World Cup 2026 format and schedule
The 2026 World Cup expands to 48 teams for the first time, split across 16 groups of three teams playing two matches each. The top two from each group advance to a 32-team knockout round starting from the round of 32. The expanded format means more matches and more betting markets than any previous tournament.
Matches are hosted across 16 stadiums in the USA (11 venues), Canada (2 venues), and Mexico (3 venues). The final is scheduled at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, 2026.
Outright World Cup betting markets
Outright betting on the World Cup covers tournament winner, finalist, semifinalist, and quarter-finalist positions. Group winner and runner-up markets open as group stage fixtures are confirmed. Shuffle runs these markets through to the final with odds updating after each round.
Top goalscorer markets cover the Golden Boot, with individual player lines updating as the tournament progresses. Golden Glove, Best Young Player, and tournament-specific awards also appear as the competition develops.
- Outright tournament winner
- Finalist (to reach the final)
- Top goalscorer / Golden Boot
- Group winner and runner-up
- To win Group (all 16 groups)
- Knockout bracket: round of 32, round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final
- First team eliminated
- Both teams to score in knockout matches
Group stage and match betting
Every group stage match at the World Cup will have full market coverage at Shuffle: match result (1X2), Asian handicap, total goals, both teams to score, correct score, first goalscorer, and more. With 48 teams and a 12-group format, the group stage runs 104 matches, a significant increase over the 64-match 2022 tournament.
Shuffle's live betting will run on every match of the tournament, including the group stage games involving lower-ranked nations where public market attention is lowest and value pricing tends to appear.
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In-play coverage runs through the group stage, knockout rounds, and Final. Sub-second odds refresh applies to all World Cup live markets. Cash-out is available on live World Cup bets at the displayed price without manipulation.
Half-time lines, Asian handicap adjustments mid-match, and live corners and cards markets are available on most group stage matches and all knockout rounds. The volume of World Cup traffic means Shuffle's live feed carries more liquidity than a typical club match, which translates to tighter live spreads.
The MAXBET bonus and World Cup betting
World Cup match singles at odds 1.50 or above count at 50% toward the 35x welcome bonus wagering requirement. With 104+ group stage matches and a deep knockout round, there's a full tournament's worth of qualifying bets to work through the rollover.
Outright bets on the tournament winner also count at 50% on odds 1.50 or above. Note that the World Cup final isn't until July 19, 2026, so if you place an outright bet while clearing the 35x rollover, the bet won't settle until after the tournament. The wagering contribution applies when the bet is placed, not when it settles.