The 2014 FIFA World Cup, set be staged in Brazil from 12 June – 13 July, is not only a fiesta of football, with the majority of the world’s leading nations and players on show, it’s also a veritable feast of betting.
Online sportsbooks and betting agencies around the world are busy setting their markets for what is expected to be a deluge once the tournament gets closer and final squads are named.
World Cup betting isn’t, however, simply about backing who will win the tournament, a particular group, or the Golden Boot, as important as these markets are. Online World Cup betting has evolved to such an extent that the range of prop and exotic bets on offer means that you can bet on almost every aspect of the tournament and matches.
At this early stage, the hosts Brazil are the favourites to win the tournament with most sportsbooks and you won’t be able to find much better odds than $4.00, with the majority offering them at $3.50. Argentina and Germany are next in the running at $6.00 and $7.00 respectively, while the rank outsiders with most bookies is Honduras, usually at around $3000.00. Australia aren’t considered to have a much better chance, with most online sportsbooks offering anywhere between $500.00 and $1000.00 for the Socceroos to win!
Argentina’s Lionel Messi is the favourite at the stage to win the Golden Boot as the tournament’s highest goalscorer, and you should be able to back him at around $8.00. Other fancies include Neymar from Brazil and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo at $13.00, with Uruguayan Luis Suarez next favourite at $18.00.
However, for those who prefer a more exotic line of betting, some interesting markets that are available include: the highest and lowest scoring teams; the top team from each group; the leading country from each continent; the total number of goals scored in the tournament; or the total number of corners and own goals scored. There are no doubt other more obscure bets to be found as well.
In the case of individual matches, again there is a huge array of bets available from most sportsbooks. These range from more conventional prop bets, such as the leader at half time, overall winner, etc., but also include an enormous range of exotic bets as well. You can bet, for instance, on the exact score or the number of goals scored in a given match, double chance bets (i.e., where you’re betting on two results), whether the ‘home’ or ‘away’ will score in a half, the minute the first goal will be scored, which half the winning goal will be scored in, and any number of other variations and combinations of bet.
For the keen punter, the World Cup is therefore not only a great spectacle, but it also offers a superb range of betting options that will go a along way to keeping your interest in the tournament, even after your favourite team has been knocked out!
