Odds
Home » Football » World Cup Betting » World Cup Spreads and Accumulators

World Cup Spread Betting and Accumulators

If you want to learn how World Cup spread betting works, you’re in the right place. Our expert guide includes examples to demonstrate the various types of World Cup spread bets you can place, as well as more common World Cup accumulators. We even share our top World Cup spread betting and accumulator bets for Qatar 2022 – hopefully we can win together!

Best Bookmakers for World Cup Betting

4.5/5
Rated by 413 users
Claimed by 239 people this week
Get 100% Up To $500
Terms and conditions: The bonus code is only valid for a new customer's first deposit and must be redeemed immediately after the deposit and before a wager has been placed. The sum of the deposit and the bonus are subject to rollover requirements of 8x at min. odds of -200 (1.5) before a new bonus can be redeemed or a withdrawal can be made. Max. $1000 of each bet count towards the rollover requirements. Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
Show More Details Show Less Details

Payment Options

VISA
Master Card
Bank Transfer
Neteller
Paysafecard
Skrill
Bitcoin
+5

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • AUD
  • CAD
  • USD
  • Competitive sign-up and promotional offers
  • Excellent statistics section to aid customers
  • Pain-free deposit options
  • Accepts both high and low limit bettors
  • Lengthy and expensive withdrawal procedure
4.5/5
Rated by 267 users
Claimed by 206 people this week
125% up to $3,125
Terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
Show More Details Show Less Details

Payment Options

VISA
Master Card
Bitcoin
American Express
Moneygram
Ethereum
Litecoin

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • BTC
  • LTC
  • ETH
  • Premier destination for US bettors
  • Racebook covering daily races
  • Esports and virtual sports markets
  • In-depth sports stats and tips
  • Intuitive live betting markets
  • Limited withdrawal options
4.57/5
Rated by 413 users
Claimed by 165 people this week
100% Up To $1000
Terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
Show More Details Show Less Details

Payment Options

Bitcoin
BitcoinCash
Master Card
Person to Person
VISA

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • LTC
  • USD
  • Generous bonuses and promotions
  • Great range of betting markets
  • Extensive racebook
  • Very good customer service
  • Only a few withdrawal options
  • Fees for withdrawing funds
4.62/5
Rated by 413 users
Claimed by 179 people this week
100% Up to $1000 + $25 casino chip
Terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
Show More Details Show Less Details

Payment Options

VISA
Master Card
Bitcoin

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • BTC
  • Trusted by publications such as ESPN
  • Access a dedicated racing section
  • Crypto-friendly sportsbook
  • Adjust odds format and time zone
  • Support options include call back
  • Quite low sportsbook limits
4.5/5
Rated by 413 users
Claimed by 139 people this week
50% Up To $1000
Terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
Show More Details Show Less Details

Payment Options

Bank Wire
Bitcoin
Cheque
Discover
Master Card
Neteller
Skrill
+1

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • USD
  • Accepts players from all over the world
  • Known for their live betting offers
  • Lots of secure banking options
  • Great bonuses and promotions
  • High fees for some deposit options
  • Support agents are often slow to reply
4.5/5
Rated by 313 users
Claimed by 93 people this week
50% Up to $250
Terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
Show More Details Show Less Details

Payment Options

Amex
Bitcoin
Master Card
Rapidtransfer
VISA

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • BTC
  • Top-rated US online sportsbook
  • Mobile site for iOS and Android users
  • Diverse range of betting markets
  • Excellent customer support options
  • Lines come out very late in the day
  • Odds not as favorable as other books
4.5/5
Rated by 232 users
Claimed by 86 people this week
15% up to $600
Terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
Show More Details Show Less Details

Payment Options

Amex
Bank Wire
Bitcoin
Cheque
Master Card
Neteller
VISA

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • BPS
  • CAD
  • EUR
  • Popular book that accepts large max bets
  • Huge focus on football and basketball
  • High-spec live in-play platform available
  • Downloadable client for Windows & Mac
  • Odds are not amazing on non-US sports
  • User interface could be improved

World Cup Spread Betting vs Fixed Odds Betting

Because World Cup spread betting is so different to fixed-odds betting, many people simply ignore it. But this could mean missing out on not just an entertaining way to bet on World Cup 2022, but also lots of value.

The good news is that World Cup spreads are not as complicated as they look. Spread betting is not necessarily better or worse, as it comes with bigger risks (as well as bigger potential wins), but it should certainly be in your thinking when placing your World Cup wagers.

How Does World Cup Spread Betting Work?

World Cup spread betting gives you an opportunity to bet on markets like total tournament goals, total tournament corners, and the fastest tournament goal in a way that fixed-odds betting simply can’t.

For example, if you ‘buy’ on the total tournament goals and the spread is exceeded early on, you can watch the remaining matches knowing that every goal increases the amount of money you win.

World Cup spread betting can also be applied to outrights, as well as group matches and even player performance. Let’s discuss World Cup outright and group spread betting markets.

2022 World Cup Outright Index

2022 World Cup Outright Index

You can bet on the outright winner of the World Cup via spread betting. Your winnings are determined by the team’s progress in the competition. Here’s the points breakdown:

  • Winner = 100pts
  • Runner-up = 75pts
  • Lose Semi-Final = 50pts
  • Lose Quarter-Final = 25pts
  • Last 16 = 10pts
  • All others = 0

If you have ever had a fixed-odds bet come painstakingly close to winning only to lose last minute, you’ll understand the benefit or using World Cup spread betting for outright markets. Even if you don’t win, you can alleviate your losses if you only just miss out.

On the flip side, if you’re way off, you could lose more than your original stake. For example, if you bet on favourites Brazil to win the World Cup 2022 and they somehow get eliminated in the group stages, they’d be awarded zero points – which means a much bigger loss.

2022 World Cup Group Index

2022 World Cup Group Index

Each World Cup group consists of four teams, with the winners getting 50 points in the spread betting index and the last-placed team getting none. Here’s how the group points work in World Cup spread betting:

  • Winner: 50pts
  • Runner-up: 25pts
  • Third: 10pts
  • Fourth: 0pts

As with the World Cup spread betting outright market, the closer your team comes, the less damage will be done. So, a team finishing second instead of first would likely result in a smaller loss than if you made a fixed-odds bet, where you’d lose 100% of your stake.

World Cup Spread Betting ‘Buy’ Example

World Cup Spread Betting ‘Buy’ Example

If you’re new to spread betting on the World Cup, the terms ‘buy’ and ‘sell’ might be a bit confusing. To simplify it in your mind, you could just think of ‘buy’ as being ‘more than’ and ‘sell’ as being ‘less than’.

Let’s say you want to place a bet on Cameroon vs Brazil on 2 December, and you believe there will be several goals. The ‘spread’ is set by the bookies, and in this case, they’ve deemed it to be 2.8 – 3. That means, if you want to ‘buy’, you can do so at 3.

But what does that mean? Well, if there are more than three goals, you’ll make profit. If there are less, you’ll lose. And the number of goals (in either direction) will influence how much you win or lose.

For instance, imagine you ‘buy’ £10 at 3, and Brazil win 6-1. That’s a total of seven goals, which is four goals over the three-goal spread. Here’s how to calculate your winnings:

(Total goals – ‘buy’ amount) x stake = profit

Using our numbers, this means (7-3) x 10 = £40

If, on the other hand, the match ends 0-0, that would be three goals less than you predicted. Three multiplied by your per-goal stake means a loss of £30.

World Cup Spread Betting ‘Sell’ Example

World Cup Spread Betting ‘Sell’ Example

Selling is the opposite of buying, which means you’re betting on the total number in question being less than the spread.

For example, let’s say the bookies predict a fiery affair when neighbours England and Wales meet in Group B on 29 November.

It’s 10 points per yellow and 25 per red, with the sell action set at 38 points. You sell £10 at 38, but the game is as clean as they come, with zero points for bookings. You’d pocket £380.

Had you bought at 42, you’d have lost £420.

Hints and Tips for World Cup Spread Betting

You should now have a better understanding of World Cup spreads and how they work. If you’re still a little hesitant, don’t worry – check out our top five World Cup spread betting tips below:

1

Prepare for the Worst

Prepare for the Worst

It might not sound very fun, but you should always prepare for the worst with World Cup spread betting. This is because you can lose more than your original stake. If you’re way off the mark, your losses can add up.

If the potential losses are too large, avoid the bet. Although some online bookmakers allow you to cap your maximum winnings and losses.

2

Use the Info Button

Use the Info Button

To avoid making any mistakes, look out for the ‘i’ logo next to the bet you’re about to make. This should bring up a useful info box. For example, if you’re looking at the World Cup outright index, you might see France available to buy at 42.

When you hover over the info box, you’ll be reminded of how many points they’ll get for each stage – and realise they’d have to reach at least the semi-finals to turn a profit.

3

Stick to Your Plan

Stick to Your Plan

Whether you love or hate spread betting, there’s no denying that it’s an exciting way to bet. But stick to your game plan. If you have no idea how many corners there’ll be in a World Cup match, don’t bet on that spread just because it’s there. Stick to the predictions and markets you already understand.

4

Use a Calculator

Use a Calculator

Many of the best online bookies which offer World Cup spread betting also have a spread betting calculator. This allows you to select the market you want to bet on, type in your stake, and drag the slider left (for the sell side) or right (for the buy side) to figure out how much money you could potentially win or lose. This is a quick and fool-proof way to check the odds before placing a bet.

5

Compare to fixed odds

Compare to fixed odds

Part of the allure of spread betting is that your winnings can multiply quickly – but this is also something to be careful of. If you’re anticipating the potential returns on a seven-goal thriller, stop and consider if you really think that’s going to happen.

If it were a fixed-odds bet, would you really bet on 4,-3, 5-2 or 6-1? This can be a good reality check if you find yourself getting carried away with World Cup spread betting.

Football betting tipster

Benefits of a World Cup Accumulator Bet

World Cup accumulators are also massively popular. Part of the reason for this is due to the fact that multiple games are played each day. At the World Cup 2022, you can enjoy up to four fixtures per day – and an accumulator allows you to bet on all four outcomes on a single bet slip.

Similar to World Cup spread betting, odds can also rocket if a few things go your way in an accumulator. The risk of losing is greater, as only one result needs to go against you. But when World Cup accumulators do land, you’ll make more profit than you would on a series of single bets.

World Cup Accumulator Betting Tips

If you’re looking to place some World Cup accumulator bets, we’ve got a few simple tips you can follow that should boost your odds of turning a profit throughout the tournament in Qatar.

Here’s our top five World Cup accumulator tips:

1

Stick to a Budget

Stick to a Budget

Create a budget for World Cup 2022 and break it down into how much you want to spend on each stage – then stick to it. You should never chase losses.

2

Bet on Teams You Know

Bet on Teams You Know

If there’s a day when lots of teams are playing who you have little knowledge of, stick to only those you know. For example, on 25 November, many bettors will have little knowledge on Iran, Qatar, Senegal, and Ecuador – so it could be best to bet on England vs USA.

3

Don’t Chase Odds

Don’t Chase Odds

When putting a World Cup accumulator together, you may be tempted to add just one more fixture to boost the odds. Don’t – stick to your game plan instead.

4

Mix Up Markets

Mix Up Markets

World Cup accumulators are very common these days, meaning you can usually bet on all sorts of different markets. Consider all aspects when piecing your acca together.

4

Have a Day Off

Have a Day Off

There won’t be good value on accumulators every day of the World Cup, especially in the knockout stages. If you can’t find a good accumulator, leave it and check the next round of fixtures.

Male celebrating winning bet

World Cup Group Winners Accumulator

If you’d rather follow our World Cup betting predictions, we’re happy to share them with you – and hopefully we’ll all be celebrating by the end of the group stage!

Here’s our World Cup group winner accumulator:

  • Argentina to win Group C (2/5)
  • France to win Group D (2/5)
  • Brazil to win Group G (2/5)
  • Uruguay to win Group H (2/1)

Combined accumulator odds: 7/1 at bet365

World Cup Match Betting Accumulator

Fancy backing some match winners instead? We’ve got you covered; here’s our recommended World Cup match winner accumulator:

  • Qatar to beat Ecuador – 20 Nov (23/10)
  • Denmark to beat Tunisia – 22 Nov (1/2)
  • France to beat Australia – 22 Nov (1/5)
  • Belgium to beat Canada – 23 Nov (1/4)
  • Uruguay to beat South Korea – 24 Nov (3/4)

Combined accumulator odds: 12/1 at bet365

FAQs

What is an index bet?

An index bet is a spread bet where the participants you bet on earn points and this determines how much you win. This could be points per booking, points for progressing in a tournament, or more.

Which football betting strategy is best?

Stick within your budget, bet on teams you know, and hunt for value in the markets. For more in-depth World Cup betting tips, read our expert guide to World Cup spreads and accumulators.

What is the best World Cup 2022 accumulator?

We’re backing France, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay all to win their groups as our top tip for a World Cup accumulator. You can get odds of 7.23/1 at bet365.

Can World Cup betting be profitable?

Yes, many football fans profit from World Cup spread betting and accumulators. Follow our expert tips to boost your odds of profiting from Qatar 2022.

About the author

Alan Penny
Alan Penny

Editor-in-Chief

Alan hails from Northern Ireland and is an avid fan of all sports. He has been with us since 2017 and serves as SBO’s Editor-in-Chief. Alan passionately covers everything from the latest regulatory developments across the globe to tips on the latest football matches.