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FAI Cup Betting Guide | Bet on the FAI Cup | LeoVegas

The FAI Cup is the elite knockout competition in Irish soccer. A historic trophy founded in the 1920s, it’s an important tournament for all teams involved. Not only is this a prestigious competition in its own right, but it offers the winners the chance to qualify for European club football.

This FAI Cup betting guide will provide more information about the trophy, along with details of how to bet on the tournament and its individual matches.

How to Bet on the FAI Cup

Anyone who is getting involved in Ireland football cup betting can find all the current markets on the LeoVegas Ireland site. The process is simple:

  • Follow the links to FAI Cup odds or use the search facility.
  • Click on a match that interests you and consider the markets.
  • When it’s time to make a bet, click on the FAI Cup odds and a virtual bet slip will open.
  • Enter your chosen stake, and your outlay and potential win will appear.
  • Click to confirm, and the bet is placed.

When considering your best bets for FAI Cup games, there are many different markets to choose from.

Match Winner (90 Minutes & Extra Time)

This is the most popular bet, and it involves picking the winner of the match. You can also stake on the draw if you feel the game will finish level after 90 minutes. Keep in mind that each FAI Cup game must be settled on the day, so there are separate markets for the 90-minute result and ties that require extra time.

Over/Under Goals

Every match offers customers an option to bet on the total goals scored by both teams. LeoVegas lists a series of lines from 0.5, to 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and beyond, and the punter decides whether to stake Over or Under one of those lines.

Both Teams to Score (BTTS)

This is one of the most straightforward of the Irish domestic cup betting markets. The Both Teams to Score bet offers two options, Yes or No, and the customer decides which outcome to stake on.

Handicap Betting

A handicap bet gives teams a notional head start in terms of goals. For example, if one side has a -2 figure next to them, this means that they must win the match by three goals or more for the bet to convert. Handicap betting can be a good choice in a game where there are two mismatched teams, such as a Premier Division club playing a non-league outfit.

Outright Winner of the FAI Cup

Also known as a futures bet, this is a stake on the team that you think will lift the trophy at the end of the competition.

FAI Cup Betting Tips & Strategies

Knockout tournaments offer greater scope for upsets than regular league competitions. Although Irish football cup predictions will often focus on the favourites, it’s worth remembering that the last time a team delivered a league and cup double was in 2018, when Dundalk lifted both trophies.

With no options for replays under the current format, there have been many surprise match results over the years. Teams only have to win six games to lift the FAI Cup; in the English FA Cup, in contrast, there are 14 rounds. This format played to Drogheda United’s advantage when they won the trophy as underdogs in 2024.

In every knockout competition, certain teams become known as ‘cup specialists.’ In Ireland, this phenomenon is underlined by Derry City, who have won the FAI Cup six times while claiming the League of Ireland Premier Division on just two occasions.

Across the long history of the FAI Cup, Shamrock Rovers are the most successful club with 25 wins from 1925 to 2019. It is worth noting, however, that the Hoops have only lifted one FAI Cup trophy since 1987.

Any Irish football betting guide will tell you that the Cup is an important competition. It offers a route into European football, but some teams see the league as a priority and may opt to rest key players for Cup ties. This may explain why Shamrock Rovers, who have won seven top-flight titles since 1987, have a poor recent record in the FAI Cup.

When considering Ireland football cup betting markets, it’s useful to study recent winners and aim to identify the cup specialists.

The Unpredictability of the FAI Cup

Unlike the Irish Premier Division and other league competitions, the FAI Cup offers more scope for shock results. As recently as 2020, lowly Athlone Town from the First Division beat Shelbourne to reach the semi-final.

The absence of replays also helps to boost the scope for shocks. The tie has to be settled on the day, and if the game reaches the dreaded penalty shootout stage, it can be something of a lottery.

There’s also the element of team selection to consider. If a Premier Division side has an important league game coming up, they may rest certain players, and a weaker starting XI can give the opposition a better chance.

Cup-Specialist Teams

We’ve seen how Derry City can be classed as cup specialists, but there are other examples to consider as well. Using results up to and including the 2024 tournament, Drogheda United had won two FAI Cups since 2004 while winning the league just once.

St Patrick’s Athletic, whose last league title came in 2013, have won the cup three times between 2014 and 2023. These sides underline the unpredictability of the FAI Cup.

Why Bet on the FAI Cup?

As we’ve seen throughout this FAI Cup betting guide, the nature of the tournament is far different from league competitions. The knockout element offers a greater chance of an upset, and this may lead to some unique betting value.

Late drama and the prospect of penalty shootouts continue to impact FAI Cup odds and markets. The single-leg ties lead to more intense action and competitive games in which sides are desperate to progress.

There’s a great choice of Ireland football cup betting markets, and strong odds mean this is a great way to stake on Irish football across the season.