2026 World Cup Betting & Odds at NetBet Sport

Every four years, sports fans in Ireland stop and gather to celebrate the FIFA World Cup. Even Horse Racing and Gaelic Football have to take a back seat for a few weeks! From thrilling matches to underdog stories, breakout stars and crazy stadium atmospheres, there is nothing quite like this magical international football tournament.

The 23rd edition of the World Cup will be held in the United States of America, Mexico and Canada - and it is the biggest yet. Forty-eight (yes, 48!) nations will compete for the ultimate prize across 16 host cities.

That means a grand total of 104 matches, which serves to enhance the World Cup betting opportunities on offer. Here at NetBet Sport, we cater to the needs of every football lover with a wide range of World Cup odds and markets, from pre-match picks to cheeky in-play wagers. Every game on the schedule is covered, so you won’t miss a thing.

To help you start your World Cup betting journey, we’ve put together a little guide below, which contains useful information on betting markets, live odds, NetBet’s features and more.

Republic of Ireland’s World Cup history

The Republic of Ireland first appeared at the World Cup back in 1990, and really impressed on debut by reaching the quarter-finals. Drawn in a group with England, Netherlands and Egypt, the Irish qualified for the knockouts with a second-place finish. A penalty shootout victory over Romania in the last 16 was followed by a 1-0 quarter-final loss to host nation Italy.

The Irish returned to the World Cup stage in 1994, getting revenge on Italy on Matchday 1 of the competition with a 1-0 group-stage win - secured by Ray Houghton’s wonderful goal. A defeat to Mexico and a draw with Norway followed, as Ireland once again finished second. The group is widely regarded as one of the toughest in World Cup history. But the Irish dream ended in the last 16, the team suffering a 2-0 loss to a Dennis Bergkamp-inspired Netherlands.

After missing out in 1998, Ireland qualified for the 2002 World Cup, again finishing second in the group behind eventual finalists Germany. The Irish locked horns with Spain in the last 16 and despite a 90th-minute Robbie Keane penalty, Mick McCarthy’s side were eventually dumped out following a 3-2 loss on penalties. Ireland’s 2002 World Cup campaign is perhaps most famous for Roy Keane’s removal from the squad in the build up, which came after a public feud with manager McCarthy in Saipan, Japan.

2026 World Cup & the NetBet blog

Throughout the duration of the 2026 World Cup, NetBet’s exclusive IE blog will cover all the big matches and events, with our experts providing in-depth analysis of the teams, players, odds and markets. If you’re looking for the best World Cup betting insight, head to the NetBet blog.

Top World Cup betting markets

Match markets:

1x2 - Predict whether the World Cup match will finish as a Team 1 win (1), draw (x) or Team 2 win (2).

Both teams to score (BTTS) - Select ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ as to whether both teams will score in a World Cup match.

Goalscorer - Predict whether a player will score ‘First’, ‘Last’ or ‘Anytime’.

Correct score - Try and predict the final score of a World Cup match. Unless stated otherwise, this bet does not take extra-time into account. Given the difficult and volatile nature of the market, the World Cup odds here are often fairly high.

Outright markets:

Winner - Predict who you think will lift the famous Jules Rimet trophy. Argentina are the reigning champions after their 2022 success in Qatar.

Top goalscorer - Select which player you think will finish with the most goals. France’s Kylian Mbappe won the Golden Boot in 2022 with eight goals, including a hat-trick in the final.

Stage of elimination - Predict which stage a team will be eliminated from the World Cup. For example, England to be eliminated in the quarter-finals (which they were in 2022!).

FAQs

Is live betting available for all matches at the 2026 World Cup?

Yes, all 104 matches at the 2026 World Cup will have in-play betting options after kick-off. Keep a close eye on our ‘In Play’ page for all the best live betting markets, as well as immersive real-time odds and match animations.

What times in Ireland do 2026 World Cup matches kick off?

Due to the fact the tournament is being held in the USA, Canada and Mexico, kick-off times in Ireland are far from ideal. Some group-stage matches are even scheduled to start on the Emerald Isle at 1am, 3am and 5am! Late nights or early mornings beckon, but the semi-finals and final are pencilled in for 8pm kick-offs.

Aside from goalscorer bets, are other player-specific markets available for World Cup games?

NetBet provides a wide range of player-specific markets, including Shots on Target, Fouls, Tackles, Player to Score or Assist and more. Click the ‘All’ market tab on the match of your choice to browse our selection in full.

Can I use the Bet Builder feature on World Cup matches?

NetBet’s unique Bet Builder feature is available to use on all World Cup matches. Combine multiple markets into one handy wager with increased World Cup odds.

Will NetBet’s Acca Boost feature be applied to World Cup combo bets?

Like Bet Builder, our Acca Boost feature can be used for World Cup combo bets. An expanded tournament will only make the appeal of Accas even greater, and with this exclusive NetBet promotion, you can increase your potential winnings by up to 50%!