With the World Cup beginning next week, a record number of Americans plan to place bets on the tournament, according to the American Gaming Association.
In all likelihood, a good percentage of those bettors will be first-time soccer bettors. So here’s a quick guide on what to look for when diving into the lines.
Unlike the big four in American sports — NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL — with standard betting lines that offers a spread and moneyline odds for both teams and a point total over/under, a standard soccer line is just three numbers:
Winning odds for the home team, odds on a tie, and odds for the away team.
Of course, there are no home teams at the World Cup (besides the host Qatar). But even if the example above was a typical soccer match, Qatar would be the home team because, unlike most major American sports, the home team is listed first in soccer.
Ecuador is considered the favorite in the example because it has shorter odds. A $10 bet at +140 odds would win $14. That same $10 on Qatar’s +220 odds would win $22.
Bets aren’t limited to just a winner. While the spread and total aren’t listed on the standard line, going into the “all wagers” section (or whatever your sportsbook’s equivalent is) gives those lines and so many more options. They’re pretty straightforward from there.
Lastly, when it comes to betting on the World Cup, “futures” are important to know too. Sportsbooks offer futures odds on a number of items, including who you think will win the entire tournament and who you think will be the top goalscorer.
