2026 World Cup Betting | Bet in Ireland

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We’re feeling the excitement of the FIFA World Cup. And at Bet Brothers, we’re ready to help you bet on this tournament safely and legally. Here you’ll find our recommendations for making smart bets and everything you need to know about this event, including our predictions. Don’t miss out!

 

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Fifa World-Cup 2026 Ireland

The best way to bet on the 2026 FIFA World Cup

This is your chance to bet on the 2026 FIFA World Cup from Ireland. Remember that this tournament takes place every 4 years. So don’t miss out!

With 2026 World Cup betting, you can bet on results and events involving each of the 48 teams that will participate and play the 104 matches of the tournament. That’s right, there are now more teams and matches than ever before in FIFA’s history!

Here we’ll show you the safest and most rewarding bookmakers for the 2026 World Cup in Ireland. We’ve checked that they hold an Irish licence, which means they’re legal. Trust us, you can bet with them without a worry. Take a look at them below.
BookmakerWorld Cup AdvantagesOffersVisit
betvictor logo without background

Read Review		Bet Boosts and extensive streaming coverage.Key odds and special bets. Visit
1xbet logo without background

Read review		High payouts and popular payment methods.Wide range of markets and Asian handicaps. Visit
dazn-bet-logo

Read review		Specialist in live betting (Match Live, streaming support, statistics, etc.).Boosted odds, future bets and combo bets. Visit
Tonybet logo without background

Read Review		Boosted Bets and Mobile App.Combo Bets. Visit

2026 World Cup Predictions

Having watched the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Ireland and closely followed the intercontinental play-offs, we now have our favourites.

Among them are global football powerhouses such as France, Argentina and the all-powerful Brazil, who have been drawn in a very manageable group.

Spain also features in our top picks as a very strong side with a good chance of reaching the final.

Countries such as Italy and Poland, unfortunately, will not be taking part in the tournament. Neither will Ireland, although they were just a few penalties away from qualifying via the intercontinental play-offs.

 

Top Favourites for the Title

  • Spain: under the guidance of Luis de la Fuente and led by top players such as Pedri and Lamine Yamale, Spain has established itself as the number one contender to win the World Cup.
  • France: Mbappé’s team has everything it takes to win the tournament, so it is expected to reach the final alongside Spain.
  • England: The English side has gone from strength to strength and looks set to beat all its rivals with Harry Kane leading the line.
  • Brazil: The five-time World Champions have had their ups and downs, but with Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, everything seems to be falling into place; with Vinicius and Raphinha in attack, we expect great things from this team.
  • Argentina: the reigning World Champions are once again among the favourites to win the tournament, with Messi, Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez leading the line.

 

Golden Boot Prediction (Top Scorer)

Betting on the tournament’s top scorer is an opportunity we cannot miss, given the attractive odds available at Irish bookmakers.

With so many players to choose from, the decision seems complex, but it really comes down to powerful strikers such as Mbappé, Haaland, Lamine Yamal, Messi, Harry Kane and Julián Álvarez, who are dominating the top five European leagues and are most likely to tear their opponents’ defences apart with their goals.

We believe this title will be contested by Mbappé, Haaland, Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal, who are precisely some of the favourites with Irish bookmakers for the World Cup.

How to place a bet on the 2026 World Cup? Step by step

  1. Choosing a bookmaker: check our rankings and choose the Irish-licensed bookmaker you like best.
  2. Registration: go to the website of the bookmaker you’ve chosen and register with your personal details and contact information.
  3. Make your first deposit: go to the online cashier and select your preferred deposit method to make your first deposit; this could be Revolut, a debit card or any other option.
  4. Place your bet: find the 2026 World Cup match of your choice, select the market and odds, then confirm your bet and finally wait for the match to finish to receive your winnings.
Enjoy World Cup betting responsibly
⚽Stay in control, bet within your limits and get support at BeGambleAware.org & Safe Play Ireland.
Table of contents

2026 World Cup Format

Up until the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the FIFA World Cup format featured 32 teams and 64 matches. But that is now a thing of the past. From now on, 48 teams will take part, with a total of 104 matches, following the official approval of the tournament’s expansion in 2017 and 2023.

This is good news for those of us who want to make the most of betting on the 2026 World Cup, as more matches mean more opportunities to win money from our bets.

Here’s how it works: the group stage now consists of 12 groups of four teams each, from which only the top two teams in each group and the eight best third-placed teams progress directly. Then come the round of 32, the knockout stage where there are no second chances; any team that loses is immediately eliminated from the tournament.

The most intense phase of the tournament comprises the round of 16, the quarter-finals and the semi-finals. The teams that make it through these stages advance to the Grand Final and will have the chance to become World Champions.

PhaseTeamsFormat
Group Stage48 teams (12 groups of 4).Top 2 + 8 best third-placed teams advance.
Round of 3232 teams.The knockout stage begins.
Round of 16 to Final16 to 2 teams.Do or die.
Total Matches104 matches.Highest number of matches in a FIFA tournament.

Hosts and Venues

The United States, Mexico and Canada are the three hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This means that the matches will be played in these countries. But the United States will host the lion’s share, with 78 matches to be precise. Mexico and Canada will each host 13 matches.

The opening match will be played in Mexico City, at the Estadio Azteca. It will be contested by Mexico and South Africa on 11 June. The 2026 World Cup Final will be played in the United States, specifically at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.

The remaining group stage and knockout matches will be played in 16 tourist cities across the three countries, including Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico, Houston, Miami and Dallas in the United States, and Toronto and Vancouver in Canada.

In the table below, we provide further details on the total number of venues and cities that will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup in each country. Take a look!

CountryHost CitiesOpening / Final Stadium
Mexico3 cities (Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey).Azteca Stadium (Opening Match).
USA11 cities (Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Miami, NY/NJ, etc.).MetLife Stadium (Super Bowl).
Canada2 cities (Toronto and Vancouver).BC Place / BMO Field.

FAQ. Frequently Asked Questions about 2026 World Cup Betting

  • Is it legal to bet on the 2026 World Cup from Ireland?

    Yes, of course it is legal to bet on the 2026 World Cup from Ireland, but only with bookmakers that hold an Irish licence, such as those listed in our ranking.

  • Which bookmaker offers the best World Cup odds?

    1xbet is the bookmaker offering the highest odds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Ireland.

  • How do "best 3rd place" bets work in the group stage?

    This bet allows you to bet on one of the top 8 third-placed teams from the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. For example, if you bet that Uruguay will qualify for the round of 16 as one of the top 8 third-placed teams and they do so, you win.

  • Can I bet live on World Cup matches from my mobile?

    Yes, you can bet live on the World Cup via the bookmaker’s app or the mobile browser on your Android or iOS device.

  • What happens to my bet if a World Cup match goes to extra time?

    It depends on the market and the bookmaker’s rules. If you bet on the match winner, the bet may cover what happens in extra time; if it’s a 1X2 bet, it may cover only the result of the 90 minutes of regular time.

  • Who is the favourite to win the 2026 World Cup according to the odds?

    Irish betting odds suggest that Spain is the tournament favourite and the top contender to become World Champions.

  • What are the safest payment methods for betting in Ireland?

    Revolut, Visa/Mastercard credit cards, Revolut, Trustly, Paysafecard and e-wallets such as PayPal, Skrill and Neteller.

Author
Andreas Vou
Football writer born in the UK and raised in Cyprus, specialising in LaLiga and European football more broadly. He has worked as a correspondent for beIN Sports USA, written features and opinion articles for several outlets, and held editorial positions at FC Barcelona’s official website and MARCA’s English-language edition. He is currently Editor-in-Chief at BB Sport News, where he covers both European and international football.
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