbooks, you can always bet on the in-play markets that will include wagers on the next corner, next throw-in, yellow card, red card or substitution, amongst others. All online bookmakers now offer in-play markets so wherever you wager you can enjoy this type of bet.
World Cup-Themed Games
And finally, if bets like these don’t take your fancy, you can always test your luck on one of these football-themed gambling games instead.
DIOS by Blueprint Gaming
Back in September, prolific slots developer, Blueprint Gaming, announced the release of a new video slot to appear at casinos on 15th November. It’s themed around one of the absolute legends of soccer, Diego Maradona! DIOS combines the Spanish word for God and the number 10, which was Maradona’s shirt number.
With 5 reels, 3 rows and a 10,000x your stake top payout, it promises to be every bit as exciting as watching the man in his prime. If you can’t wait for the World Cup itself, you can always take a spin on this game in the meantime.
Spin and Score Megaways™ Slot
Alternatively, you could try another new football-themed slot, this time from Pragmatic Play. Spin and Score features Big Time Gaming’s famous Megaways expanding reels game engine with up to 7 rows per reel and 117,649 paylines in play.
This one has a special goalkeeper wild symbol which turns the two reels underneath it totally wild for the next play. And you can win up to 5,000x your stake on any spin.
If you don’t fancy betting on the actual matches, you can always take a punt on one of these two slots instead. You don’t even have to wait until November 20th to get started. You can check out a list of licensed slot sites here where Blueprint and Pragmatic Play games are available.
But however you choose to gamble, make sure you do so responsibly.
And have fun!
