The 2026 FIFA World Cup is under way, and if you're new to betting on it, the welcome offer you pick matters as much as the bet itself. This page rounds up the current sign-up deals from major UK-licensed bookmakers that take World Cup markets, and explains how tournament betting actually works — outright winner odds, group winner markets, top goalscorer prices, and building accumulators across multiple matches. We link out to each bookmaker's own offer page rather than quoting figures here, because welcome offers change frequently and the terms (minimum odds, qualifying bet size, wagering requirements) are set and updated by the bookmaker, not by us. Always read the full terms on the bookmaker's site before signing up, and remember that gambling should stay within what you can afford to lose.
New customers only. Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of qualifying bet to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required. 18+. BeGambleAware.org.
New customers only. Sign up via the '£30 in Free Bets when you place any bet' promotion. Min deposit £5. Place first qualifying bet of min £0.05 as a single or each way at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater. Receive 3x £10 Free Bets. Free Bets valid for 7 days. Payment method restrictions apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.org.
New customers only. Place a qualifying bet of min £5 on Sports at odds of EVS (2.0) or greater. Get £40 in Free Bets. Free Bets must be used within 30 days. Promo code YSKATF required. Payment method and T&C restrictions apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.org.
New customers only. Min deposit £10. Place qualifying bet of £10+ on Sports at min odds of EVS (2.0) within 7 days of registration. Receive £30 in Free Bets. Free Bets valid for 30 days. Stakes not returned. Payment method restrictions apply. T&Cs apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.org.
New customers only. Place a qualifying bet of min £10 on Sportsbook at EVS (2.0) odds or greater. Qualifying deposit via credit or debit card or Apple Pay only. Free Bets valid for 30 days. Cashed out, void or draw no bet wagers do not qualify. Free Bets are non-withdrawable. No cashout on Free Bets. 18+. BeGambleAware.org.
Betting on a World Cup is different to betting on a single match, mainly because of how many market types are on offer across a month-long tournament. Here's a plain-English run-through of the main ones.
Outright winner markets let you back a team to win the whole tournament before a ball is kicked, or at any point once it's under way — the price simply moves as results come in. These odds are usually the headline market on every bookmaker's World Cup hub.
Group winner and qualification markets are shorter-term bets on how a specific group plays out — which two teams go through, or which team tops the group. These tend to carry shorter odds than the outright winner market because there are fewer realistic outcomes.
Top goalscorer betting is a tournament-long market on which player finishes with the most goals. It runs for the full month, so prices drift as players score, get injured, or see their team eliminated — worth checking each bookmaker's terms on dead-heat rules if two players finish level.
Accumulators combine several selections — for example backing three different match winners on the same day — into a single bet where all parts need to come in for the bet to pay out. They carry bigger potential returns than single bets but are correspondingly harder to land, since every leg has to win.
Below are some of the UK-licensed bookmakers currently running welcome offers and worth checking for their World Cup coverage. Offer terms, minimum odds and qualifying bet requirements are set by each bookmaker and can change at any time, so check the current terms on their site before you sign up.
If tournament betting stops being enjoyable, or you find yourself chasing losses across the month, BeGambleAware.org has free, confidential support. You must be 18 or over to bet with a UK-licensed bookmaker.