Club World Cup Betting Guide
Organised by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, the FIFA Club World Cup is a football tournament where the top men’s national teams compete to determine the world champion. Teams from Europe, South America, Africa, Asia, North America and Oceania all participate — and their fans get heavily involved too.
The FIFA Club World Cup is the pinnacle of global club football tournaments. It offers fans and bettors matches with top-level performances. Its popularity means there are plenty of betting markets to explore as bookies aim to make a profit from the event too.
In this FIFA Club World Cup betting guide, we’ll tell you all you need to know about betting on the World Cup. We’ll include key teams to watch, betting strategies and more. Read this football betting guide to find out how to bet on this prestigious event.
How to Bet on the Club World Cup
LeoVegas is the best place to place bets on the World Cup. It’s really simple, so even if you’ve never placed a wager before, you’ll find it easy to do.
Follow these steps to get started:
- Log in or sign up: If you don’t have a LeoVegas account, you can create one on the website or app.
- Go to the sportsbook homepage and find the football section: As this is one of the most popular sports, you won’t have to look hard to find it. Once in the football section, find the FIFA Club World Cup.
- Check out the markets and odds: Browse the matches and betting markets available to compare odds.
- Choose your bet: Decide which market you want to bet on and click on it. It will then appear in your bet slip.
- Enter your stake: Decide how much you’d like to wager and enter it. Confirm your bet.
That’s it! Once the match begins, you’ll be able to track your bet in real time. You could also explore some live-betting options too while the match is in play.
Popular Club World Cup Betting Markets
There are so many opportunities for betting on the World Cup that it can be difficult to decide which bets to place. To help you, here are some of the most popular options:
Match winner (90 minutes): Bet on which team you think will win the match within regular time.
Outright winner: Wager on which team will lift the trophy at the end of the whole competition.
Over/under goals: Predict whether the total number of goals in a match will be over or under a set number. For example, over 4 or under 3.
Both teams to score (BTTS): Bet on whether both teams will score at least one goal in the match.
Handicap betting: One team is given a goal advantage or disadvantage to balance the odds.
These markets offer several ways to enjoy the football action while keeping things relatively simple. If you prefer more advanced betting markets, you might want to consider:
Asian handicap: A variation on handicap betting that avoids a draw as the spreads are half-goal or quarter-goals.
Draw no bet: A wager where you get your stake back if the match is a draw.
Correct score: Predicting the exact score at the final whistle.
Half-time/full-time: Betting on the result at both half-time and full-time, such as Team A leads at half-time, but Team B wins by full-time.
First goal scorer/anytime goal scorer: Betting on a specific player to score the first goal or score at any time.
The History and Importance of the FIFA Club World Cup
Before the Club World Cup, it was the Intercontinental Cup that decided the best club team in the world. This was a one-off match between the European champions and the South American champions. The competition was expanded in 2000 and became the FIFA Club World Cup. It is an annual event that includes winners from:
- UEFA (Europe)
- CONMEBOL (South America)
- AFC (Asia)
- CAF(Africa)
- CONCACAF (North America)
- OFC (Oceania)
In the early rounds, the clubs from the smaller confederations compete first. The historically strong UEFA and CONMEBOL champions then join for the semi-finals.
European clubs do tend to dominate but underdogs have also made history. For example, the Moroccan club Raja Casablanca became the first team outside of Europe and South America to reach the final without being a continental champion. This occurred in 2013 when they were the host nation and were expected to exit early.
However, in the first round, they defeated the Kiwi side Auckland City 2-1, defeated Monterrey (Mexico) 2-1 in the quarter-final and shocked Brazilian club Atlético Mineiro with a 3-1 defeat in the semi-final. Bayern Munich went on to beat them 2-0 in the final, but the team’s performance is still one of the best underdog stories in Cup history.
Key Teams to Watch in the Club World Cup
The competition has the world’s top clubs competing for the cup. From Europe, the strongest contenders historically have been clubs like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Liverpool. These teams benefit from elite squads, top-tier coaching and high-intensity domestic leagues. This means they’re almost always the favourites going into the competition.
Other key teams are those from South America, especially Brazilian and Argentinian teams. Clubs like Palmeiras, River Plate and Flamengo have all made deep runs. These teams tend to bring a unique flair as they have tactical discipline but are also creative.
Betting Tips & Strategies for the Club World Cup
To make the most out of your bets — and to make the most accurate predictions — consider these Club World Cup betting tips:
- The strength of the European league winners. They often dominate but their Club World Cup odds tend to be low. The underdogs could offer better value, especially earlier on.
- The motivation of the teams. Some take it more seriously than others. Some European clubs see it as a secondary trophy, but the South American ones often see it as a bigger opportunity.
- The clubs’ recent form. Look at how the clubs have performed in their domestic leagues and continental competitions. Check if there are any injuries or fatigue too.
- Look for squad rotations. Are key players resting in early matches? European clubs often do this.
- Watch the semi-finals and final closely. These often offer higher quality play with the best performances.
Why Bet on the Club World Cup?
Why choose the Club World Cup for betting over other competitions? There are four key reasons. Firstly, the tournament has unique matches between clubs that otherwise never compete. It makes it interesting to watch. Secondly, you get to see top talents from all over the globe compete. It’s club football at its finest. Next, there are the competitive odds to consider. The knockout format means the odds can be more rewarding. Finally, it’s a tournament that ends with global prestige for the clubs involved — who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?