Your Guide to Sportsbook Ahead of the World Cup

The World Cup is just around the corner, and soccer fans worldwide wait with bated breath for the festival of fun to kick off.

The 2022 event takes place in Qatar and has been moved to the winter to avoid the extreme heat. Having previously been played in Brazil, the US, and Mexico, players have suffered extreme heat before, but even the summer sun in Qatar promises to be challenging.

All the biggest players in the world will be there, from Neymar to Gerard Pique, Lionel Messi to Ronaldo, and our own USMNT. They qualified for the first time since 2014 and are in a group with England, Iran, and Wales. That leaves them as second favorites to make the group stages, which you might fancy backing ahead of the tournament.

The World Cup will be one of the first where some US citizens can place wagers and get involved in the iGaming sector. Such activity forms part of a typical matchday in Europe, where accumulators (picking the outcome of several matches much like a lottery) are popular. However, the culture hasn’t been built up here in the US due mainly to tight legislation. However, 2022 sees plenty of scopes for US sports fans to get involved.

Here’s how.

Check Legality

Like many aspects of the iGaming industry, only certain states have provisions for sportsbooks. Luckily, it isn’t as stringent as online poker, for example, where only five states currently have provisions. 32 states allow sports wagers, with a further four boasting pending legislation. In some states, there is limited provision; the northeast is where the most legislation is in place.

Pick Your Matches

The key to getting the most out of the World Cup is to pick the games you know a little about. Look at the fixtures and maybe pick a game you’ll watch. Research it, understand the two teams, injury news, and what they need to do. This is particularly important in the final group games; a dead rubber between two teams already out of the competition might see an unusual and unpredictable line-up. Also, remember World Cup shocks happen; World Soccer Talk explains how in 1990, holders Argentina was beaten 1-0 by unfancied Cameroon; the World Cup is not predictable.

In-Play Odds

Another feature of the sportsbook to bear in mind is the in-play odds. Thanks to the likes of Coral offering live odds, you can wager on a game you are watching. For instance, if England takes a 1-0 lead against the USMNT, but Gregg Berhalter’s team is in control and looking likely to score, you can get odds on the likelihood of a draw even though the game is going on. This is usually done via an app or website, becoming a popular feature of the modern-day sportsbook scene.

Choosing a Provider

Of course, before all of this, you’ll need to select a provider, which is super important. Don’t go into the USMNT’s opening game not knowing which is best for you; pick one before. Please research the best online providers and apps and ensure they will offer the markets you want. Remember, it isn’t all about the result; you might be able to pick a scorer and the final result as a combo or even predict the number of yellow cards to be shown in a game. It all adds to giving you additional interest in the World Cup, even if soccer isn’t your sport.