Soccer betting

Soccer – football, for the purists – boasts one of the richest and most diverse gambling scenes on the planet, with hundreds of football leagues and knockout tournaments spanning Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and Oceania.

Here’s our guide to betting on O Joga Bonito – the beautiful game.

Soccer betting markets

There are myriad different ways to bet on the football – so many, in fact, that it would be foolish to try and cover every single type of soccer bet in this article.

Even middle-rung domestic fixtures can sport hundreds of online betting markets, from straightforward outrights to the most obscure exotics. Let’s take a look at the more common football bets found at leading Internet bookmakers.

Futures/outrights football bets

An outright bet applies to an outcome which will not be known until the end of a season or tournament, and can often be placed months before a competition kicks off. This gives punters a great opportunity to take advantage of broad early odds before the favourites become clearer and the prices shorten.

Popular futures markets include:

• To Win the Tournament/League
• Top Goalscorer
• Most Clean Sheets
• First Time Winner
• Promotion
• Relegation
• Top Four Finish

Win markets

These are easiest soccer wagers you can make. The aim of the game is simple: to pick which team will win any given match. You can also opt for the draw, which occurs much more regularly in association football than in other sports. There are, however, a few different kinds of win markets for soccer:

• Win-Draw-Win
  Your stock-standard, plain vanilla football bet. Choose either Team A to win, Team B to win, or bet on the draw. A typical soccer Win-Draw-Win market might look like this:
  
  Everton 1.83 – Draw 3.40 – Tottenham Hotspur 4.50
  
  In this case, Everton is the home side and the clear favourite to take the three points. Thus, the Toffees are paying much shorter odds than Spurs, who are deemed far less likely to win.
• Draw No Bet
  Rather than risking a loss should the match end all square, the Draw No Bet option refunds your stake should neither Team A or Team B win. So, for example, if we put $20 on Stuttgart to beat Borussia Monchengladbach but the match ends level, we get our $20 back. Naturally, the odds here are shorter than in standard Win-Draw-Win markets.
• Double Chance
  With this option, you can bet on two possible outcomes simultaneously at reduced odds. For example: in a match between Sevilla and Valencia in La Liga, we could take either Sevilla and the draw, Valencia and the draw, or both Sevilla and Valencia to win.
• To Win Either/Both Halves
  You can also wager on a side to score more goals in one of the two halves, or that Team A or Team B will win both halves outright. The latter option can provide some pretty juicy prices.
• To Win to Nil
  This market asks you whether you think Team A will win the game while keeping Team B goalless, or vice versa. For instance: if we bet on Genoa at $3.10 to Win to Nil against Sampdoria, we salute if Genoa wins the game and doesn’t concede any goals.

Correct score markets

Correct score bets don’t need a hell of a lot of explanation. Pick from dozens of possible scorelines at various stages of the game:

• Half Time Correct Score
• Second Half Correct Score
• Full Time Correct Score
• Half Time & Full Time Correct Score

These markets can dish out some of the biggest dividends in soccer match betting. For example: the odds on underdogs Blackpool leading a high-flying Derby County side 3-0 at half time might be 500 for 1 or higher.

More football exotics markets

These days, you can bet on just about any possible occurrence within a game of football. These exotic bets often have little to do with the end result – so if you have a good feeling that Team A will score first but lose the game, for instance, you can put your money where your mouth is.

Here’s just a few of the exotic betting markets available at the best online sportsbooks:

• First Goalscorer
• First Half Result
• Second Half Goals
• Total Number of Corners
• Time of First Booking
• Penalty Awarded
• Anytime Own Goal
• Over/Under X Total Goals
• Both Teams to Score in a Half

For the most out-there soccer exotics, check out the Match Specials offered by many leading bookies. These can include markets like Player A and Player B to score the same number of goals, Player C to score a header in extra time, or Player D to score and get sent off.

Betting on international football tournaments

• FIFA World Cup
  The biggest sporting event on the face of the Earth, bar none. The Copa Mundial is held every four years and draws hundreds of millions of television viewers (and punters) from all corners of the globe. The next instalment of the World Cup will take place in Canada, Mexico & USA in 2026, where Argentina will defend its crown after downing France in the Qatar 2022 final.
• UEFA European Championship
  In many folks’ eyes, the Euros are the most demanding and prestigious of all football championships. Euro 2028 in the UK will see Spain battle international heavyweights like Germany, Italy, England and the Netherlands in search of an historic fifth title.
• CONMEBOL Copa America
  The Campeonato Sudamericano is far and away the oldest international football competition of its kind. It features all 10 South American CONMEBOL members plus two invitees (usually nearby CONCACAF nations such as Mexico and Costa Rica, although Japan has appeared as well). Argentina leads the way with 16 Copa America titles, ahead of Uruguay (15) and Brazil (9).
• CAF Africa Cup of Nations
  With African stars like Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and Michael Essien having a huge influence on the European domestic leagues in recent times, the CAN is no longer a footnote in the world game. Held every two years, the tournament has grown from a three-team affair in 1957 to a fully fledged knockout competition featuring 16 countries. Egypt has won a record seven Cup of Nations titles, including three on the trot from 2006 to 2010.
• AFC Asian Cup
  The second oldest continental football competition, the Asian Cup is also second only to the Euros for sheer number of participants (47 nations). West Asian countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran (three titles each) have traditionally held sway, although Japan have won three Asian Cup’s since 2000 to emerge as the new king of Asia.

Major club competitions

• UEFA Champions League
  The European Cup (as it was formerly called) is the biggest annual prize in club football. Contested each year between 36 domestic champions and top-ranked runners-ups from all over the continent, the UCL features an eight-section group stage and four knockout rounds – just like the FIFA World Cup. Five clubs have earned the right to keep the European Club Champions’ Cup permanently: Real Madrid (15 wins), AC Milan (seven wins), Bayern Munich and Liverpool (six wins each), and Ajax (three consecutive wins).
• UEFA Europa League
  UEFA’s Europa League is Europe’s second‑tier club competition, below the Champions League. It runs annually with a league phase followed by knockout rounds. The winner qualifies for next season’s Champions League and faces the Champions League holders in the UEFA Super Cup. It features clubs from across UEFA’s 55 associations.
• UEFA Conference League
  UEFA’s Conference League is Europe’s third‑tier club competition, below the Europa League. It runs annually, starting with a league phase and proceeding to knockout rounds. The champions earn a place in the following season’s Europa League. Designed to broaden access, it features clubs from all UEFA associations, including smaller leagues.
• Copa Libertadores
  What the Champions League is to Europe, the Liberators Cup is to South America. The best clubs among the CONMEBOL nations have played off for la Copa every year since 1960, when Uruguay’s Penarol won the inaugural title. Argentine teams have traditionally dominated the Copa Libertadores, with Independiente winning seven times and Boca Juniors reaching the final on 12 separate occasions.
• AFC Asian Champions League
  Probably the world’s fastest-growing international club competition, the ACL features champion teams from emerging football nations like Japan, South Korea, China and Australia. Al-Hilal have claimed the title a record four times, ahead of Pohang Steelers and Urawa Red Diamonds (three).
• FIFA Club World Cup
  FIFA’s Club World Cup is the global tournament for clubs, historically featuring continental champions. From 2025 it becomes a 32‑team, World Cup‑style event held every four years to crown the world’s top club. An annual Intercontinental Cup now complements it, pitting continental winners for a yearly world title since 2024.

Top football leagues for online betting

• English Premier League The most watched domestic sporting competition in the world, with hundreds of millions of followers worldwide. The EPL features some of the biggest clubs in football, such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City.

• Spanish Primera Division
  Perennially Europe’s benchmark, La Liga showcases technical, possession‑first football and fierce rivalries. Home to global giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, the league’s modern era was defined by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, with a new wave of superstars sustaining its elite standard, European pedigree, and appeal from August to May.
• Italian Serie A
  Italy’s top flight blends tactical sophistication with renaissance star power. Twenty clubs play August–May for the Scudetto, with Juventus, AC Milan and Inter shaping iconic derbies. The top four reach the Champions League, while three go down. Serie A’s pressing revival complements its defensive heritage and technical midfield artistry.
• German Bundesliga
  Germany’s 18‑team league is famed for high‑press football, sell‑out atmospheres and supporter influence via the 50+1 model. Bayern Munich set the bar, with Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen frequent challengers. Two relegation places plus a playoff keep jeopardy high. Youth pathways and data‑driven coaching underpin consistent European competitiveness.
• Ligue 1
  France’s 18‑club top tier is a talent engine, exporting elite prospects yearly. Paris Saint‑Germain dominate headlines, with Marseille, Monaco and Lyon sustaining historic rivalries. A fast, athletic style defines the league from August to May. European qualification spots drive ambition; promotion‑relegation churn keeps narratives fresh.
• Campeonato Brasileiro
  Brazil’s 20‑team marathon runs roughly May–December, with nationwide travel, raucous atmospheres and a conveyor belt of young talent. Flamengo, Palmeiras, Corinthians and São Paulo headline a deep field. Four relegation spots raise stakes; Copa Libertadores berths reward consistency. The league’s blend of flair and grit shapes global scouting.
• Major League Soccer
  The USA‑Canada top flight plays February–December across two conferences, culminating in the MLS Cup playoffs, with the Supporters’ Shield honoring regular‑season excellence. Designated Players and academy growth drive rising quality. Rivalries, Leagues Cup ties with Liga MX, and expanding fanbases fuel MLS’s rapid, entertainment‑first ascent.
• A-League
  Australia and New Zealand’s premier competition runs October–May, awarding the Premiers’ Plate for first past the post before a finals series and Grand Final crown the champion. A salary‑cap era encourages parity; academies are improving pathways. Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory, Melbourne City and Wellington Phoenix anchor rivalries and storylines.

Internet betting tips for soccer

Here’s a few general pointers to keep in mind when having a punt on the soccer:

• Do your research
  How’s the head-to-head form? Will the star striker pull up in time for Sunday’s game? How have these guys gone away from home this season? Make sure you do your homework and get the answers to these kinds of questions before you lay your hard-earned cash on the line.
• Get the best odds
  Rival bookmakers often come up with different odds for the same markets. Thus, it’s important to shop around and find the best possible prices for the bets you want on your ticket.
• Gamble responsibly
  Online soccer betting is all about fun, so make sure it stays that way. Only gamble when you can afford to, and make sure you stay well within your bankroll limits at all times.