FIFA WORLD CUP
Every four years, the World Cup delivers enough excitement to keep the enthusiasm for football alive and blooming. Football holds the title of being the sport globally with countries around the world sharing a fervor for it.
The World Cup stands out as the most viewed sporting event ever drawing in audiences from corners of the globe. It's no wonder that people, including those in Singapore, enjoy placing bets on this renowned tournament. Engaging in sports betting offers a chance to get involved in the action while staying updated on your favorite teams and players.
What is the FIFA World Cup?
The World Cup is an international football tournament organized by Fédération Internationale de Football Association, more commonly known as FIFA. It is contested by the men's national football teams representing the member associations of FIFA.
Since its inception in 1930, the tournament has been held every four years, with a few exceptions during the years of 1942 and 1946 as a result of World War II. Argentina is the current champion, having won their third title in the 2022 World Cup.
The competition starts with a qualification phase, taking place in the three years preceding the tournament. During that phase, the participating teams are determined for the final competition. In the final competition, 32 teams compete for the title, divided over several venues in the host country or countries, for a month.
The host country or countries are automatically qualified into the group stage of the tournament. In fact, starting with the 2026 World Cup, the competition will expand to 48 teams.
From 1930 to the present day, 22 final tournaments have taken place, featuring a total of 80 national teams. Eight different national teams have won the tournament: Brazil (5), Germany (4), Italy (4), Argentina (2), France (2), Uruguay (2), England (1), and Spain (1). The World Cup is widely regarded as the most prestigious association football tournament in the world, as well as the most widely viewed and followed single sporting event globally.
The majority of 3.57 billion viewership, about half of the world's population, watched the 2018 World Cup. In this regard, an estimated 5 billion people watched the 2022 World Cup, with a recorded 1.5 billion watching the final match.
List of FIFA World Cup Winners
From 1930 to 1970, the winning team of the World Cup got a special trophy called the Jules Rimet Trophy. It was named after a man named Jules Rimet who helped start the World Cup. In 1970, Brazil won the World Cup for the third time and got to keep the trophy forever. But in 1983, the trophy was stolen and has never been found.
When Brazil was allowed to keep the old trophy, they designed a new trophy that was called the FIFA World Cup Trophy. This new one was higher and heavier than the previous one. Made of gold, the base consists of a green stone. The names of all the winning teams, dating from 1974, are written at the bottom of this trophy.
The winning team of the World Cup is given the trophy for a short while right after the game. However, they are not allowed to keep it. Instead, they are handed a copy of it that is made of gold. All the players, coaches, and managers of the top three teams are given medals with the World Cup trophy on them. The winners are given gold medals, the second is awarded silver medals, and the third is given bronze medals.
Here's a list of the teams that won the tournament and the teams that came in second place from 1930 to 2022. You can see the list in the table below.
| Edition | Year | Championship Stage | Number of Teams | Host Country | ||
| Winner | Score | Runner-Up | ||||
| 1 | 1930 | Uruguay | 4-2 | Argentina | 13 | Uruguay |
| 2 | 1934 | Italy | 2-1 | Czechoslovakia | 16 | Italy |
| 3 | 1938 | Italy | 4-2 | Hungary | 15 | France |
| 4 | 1950 | Uruguay | 2-1 | Brazil | 13 | Brazil |
| 5 | 1954 | West Germany | 3-2 | Hungary | 16 | Switzerland |
| 6 | 1958 | Brazil | 5-2 | Sweden | 16 | Sweden |
| 7 | 1962 | Brazil | 3-1 | Czechoslovakia | 16 | Chile |
| 8 | 1966 | England | 4-2 | West Germany | 16 | England |
| 9 | 1970 | Brazil | 4-1 | Italy | 16 | Mexico |
| 10 | 1974 | West Germany | 2-1 | Netherlands | 16 | West Germany |
| 11 | 1978 | Argentina | 3-1 | Netherlands | 16 | Argentina |
| 12 | 1982 | Italy | 3-1 | West Germany | 24 | Spain |
| 13 | 1986 | Argentina | 3-2 | West Germany | 24 | Mexico |
| 14 | 1990 | West Germany | 1-0 | Argentina | 24 | Italy |
| 15 | 1994 | Brazil | 0-0 (3-2 p) | Italy | 24 | United States |
| 16 | 1998 | France | 3-0 | Brazil | 32 | France |
| 17 | 2002 | Brazil | 2-0 | Germany | 32 | South Korea and Japan |
| 18 | 2006 | Italy | 1-1 | France | 32 | Germany |
| 19 | 2010 | Spain | 1-0 | Netherlands | 32 | South Africa |
| 20 | 2014 | Germany | 1-0 | Argentina | 32 | Brazil |
| 21 | 2018 | France | 4-2 | Croatia | 32 | Russia |
| 22 | 2022 | Argentina | 3-3 (4-2 p) | France | 32 | Qatar |
| 23 | 2026 | - | - | - | 48 | Canada, Mexico, United States |
Countries With the Most World Cup Titles
Only a few countries have won this prestigious trophy on multiple occasions since it started in 1930. Brazil is in first place with 5 World Cup wins. Germany and Italy each have 4 titles. Argentina, France, and Uruguay each have 2 World Cup titles apiece. England and Spain have both won the World Cup once.
Here is a table showing the countries with the most World Cup titles as of today:
| Countries with the most World Cup Titles | ||
| Rank | Country | World Titles |
| 1 | Brazil | 5 (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002) |
| 2 | Germany | 4 (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014) |
| 3 | Italy | 4 (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006) |
| 4 | Argentina | 2 (1978, 1986) |
| 5 | France | 2 (1998, 2018) |
| 6 | Uruguay | 2 (1930, 1950) |
| 7 | England | 1 (1966) |
| 8 | Spain | 1 (2010) |
All in all, Brazil is leading the count to have the most World Cup titles, followed by a dead heat between Germany and Italy. The South American nations, specifically Argentina and Uruguay, have also fared well in the tournament through the years.
The race for the World Cup is tough, and the list of winners keeps on changing. One never knows which team is going to join this famous list next.
FIFA World Cup 2022 Recap
The 2022 FIFA World Cup took place in Qatar from November 20 to December 18. For the first time in history, this edition was an event held in the Middle East. Argentina won, capturing their third title after defeating France in an electrifying final that ended 3-3 after extra time, with the South Americans winning the penalty shootout 4-2.
Lionel Messi was of immense help and scored two goals. Kylian Mbappé of France made headlines, scoring three goals, making him the first player to do so in a World Cup final since 1966. Messi earned the Golden Ball for Best Player in the tournament for his gameplay, further cinching his status in history.
This tournament has seen 64 matches played and 172 goals scored, making it a tournament with the most goals ever in a 32-team format. It has equally been a tournament of incredible performances by players, from Emiliano Martínez, who won the Golden Glove given to the best goalkeeper, down to Enzo Fernández, who was named the Best Young Player.
It was a night of football, but more importantly, it was a night of great cultural importance for Qatar as it looked to showcase itself to the world.
United States, Canada, and Mexico will Host the FIFA World Cup in 2026
The United States, Canada, and Mexico will jointly host the 2026 FIFA World Cup-the first time the tournament will be hosted by three countries. It is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with 48 teams playing a total of 104 matches in 16 cities.
The opening match will be played at Mexico's iconic Estadio Azteca, while the final will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. This World Cup is notable for being the longest in history, lasting 40 days, and it will also be the first time that all six FIFA confederations have guaranteed representation in the tournament.
Venues
It will be the biggest ever World Cup since 2002, featuring matches at 16 venues across host cities. Below is a table summary of the venues, showing country, year established, city, stadium, and capacity.
| World Cup 2026 Venues | |||||
| No. | Country | Year Established | City | Stadium | Capacity |
| 1 | Canada | 2007 | Toronto | BMO Field | 30,000 |
| 2 | 1983 | Vancouver | BC Place | 54,500 | |
| 3 | Mexico | 1938 | Mexico City | Estadio Azteca | 83,000 |
| 4 | 2010 | Guadalajara | Estadio Akron | 48,071 | |
| 5 | 1991 | Monterrey | Estadio BBVA | 53,500 | |
| 6 | USA | 1992 | Atlanta | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | 75,000 |
| 7 | 2002 | Boston | Gillette Stadium | 65,878 | |
| 8 | 2009 | Dallas | AT&T Stadium | 80,000 | |
| 9 | 1972 | Houston | NRG Stadium | 72,220 | |
| 10 | 1972 | Kansas City | Arrowhead Stadium | 76,416 | |
| 11 | 2020 | Los Angeles | SoFi Stadium | 70,240 | |
| 12 | 2010 | Miami | Hard Rock Stadium | 65,326 | |
| 13 | 2010 | New York City/ New Jersey | MetLife Stadium | 82,500 | |
| 14 | 2003 | Philadelphia | Lincoln Financial Field | 69,796 | |
| 15 | 2014 | San Francisco | Levi’s Stadium | 71,000 | |
| 16 | 2002 | Seattle | Lumen Field | 69,000 | |
Qualification Process
Qualifying for the World Cup started on September 7, 2023, and will run until March 31, 2026. Considering that three countries, namely Canada, Mexico, and the United States, will host the event, automatic qualification is already given to them.
The remaining places will be decided during the qualification matches to be staged in six confederations. It includes a qualification process that also contemplates an intercontinental play-off tournament to decide the last two participants of the World Cup, so that this edition will be the first in history to feature representatives of all six confederations.
In fact, in the CONCACAF region, the process consists of a number of qualification rounds: four of the lowest-ranked teams begin with two-legged matches, one winner among them moves on to compete against higher-ranking teams in stage games, and lastly, the top teams within those groups will qualify directly for the World Cup 2026. The best runner-up teams will go to the playoffs.
Match Schedule
The match schedule has been worked out so as to reduce the travel time of the teams and their fans. Teams will be divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two in each group and the eight best third-placed teams advancing to a new round of 32. The knockout stage will follow, culminating in the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The opening match will take place at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11, while Canada and the USA stage their first matches on June 12 in Toronto and Los Angeles, respectively. The three host nations will play all their group matches at home.
Will Ronaldo and Messi Play in the World Cup 2026?
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have shown an interest in playing at the 2026 World Cup. However, there are other circumstances that might influence their prospects.
Ronaldo's turning 41 during the tournament may have a bearing on his performance and role on the squad, despite his fitness and great showing with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
His participation will be determined by the decisions of Portugal's national team management, as well as if he stays on the roster during the qualification period.
Lionel Messi, on the other hand, will be 39 years old in 2026. Since joining Inter Miami in the League, he has shown his potential and played for Argentina's national team and won the championship. If he maintains his performance and impact on the squad, he will most likely be in the lineup.
Betting on the FIFA World Cup
Placing bets on the FIFA World Cup, especially for the upcoming 2026 event, presents a thrilling chance for both fans and bettors. The singapore trusted casino sites or sportsbooks have started to release odds for the tournament with teams such as France, Brazil and Spain emerging as frontrunners at +600 odds. England closely trails behind at +650 while Argentina, the reigning champion, sits at +800.
These odds reflect the potential earnings for bettors; for instance a wager of $100 on France could result in a payout of $600 if they emerge victorious. World Cup Betting goes beyond simply choosing the outright winner. It involves making bets on outcomes like the top goalscorer and match results. The odds can change leading up to the tournament due to team performance injuries and other factors. Punters often try to place their bets to lock in odds before they shift during the event.
Popular Betting Markets in the FIFA World Cup
Betting on the FIFA World Cup has gained traction among enthusiasts worldwide providing opportunities to interact with the event through diverse markets. Understanding these betting choices can enrich the experience and possibly result in rewarding outcomes. Below is an overview of the betting markets along with a few lesser known alternatives.
- Match Winner - You can place a bet on which team will win a match.
- Goalscorer - You can bet on which player will score the goal, the last goal or any goal during the match.
- Double Chance - You can bet on two possible outcomes of a match (home win, draw, away win) with one bet.
- Both Teams to Score - You can bet on whether both teams will score a goal in the match.
- Draw No Bet - You can bet on which team will win the match and if it ends in a draw, your stake will be returned.
- Totals (Over/Under) - You can bet on whether the number of goals, corners or cards will be over or under a specified amount.
- Outright Winner - You can bet on which team will win the World Cup tournament (eventual winner).
- Correct Score - You can predict the exact final score of a match.
- Top Goalscorer - You can bet on which player will score the most goals throughout the tournament.
- Half-Time/Full-Time: This bet requires you to predict the results at both the half-time and full-time marks.
- Asian Handicap: A betting type that provides a team with an edge or disadvantage to ensure a fair competition.
- Group Winner - You can predict which team will finish first in a specific group.
Prop Bets and Other Unfamiliar Bets
Aside from the regular betting options, the World Cup offers a variety of prop bets that add excitement and uniqueness.
- Goalkeeper Saves - Place your wager on the goalkeeper who will achieve the most saves throughout the tournament.
- Disciplinary Cards - Bet on which team or player is likely to receive the most yellow or red cards.
- Distance Covered - Predict the player who will cover the most kilometers during the tournament.
- Corner Kicks - Wager on which team will be awarded the number of corner kicks.
- Ball Possession: Bet on the team that is expected to have the highest ball possession percentage in a match.
These prop bets enhance the excitement factor allowing fans to engage with the game in ways, beyond just the final score.
These are just a few of the betting options available for the World Cup. With so many choices fans have ample opportunities to engage in the excitement of the World Cup 2026.
World Cup 2026 Odds
This tournament will be the first time that the World Cup will feature 48 teams, rather than the usual 32. The excitement is growing high, and with that, setting the betting odds for the teams competing for the championship. Below is a table showing some of the top teams' current odds to win the tournament.
| Top | Team | Odds |
| 1 | France | +600 |
| 2 | Brazil | +600 |
| 3 | Spain | +600 |
| 4 | England | +650 |
| 5 | Argentina | +800 |
| 6 | Germany | +1000 |
| 7 | Portugal | +1400 |
| 8 | Netherlands | +2000 |
| 9 | Italy | +2200 |
| 10 | USA | +3300 |
| 11 | Belgium | +3300 |
| 12 | Uruguay | +3300 |
| 13 | Mexico | +5000 |
| 14 | Croatia | +6600 |
| 15 | Denmark | +6600 |
| 16 | Japan | +8000 |
| 17 | Canada | +10000 |
Top Sports Betting Sites for FIFA World Cup Events
We compiled a list of the best online casinos and sports betting platforms in Singapore for wagering on FIFA World Cup matches. Our selection process wasn't arbitrary. We considered the aspects such as the types of bets available, the odds offered, the credibility of the sports betting operators, the range of sports covered and more.
