Soccer has never been more popular in the U.S. than it is now, with many exciting matchups taking place. International superstars are flocking to the MLS, drawing much greater worldwide attention. Additionally, major European leagues and the Champions League have started, which means plenty of opportunities for betting.
Interested? Keep reading this article, and we’ll guide you on how to bet on soccer. You can learn:
- How to start betting
- Which statistics can help you when deciding on your bet
- How to read soccer odds and what are the most common types
- Soccer events in 2024
- 🔎Where to Begin?
- How to Read Soccer Odds?
- Soccer Betting Markets
- 3-Way Moneyline
- 2-Way Moneylines Without The Draw
- Goal Lines or Spread
- Derivative odds
- Totals
- Asian Handicap
- Soccer Parlays
- Future Bets
- Prop Betting
- What is the Best Way to Bet on Soccer?
- Soccer Betting in 2024: Top Events
- More Sports Betting Guides:
- Soccer Betting FAQs
🔎Where to Begin?
If you are an experienced bettor and just want to find some soccer-exclusive tips and tricks, feel free to skip to the next subheading right away. However, if you are new to the world of sports betting, your first step should be finding where to place your bets.
- 🗳️ First of all, check if sports wagering is legal in your state. If it is, then find a reputable and licensed sportsbook.
- 🎲 BetMGM, FanDuel, bet365, Caesars, and DraftKings are some names that frequently come up in almost every state. Some of these sportsbooks are leaders in offering competitive odds, others boast the most intuitive apps…
- 💸 Next, you’ll need to register and deposit money into your account. Generally, credit cards and e-wallets are accepted at most online sportsbooks.
- ⚽ Once your account is funded, you can start placing wagers on a variety of soccer bets. Both pre-match and live betting options are available at most sports betting sites.
How to Read Soccer Odds?
Now, when you are set up, you should learn how to read odds. You might come across three types of formats: British, American, and European. US sportsbooks use moneyline odds, so if you are betting from here, you just need to understand them.
They show you either how much you need to wager to win a $100 or how much you will win if you wager a $100. Let’s say the USA is playing Bolivia, and the odds are the following:
A minus sign means that the team is expected to win. The higher the number following the minus, the bigger are the chances of that team winning.
Now, with the plus sign, it’s the opposite. The bigger the number following the plus, the lower are the chances of that team winning.
In this case, the USA is expected to win and Bolivia to lose. How does it translate to your wager? If you bet $120 on USA winning, and they win, you will earn $20. If you bet $100 on Bolivia, and they win, the sportsbook will have to pay you $1300.
Soccer Betting Markets
Soccer is a simple sport. With two teams allowed 11 players on the field and 90 minutes of action, the winner comes down to who scores the most goals. When you bet on soccer online, however, a number of various markets are available that aren’t just decided by the result of a match.
Just be aware that most bets only cover the first 90 minutes plus injury time; extra time and shootouts are usually not included unless you bet on specific markets like “To Qualify” or those focused on extra time or penalties. Always check the rules of the market you’re betting on to avoid surprises.
While the most popular type of bet is still straight bets, one can also wager on:
💎 You can wager on:
- 3-Way Moneylines
- 2-Way Moneylines
- Goal Lines (Spread)
- Over/Under (Totals)
- Asian Handicaps
- Parlays
- Future Bets
- Prop Bets
- Double Chance
- Derivative odds
3-Way Moneyline
Soccer is one of the few sports in which three-way money lines are available. It allows you to bet on three results: Team A winning, Team B winning, or a draw.
An example of a 3-way moneyline may look like this:
| Game | 1 | X | 2 |
| Manchester City vs. Manchester United | +140 | +260 | +200 |
Bear in mind that wagers are generally decided after full-time. Also, due to the fact that there are now three results possible instead of two, the odds for each result are greater.
2-Way Moneylines Without The Draw
With a 2-way money line soccer bet without the draw, we eliminate the prospect of a draw from the wager. The two possible results will be Team A winning or Team B winning. If the game ends in a draw in regulation time, then all bets are refunded and considered ‘No Action.’
Since the draw option is removed from the moneyline, the odds on 2-way moneylines are considerably lower. Odds about the favorites can be more inflated due to the underdogs’ loss of ability to draw. 2-way moneylines are ideal for bettors looking for lower-risk bets that may not payout as big as 3-ways.
| Game | 1 | 2 |
| Manchester City vs. Manchester United | -110 | +180 |
Goal Lines or Spread
Goal lines or spread soccer betting is similar to point spreads found in basketball and football games. One of the teams will be given a handicap and another will be awarded a certain number of goals to start the match.
| Team | Spread | Odds |
| Villarreal | +1.5 | -120 |
| Barcelona | -1.5 | +110 |
In this case, Barcelona must win the game by 2 goals in order to win a wager placed on them. The +1.5 spread means that Villarreal can either win, draw, or even lose by 1 goal, and your bet will still win.
Generally, spread soccer wagers attempt to balance out lopsided matchups by giving the underdog a headstart in goals. It allows bettors to get good odds on favorites, even when the match is very one-sided. Of course, the other option is when you believe that the underdog can make a surprise, but don’t want to risk so much.
Derivative odds
These bets consider just one half – either the first or the second. For example:
- Both teams to score in the first (or second) half
- A goal scored in both halves
- Half-time correct score
- Half-time result (just the winner)
- 1st half over/under
Some sportsbooks even offer options such as more goals in the second half than in the first.
Totals
A total soccer bet is a popular wager type that doesn’t depend on the outcome of the matchup. Rather, bettors wager on the total number of goals that will be scored during the game. You can either bet on over or under a select number of goals set by the bookmaker.
Example:
| Team | Total Goals | Odds |
| Bayern Munich – Union Berlin | +2.5 | -110 |
Asian Handicap
Asian handicap betting, much like spread bets, is designed to eliminate the possibility of a draw in a soccer match. There are two main types of handicaps, half goals (0.5, 1.5, etc.) and whole goals (1, 2, 3, etc.). Half goals handicaps force a result as it’s not possible to score half a goal in soccer. Whole goal handicaps, however, can result in a tie, in which case bets are refunded.
One of the main differences in Asian handicaps is the ability to bet quarter-goal handicaps. Quarter (¼) handicaps split the bet between the two closest ½ intervals. For example, a $100 bet with an Asian handicap of 1¾ is equivalent to betting $50 at 1½ and $50 at 2. With ¼ handicap bets, you can both win and draw or lose and draw.
Asian handicaps start at a quarter goal and rarely go over 3 goals, even in matchups with huge disparities in ability.
Soccer Parlays
Soccer parlays refer to accumulator bets which have 2 or more soccer selections. To win a soccer parlay every selection on the betting slip must win. If even one of the selections loses, the entire parlay loses.
The idea behind parlay betting is creating big soccer odds by multiplying together the soccer odds of each selection you make.
Let’s examine a Premier League parlay bet slip.
| Game | Odds |
| Manchester United vs. Fulham (1 to win) | -170 |
| Newcastle vs. Southampton (Both teams to score) | -164 |
| Everton vs. Brighton (Over 2.5 goals) | -134 |
| Total | +347 |
Each additional wager added to the parlay bet will multiply against the odds, creating an exponential effect. So the more picks you make, the more the odds will balloon. On the other hand, all of the wagers must be winners in order to successfully payout a parlay bet.
Future Bets
Future bets are just that, wagers made on events that will happen in the long-term future. They are generally related to winning a League or Championship in soccer.
Odds are set well in advance for future bets and can change dramatically as the season unfolds. Teams generally have ups and downs during a season, so try to place bets when the odds are at their peak.
| League | Favorite to Win | Best Futures Odds | Sportsbook |
| Premier League | Manchester City | +150 | BetMGM |
| Bundesliga | Bayern Munich | -200 | DraftKings, Caesars, bet365 |
| La Liga | Real Madrid | -220 | FanDuel |
| Serie A | Inter Milan | -140 | FanDuel |
| Ligue 1 | Paris Saint Germain | -300 | Caesars |
| Champions League | Manchester City | +300 | Caesars |
| MLS | Inter Miami | +175 | DraftKings, Caesars, bet365, FanDuel, BetMGM |
Prop Betting
Prop bets are wagers on specific occurrences in a game or season. Examples include whether a player will score, the number of goals in a time frame, or match outcomes beyond the final score.
The following are examples of soccer prop bets:
- Will Player X score during the game?
- Will anybody score during the first 15 minutes of the game?
- Will there be a goal scored with a header this season?
- Who will win the toss at the start of the match?
- Will Player X score more goals than Player Y in this match?
What is the Best Way to Bet on Soccer?
Now that you understand the odds and know where to place your bets, it’s time to dive into the actual wagering process. We like to start by picking a specific league or competition and then review the games scheduled for that day. Just type the league name into a search engine, and you’ll see all the upcoming matches.
From there, we review each game individually. using detailed data from reliable websites. Key statistics include overall odds, league table positions, current form, head-to-head records, and injury reports. Simply type in the teams you’re interested in, and you’ll find a wealth of data to inform your bets.
Here’s a quick guide on what key statistics to look for:
Overall Odds and League Table Position
Start by checking the odds from bookmakers and the league table positions of both teams. This gives you a snapshot of whether there’s a clear favorite or if the match is likely to be evenly contested. Odds indicate what the market expects, while league standings reflect overall team performance.
Current Form and Recent Performance
Take a look at how each team has been performing recently. The current form is often more telling than season-long stats. Consider winning or losing streaks and pay attention to how teams perform at home versus away. Also, observe their scoring patterns; for example, some teams may start slow and pick up in the second half, which can influence bets on halftime or full-time results.
Head-to-Head Records
The history between the two teams can provide valuable insights. Sometimes, a strong team might struggle against a particular opponent. Rivalry matches can be especially unpredictable, so don’t forget to consider the emotional and competitive factors at play.
Injury Report and Player Availability
Finally, always check the latest injury report and player suspensions. Missing key players can significantly impact a team’s performance. It’s crucial to evaluate the importance of these players; a star player being out could be a game-changer, whereas the absence of a bench player might not have much effect. If a team has been faring well without a key player for a while, they might have adapted to their absence.
Check the team’s ability to score
Don’t just pay attention to whether the team is winning or losing, but also how much they score. Some coaches are known for their tactics where their team scores a goal and then focuses solely on defense. On the other hand, there are teams that ‘can’t get enough of goals.’
Follow Soccer Betting Professionals
Many professionals post soccer picks and opinions for free on the internet. Their picks generally take into account a number of statistics which increase the probability of winning. Be sure to take advantage of this valuable resource before placing your bets, if for nothing else but to double-check.
Soccer Betting in 2024: Top Events
Now that you have learned how to bet on soccer, let’s move on to the main topic – what events to bet on. Obviously, the most popular leagues are still the “big five”—Spain’s La Liga, Germany’s Bundesliga, England’s Premier League, Italy’s Serie A, and France’s Ligue 1, as well as the Champions League.
| Event | Dates |
| Major Soccer League (USA) | February 21 – October 19* |
| La Liga (Spain) | August 15 – May 25 |
| Bundesliga (Germany) | August 23 – May 17 |
| Serie A (Italy) | August 17 – May 25 |
| Premier League (UK) | August 16 – May 25 |
| Ligue 1 (France) | August 16 – May 17 |
| Champions League (Europe) | September 17 – May 31** |
*Pause from the middle of July to the middle of August
**Qualifications are held from July 9 to August 28
MLS 2024 Betting
MLS regular season championship is divided into two Conferences – Eastern (15 teams) and Western (14 teams). The first 9 teams in each conference will play in the Playoffs. It will begin in October and finish with the MLS Cup Finals on 7th December.
In the Eastern Conference, Inter Miami is leading the pack, boasting former Barcelona legends like Leo Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets. Over in the Western Conference, Los Angeles Galaxy holds the top spot.
However, focusing solely on teams with international superstars shouldn’t be your only strategy when betting on soccer. Take young and talented Cincinnati, for example. With domestic players like Corey Baird and Miles Robinson, they’ve emerged as one of the biggest rivals to Miami.
You can bet on numerous things here: from championship winner (Inter Miami is the first favorite) to specific game wagers.
More Sports Betting Guides:
How and where you can bet on football games
How to wager on your favorite basketball events
Learn baseball wagering from our experts
Online tennis is another thing you can bet
Soccer Betting FAQs
Yes. Many states now have regulated sports betting industries with a variety of activities to bet on – including soccer, both MLS and European leagues. However in most places, you need to be 21+.
The best approach is to analyze the teams you want to bet on. Bets like ‘draw no bet’, ‘both teams to score’, or goal lines might be better options than simple moneylines, because ties happen very often in this sport. However, bear in mind that no bet will ever guarantee a profit, so always bet responsibly.
That usually depends on which sportsbook you are registered with and the time of year. However, most sportsbooks have all the main leagues you would want to place wagers on like, EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, MLS, etc.
They say that the current form of sports betting was created for soccer. Once you understand and get used to 3-way moneylines, it becomes quite easy. Based on previous performances, it’s also easier to predict the point spread (goal lines) and other types of bets.
In soccer betting, “-1” means the team must win by more than one goal for your bet to win. If they win by exactly one goal, your bet is refunded. If they draw or lose, you lose the bet.
