Soccer Spread Betting Explained for World Cup

Croatia defender Josip Sutalo (6) and Brazil forward Matheus Cunha (7) fight for the ball during the first half of an international friendly soccer game, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Orlando, Fla.
(AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski)
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World Cup odds give bettors a few different options when it comes to spread betting.

Spreads start to come into play when the favorite is priced at +100 or higher on the three-way moneyline.

A general rule is that for every dollar the favorite’s moneyline moves, the spread rises by a half-goal. The key difference is the prices attached at different moneylines.

For example, oddsmakers will list a +250 underdog at a half-goal spread. The same is true of a +350 underdog, although the latter will feature a shorter price.

Bettors will see a couple different spread options for the World Cup at BetMGM.

The first is relatively simple: the two-way spread. This asks bettors to determine if the favorite will win by more than their spread or the underdog will cover and stay within the number.

Let’s use the Germany vs Curacao match as an example. Oddsmakers price Germany as a 3.5-goal favorite on the two-way spread, meaning a four-plus goal win would see them cover.

Curacao covers the spread by winning, drawing or losing by three or fewer goals.

Another option for bettors is the three-way spread. This market brings a touch more complexity as it offers three options instead of two.

We’ll stick with the same match for illustrative purposes. One of the options is the three-way spread (-3).

Germany -3 is technically still -3.5 in practice, as the price remains -118.

The second option is “Handicap Tie – Germany (-3)” at +375. This market only cashes if Germany wins by exactly three goals over Curacao.

The final option is Curacao +3 for +175. Although it says +3, the bet wins if Curacao stays within two goals or earns points against Germany.

Here’s another example at a smaller number. In Iran vs New Zealand, oddsmakers price the former as a -115 favorite.

The three-way spread (-1) starts with Iran -1 for +240. That market wins if Iran wins by two or more goals.

“Handicap Tie – Iran -1” wins if Iran earns all three points while winning by exactly one goal. New Zealand +1 is -115 and wins if they win or draw.

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About the Author Read More @nickhennion

Nick Hennion is a senior content writer for BetMGM. His previous stops include VSiN, NBC Sports, The Action Network and Forbes Betting. He owns a bachelor's degree from Syracuse University and a master's degree from Northwestern University.

Nick Hennion is a senior content writer for BetMGM. His previous stops include VSiN, NBC Sports, The Action Network and Forbes Betting. He owns a bachelor's degree from Syracuse University and a master's degree from Northwestern University.