Football is the most popular sport to bet on in the world, and one of the reasons for that is the sheer number of exciting competitions and tournaments that take place every year.
Whether it’s domestically, continentally, or internationally, there is nearly always a top football tournament for punters to bet.
From the Champions League to the World Cup, football has some of the most unique and prestigious tournaments in the world of sport. In this guide, I am going to take a look at the biggest football tournaments in the world, how to bet on them, and the best betting sites to use.
Here are my favourite football betting sites in the UK:
The biggest football tournaments worldwide
FIFA World Cup The Summer Olympics UEFA Champions League UEFA European Championship Women’s World Cup Copa América Copa Libertadores UEFA Europa League Africa Cup of Nations FA Cup Premier LeagueA closer look at the top football competitions
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup is the biggest prize in world football. It is an international tournament that is held in a different country every four years. Traditionally, the tournament moves from one continent to another each time, with a new host being selected years in advance.The traditional format of the tournament sees 32 teams split across eight groups, with the top two from each advancing. It is then a straight knock-out tournament. However, the World Cup is set to expand in future contests, with 48 teams competing for the prize. This will see a restructuring of the tournament, with an additional knock-out phase proposed.
The inaugural World Cup took place in 1930 and was won by Uruguay. Since then, only eight teams have won the tournament, with Brazil winning the most, with five. The newest country to join the winner’s list was Spain in 2010. Argentina are the current champions, having beaten France on penalties in the Qatar 2022 final.
The Summer Olympics
The Summer Olympics plays host to both men and women’s international football. The tournament is held in a different host city every four years, with the next edition set to be held in Paris in 2024.
The men’s competition has several restrictions in place, with squads having to be made up of players under the age of 23 with only three exceptions. The women’s competition is much more important in the women’s game and is second only to the women’s world cup.
Hungary and Great Britain are the most successful men’s teams with three golds each, while the USA have taken home four golds for the women’s team.
UEFA Champions League
The Champions League is seen as the top club prize in European football. It is an annual tournament held between the best teams from the top divisions on the continent. The number of teams from each country varies depending on UEFA’s ranking of the leagues. The Premier League comes at the top end of the rankings, with four teams entering each year.
The tournament takes place throughout the domestic season, with games being played mid-week. The group stages start in September, with the knock-out stages starting in February and the final being held in May.
Real Madrid are comfortably the most successful club in the competition’s history, clocking up an incredible 14 wins. Liverpool are the most successful English club with six wins, the most recent coming when they defeated Tottenham 2-0 in 2019.
Champions League winner oddsUEFA European Championship
The UEFA European Championship, known as the Euros, is the biggest international trophy in Europe. The tournament is held every four years, with 24 teams participating. The first version of the tournament was held in 1960, and the format has changed several time since.
It uses a group-stage format followed by knockout rounds. The tournament expanded from 16 teams to 24 in 2016, and is likely to change again in the future. Spain and Germany are the most successful teams in the tournament’s history with three trophies each. Italy are the reigning champions after defeating England at Wembley on penalties in 2021.
Women’s World Cup
The Women’s World Cup is the biggest prize in women’s football. The tournament is held every four years, with the first edition of the contest taking place in 1991. The 2023 edition took place in Australia and New Zealand, will be the first to feature 32 teams and use the same group-stage and knockout format as the men’s.
The USA are the most successful team in the competition’s history, winning four tournaments. Germany have been the second most successful, winning twice, with Japan and Norway both winning the trophy once.
Copa América
The Copa América is the South-American equivalent of the Euros. The tournament is organised by CONMEBOL and is the oldest continental football competition in the world. It has undergone many changes over the years. The next version of the tournament will feature some of the biggest changes to date, with six teams from CONCACAF entering the tournament as part of a new agreement.
Argentina and Uruguay are the two most successful teams in the competition’s history, winning 15 titles each. Argentina are the reigning champions, having beat Brazil 1-0 in the 2021 final.
You can read tips from more football experts for the 2024 Copa America right here.
Biggest football competitions. 18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly.Copa Libertadores
The Copa Libertadores is the biggest club competition in South America. The tournament is organised annually by CONMEBOL and it features 47 teams from 10 different associations. The tournament starts in February, with the final being held in a different venue each year in November.
Like many of the other top football tournaments, it uses a round-robin format followed by three knockout stages and a final. Argentina’s Independiente are the most successful team in the tournament’s history, winning seven titles.
UEFA Europa League
The UEFA Europa League is the second tier club competition in Europe below the Champions League. Like the Champions League, the tournament is held throughout the domestic seasons, with games traditionally being held on a Thursday.
In total, 58 teams compete in the competition each year, with teams dropping from the Champions League into the competition following the group stage. Sevilla are the most decorated team in the tournament’s history, winning six titles.
Africa Cup of Nations
The Africa Cup of Nations, often refered to as AFCON, is Africa’s biggest international competition. The tournament is held every two years, with 52 teams competing and 24 taking place in the final tournament.
Like the other major international tournaments, it is held in a different country every time. The most successful team in AFCON history are Egypt with seven wins.
FA Cup
The English FA Cup is the oldest and biggest national footbal competition in the world. Over 700 teams across the country compete in the tournament, with the early stages starting in August and the final being held in May. The first round proper of the tournament starts in November when Football League clubs from League One and League Two enter. The Premier League and Championship teams enter in the third round. The tournament uses a straight knockout format.
The most succesful team in the tournament’s history are Arsenal, having won 14 times. Their most recent win came in the 2019/20 season when they defeat Chelsea 2-1 in the final. The final and semi-finals of the tournament are always held at Wembley.
Premier League
The Premier League is arguably the most popular and prestigious football competition in the world. Founded in 1992, it features 20 teams and a total of 380 matches per season. The league boasts a massive global audience and attracts some of the best players and managers in the world.
Its high level of competitiveness, with any team capable of beating any other on a given day, has also earned it a reputation as one of the most unpredictable and exciting leagues in the world. The Premier League’s massive commercial success, with record-breaking TV deals and sponsorship agreements, has also helped to establish it as a major force in global football.
Premier League winner predictions Premier League top 4 finish oddsWhat is the biggest prize pool among the top football tournaments?
The biggest reported prize pool for a top football tournament is the €2.032 billion for the UEFA Champions League. The majority of this, 55%, is for competing in the tournament, while 30% comes from coefficient payments and 15% comes from broadcasting fees. The World Cup is the biggest of the international tournaments, with a reported prize pool of around $440m.
When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup happening?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will start on June 11th, 2026, and the final will be held on Sunday, July 19th, 2026. The venue for the final has still yet to be confirmed, though, the Metlife Stadium in New Jersey is seen as the leading candidate.
Which country will host the World Cup in 2026?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, with the USA playing host to the majority of the games. There will be 16 stadiums used in the tournament, 11 from the United States, three from Mexio, and two from Canada.
Which football tournament has the best betting action?
While the Champions League and FA Cup see high numbers of bets placed every year, the World Cup generates the most in betting revenue when it occurs. The 2022 edition of the tournament saw approximately $35bn (£22.8bn) placed in bets.
Where are the three biggest football competitions held?
The location of each of the major football tournaments I have looked at changes for each edition. The World Cup, for example, is held every four year, with a different country hosting it each time. The tournament rotates continents on each occasion as well. The most recent edition was held in Qatar in 2022, and the next will be in the USA, Canada and Mexico in 2026.
Likewise, the UEFA Champions League changes its final venue every season. The group-stages, round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals are all held at the home venues of the teams involved.
The continental championships like the Euros and the African Cup of Nations are held at different countries on their respective continents.
How can I watch the top football tournaments?
The top football tournaments are all broadcast on British TV and on streaming-services. The channel will depend on the tournament, with the World Cup, Euros, and FA Cup often being on terrestrial TV that is available for everyone, while the UEFA Champions League and some other tournaments are only available as part of a subscription service.
Which UK bookmakers offer betting on the biggest football competitions?
All of the top UK bookmakers offer football betting options, but these are the ones that stand out for us.
bet365
I consider bet365 to be one of the best all-round operators in the business, with its football betting options ranking among the finest. They cover all the major leagues and tournaments, whether domestic or international. If you’re looking to create an accumulator bet that mixes matches from the England Southern League Division One and the Champions League, then bet365 is the site for you.
As well as a range of markets, it also has some of the best betting features, with early payouts and cash-out options designed to help you land a win on a Saturday afternoon.
Spreadex
If you want to mix things up and explore some spread-betting markets, then Spreadex could be the operator for you. The site offers both fixed-odds and spread-betting football markets, and is one of the few football bookies in the UK to do so. You will find a huge range of markets, as well as some of the most competitive odds in the industry with Spreadex. It also tempts players in with a welcome bonus worth up to £50 when you bet £25.
What are the most popular football tournaments for UK punters?
The UK loves to bet on football, so it makes sense that tournaments featuring its domestic and international teams are the most popular to bet on. The UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup would be the most popular tournaments throughout the regular season, while the World Cup and Euros would also be extremely popular during the years they are held.
Can I bet on the top football competitions from the UK?
Absolutely! Football is the most popular sport to bet on in the UK, with all of the top bookmakers offering a plethora of football betting markets and accumulator bets. All of the bookies I have listed will offer odds on the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA World Cup, the FA Cup, and more. You will also have no problem finding odds for the smaller and more obscure tournaments.
Which bookies in the UK offer live streaming for the best football tournaments?
Several of the bookmakers I have listed will provide live streaming for football tournaments, and every one offers in-play betting. The availability of the tournaments will depend on the TV rights. For example, you are not likely to find live-streaming for the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League matches or those involving top teams. bet365 tends to be among the best bookies for live-streaming options.
My top 5 tips for betting on the biggest football tournaments
Betting on football is my favorite pastime in the UK. Following these five tips may help you get ahead:
Do your research: This should apply to betting on any sport. Football is one of the most popular sports in the world, and as such, the number of teams, tournaments, and players to keep up with can feel overwhelming. Make sure you take the time to research any tournament you bet on and that you understand the format, the rules and the types of bets you are placing. You should also make sure you check the form of individual teams and players, their previous records in tournaments, and other key statistics. Watch as much as you can: This might sound obvious, but the more exposure you can give yourself to football, the better. There has never been football content available than there is right now. Live-streams allow you to watch matches from all over the world, helping to give you a better idea of different tournaments and formats. There is also more analysis available thanks to Youtube, podcasts, and other audio/visual platforms. In short, consume as much football as you can, and your betting will improve. Keep a record of your bets: Keeping a record of your bets can help you improve in a number of ways. Firstly, it will help you manage your budget, which is absolutely essential, and secondly, it will help you see which markets work for you and which don’t. You might be particularly good at picking a scorer or placing outright bets, but have a terrible eye for over/under markets, for example. Take advantage of betting features: Due to the immense popularity of football betting, most top bookmakers will regularly offer betting features for matches. This includes things like enhanced odds and early payouts. Keeping your eyes out for these and taking advantage of them when they pop can be a particularly useful way of boosting your winning margins. Stay impartial: This is a big mistake people made with football betting. Backing your own team or refusing to back your rival team can lead to some potentially huge losses. For example, just because you’re an Everton fan, it doesn’t mean you have to back Liverpool to lose every week, especially when they are often favourites. Sticking with the numbers and not following your emotions is the key to keeping your losses at a minimum.About the author
Liam Hoofe
Liam is an experienced iGaming and sports betting journalist based in Cardiff. He has worked in the sports betting industry since 2017 and has provided content for some of the biggest casino and betting brands in the UK. He has also covered football and other sports for both regional and national newspapers.
Find Liam on Twitter: @LiamHoofe
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