Bet365 released betting data ahead of Friday’s World Cup draw, scheduled for 5pm UK time. Spain leads all nations in outright winner selections since mid-November.
The European champions have pulled in 27% of tournament winner bets. They’re priced at 9/2 odds.
England follows with 19% of betting activity despite longer 6/1 odds. Portugal takes third place, capturing 12% of wagers at 10/1.
Brazil and Norway each grabbed 8% of stakes. Brazil sits at 8/1 while Norway’s priced at 33/1. France attracted 6% of bets at 7/1 odds, and Argentina accounts for 4% at 8/1.
Scotland’s drawn 4% of betting activity. Their odds? 250/1.
Why These Patterns Matter for Tournament Trading
The betting concentration reveals customer confidence clustering around recent performance. Spain’s dominance in bet volume mirrors their European Championship success.
England’s high betting share despite longer odds suggests patriotic backing over pure value assessment. The operator’s data shows bettors aren’t just chasing favorites.
Norway’s 8% share at 33/1 odds indicates speculative interest in potential dark horses. That’s the same percentage as Brazil, priced much shorter.
Scotland’s appearance in betting volumes despite 250/1 odds demonstrates emotional wagering patterns. These trends help operators balance their books before the tournament starts.
What Bet365’s Squad Market Shows
The operator unveiled England squad selection odds. Jordan Pickford, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice all sit at 1/33 to make manager Thomas Tuchel’s final cut.
Jude Bellingham’s priced at 1/7. Phil Foden stands at 1/10. Cole Palmer and Marcus Rashford both got 2/7 odds.
Defense presents more uncertainty. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s at 8/11 while Valentino Livramento sits at evens. These tighter odds point to genuine selection battles.
The operator’s been expanding its market range throughout 2025. They added ‘player to be fouled’ betting across Premier League fixtures last October.
How This Fits Bet365’s US Push
The operator launched in Missouri last month. It’s their 16th active US market.
They partnered with the St. Louis Cardinals over multiple years. The timing aligns with growing US interest in international soccer.
The 2026 tournament expands to 48 teams from the traditional 32-team format. That’s the first expansion since 1998.
More teams means more betting markets. And more markets mean broader customer engagement across bet365’s expanding US footprint. The operator’s positioning itself ahead of what could be the most-bet World Cup in history.
