{"id":3933,"date":"2018-07-09T03:50:57","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T03:50:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bestonlinebettingsites.co.uk\/?page_id=3933"},"modified":"2023-03-15T19:34:16","modified_gmt":"2023-03-15T19:34:16","slug":"world-cup","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bestonlinebettingsites.co.uk\/football\/tournaments\/world-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"QatarThe World Cup is perhaps the biggest sporting event on the planet and more than a billion people typically tune in to watch the final. Some argue that the Champions League and possibly even the Premier League offer a higher standard of football but nobody can argue with the scale, magnificence and indeed magic of the World Cup.<\/p>\n

Held once every four years, it is something that excites fans around the globe. There have been discussions to play it with greater regularity but surely its infrequency is part of what makes it so special? It is every player\u2019s dream to represent their nation at a World Cup and to score at one, or even, for the very lucky few, to lift the trophy, which is surely an unbeatable career highlight.<\/p>\n

In this article, we take a look at this wonderful event, including betting on the World Cup, the tournament format and its history. We will also explain how the hosts are chosen \u2013 an issue not without some controversy \u2013 as well as what impact being the home side has.<\/p>\n

World Cup Results<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Year<\/th>\nHosts<\/th>\nWinner<\/th>\nRunner Up<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
2026<\/td>\nCanada<\/td>\nTBD<\/td>\nTBD<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2022<\/td>\nQatar<\/a><\/td>\nArgentina<\/a><\/td>\nFrance<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2018<\/td>\nRussia<\/td>\nFrance<\/a><\/td>\nCroatia<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2014<\/td>\nBrazil<\/td>\nGermany<\/a><\/td>\nArgentina<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2010<\/td>\nSouth Africa<\/td>\nSpain<\/a><\/td>\nNetherlands<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2006<\/td>\nGermany<\/td>\nItaly<\/a><\/td>\nFrance<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2002<\/td>\nSouth Korea<\/td>\nBrazil<\/a><\/td>\nGermany<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1998<\/td>\nFrance<\/td>\nFrance<\/a><\/td>\nBrazil<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1994<\/td>\nUnited States<\/td>\nBrazil<\/a><\/td>\nItaly<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1990<\/td>\nItaly<\/td>\nWest Germany<\/a><\/td>\nArgentina<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1986<\/td>\nMexico<\/td>\nArgentina<\/a><\/td>\nWest Germany<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1982<\/td>\nSpain<\/td>\nItaly<\/a><\/td>\nWest Germany<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1978<\/td>\nArgentina<\/td>\nArgentina<\/a><\/td>\nNetherlands<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1974<\/td>\nWest Germany<\/td>\nWest Germany<\/a><\/td>\nNetherlands<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1970<\/td>\nMexico<\/td>\nBrazil<\/a><\/td>\nItaly<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1966<\/td>\nEngland<\/td>\nEngland<\/a><\/td>\nWest Germany<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1962<\/td>\nChile<\/td>\nBrazil<\/a><\/td>\nCzechoslovakia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1958<\/td>\nSweden<\/td>\nBrazil<\/a><\/td>\nSweden<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1954<\/td>\nSwitzerland<\/td>\nWest Germany<\/a><\/td>\nHungary<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1950<\/td>\nBrazil<\/td>\nUruguay<\/a><\/td>\nBrazil<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1938<\/td>\nFrance<\/td>\nItaly<\/a><\/td>\nHungary<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1934<\/td>\nItaly<\/td>\nItaly<\/a><\/td>\nCzechoslovakia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1930<\/td>\nUruguay<\/td>\nUruguay<\/a><\/td>\nArgentina<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Betting on the World Cup<\/h2>\n

\"World<\/a><\/p>\n

The FIFA World Cup<\/a> is arguably the biggest tournament in any sport on the planet. The competition comes around every four years and is watched by millions of people worldwide – it is truly a wonderful spectacle.<\/p>\n

In 2014, Joachim Low\u2019s Germany came out on top, beating Argentina in the final by a goal to nil after extra-time at Brazil\u2019s Maracana Stadium. Mario Gotze\u2019s 113th-minute winner secured the Germans their fourth World Cup crown, having previously won the prestigious trophy in 1954, 1974 and 1990.<\/p>\n

The 2018 World Cup took place in Russia for the first time. With the hosts already participating, 31 other countries from Africa, Asia, Europe, North and Central America, plus the Caribbean and South America battled it out to join them. The final was staged at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, in front of almost 80,000 fans.<\/p>\n

So it’s safe to say that the tournament is popular. Betting on the World Cup has become more and more popular too as the years have rolled by. Whether you are picking the outright winner, group winner, top goalscorer, team to be eliminated first, or the nation to finish bottom of their group, you can bet on just about anything and everything happening in the World Cup these days.<\/p>\n

Even before all 32 participating nations have been decided, the bookies open up their World Cup markets nice and early so bettors can get stuck in. For instance, if you fancy backing the winner 18 months prior to a ball being kicked, the majority of bookies already have ante post World Cup markets open and prices available. Is this a great way to snatch some brilliant odds before they disappear, or is it a mistake to play your hand so early while so much can still change? Your call.<\/p>\n

\"Paddy<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s always worth keeping an eye out for various offers and deals as the competition draws closer though, as practically all bookies will be running promotions leading up to the tournament. Whether that\u2019s enhanced odds, boosted prices, money back deals, improved free bets or other new customer offers, some have an awful lot of fun with it as a matter of fact (see above).<\/p>\n

So next time around, whether you fancy France to retain their crown, Brazil to top the scoring charts, England to fall in the group stage, or you think you know who will take the Golden Boot, betting on the World Cup has never been easier.<\/p>\n

World Cup History<\/h2>\n
\"Estadio<\/a>

Estadio Centenario, Uruguay, 1930<\/p><\/div>\n

The first ever international football match took place in Glasgow in 1872, as rivals England and Scotland played out a 0-0 draw. Prior to the first World Cup, the initial international tournament was the British Home Championship.\u00a0FIFA was founded in 1904, and 1930 was the year of the first ever FIFA World Cup, which took place in Uruguay. The hosts went on to win the first tournament, beating fellow South American side Argentina in the final.<\/p>\n

It was not until the 1950 World Cup in Brazil that a British team participated. In their first World Cup, England were knocked out in the group stage – a sign of things to come, perhaps?\u00a0Since 1950 the World Cup has been competed every four years spread across five different continents. Brazil have hosted two competitions, the most recent in 2014, while France and Germany have also staged two tournaments each.<\/p>\n

The current format initially involves a qualification phase that takes place over a three-year period prior to each tournament. 31 international sides will make it through this round to join the hosts and compete in World Cup Finals, with all matches played at venues within the host nation(s) over a period of around a month.<\/p>\n

\"Brazil<\/a>

T\u00e2nia R\u00eago\/ABr<\/a> [CC BY 3.0 BR<\/a>]<\/p><\/div>In terms of winners, Brazil have won the World Cup more than any other nation in history. However, the last of their five wins came back in 2002, so they seem to have come off the boil somewhat. Germany and Italy are tied with four victories each, while Argentina, France, and Uruguay have all won football\u2019s ultimate accolade on two occasions.<\/p>\n

England\u2019s only victory came in their own tournament in 1966, and Spain, during their golden generation from 2008 to 2012, won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa in between winning back-to-back European Championships.
\nWorld Cup – Format<\/p>\n

World Cup Tournament Format<\/h2>\n
\"Qatar

Qatar 2022 World Cup (Kabhi2011<\/a> \/ Wikipedia.org)<\/p><\/div>\n

The World Cup in 2026, which is being hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will see more teams than ever before at the tournament proper. In the seven World Cups from 1998 to 2022, there were 32 teams, but from 2026, this will increase to 48. In this section, we\u2019ll explain the format of the tournament finals, but first we\u2019ll take a look at how nations can qualify for the World Cup.<\/p>\n

Qualifying<\/h3>\n

As hosts, Canada, Mexico and the United States automatically qualify for the World Cup, leaving 45 places to play for. Most of these are split between the six regional confederations, as follows:<\/p>\n