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The FIFA World Cup

The FIFA World Cup is without doubt the greatest sporting show on earth, and the most important in any footballing fans calendar. Along with the Olympics it is the most watched sporting event on Earth, where the cream of world football comes to compete for the World Cup. It provides numerous football betting opportunities – scroll down for some FIFA World Cup betting hints and tips or see the latest odds for all types of Football Bets. (Opens in new window)

The first tournament was held in Uruguay in 1930, and all matches were played in the 3 stadiums of Montevideo, 13 teams competed for the Jules Rimet Trophy named after the French sculptor who designed it. The host nation won the first World Cup.

Despite the World War halting the tournament from 1938, the spirit of the tournament lived on and was renamed the Jules Rimet Cup from 1950. The first nation to win it three times got to keep the trophy, and this was achieved by Brazil in 1970.

The FIFA World Cup was then founded in 1971, created by Silvio Gazzanigi of Italy; each team that wins this trophy has a replica to keep, as no nation will be allowed to keep the original.

Seven nations have won the famous trophy, and to read about the World Cup history in-depth, please check our History of the World Cup sections

1930 - 1954

1958 - 1970

1974 - 1986

1990 - 2002

Structure of the World Cup Competition

In 2006, FIFA list 205 recognised footballing nations, all of which have a right to take part in the qualification stages of the World Cup. There are six official football zones in the preliminary qualification list; African, Asian, North and Central American and Caribbean, Oceanian, European, and South American Zones. Each zone has a limited number of spaces to make up the 32 teams who will play in the World Cup Finals in Germany 2006.

Europe has 14 slots for the finals. The eight World Cup group winners progress automatically, as do the two best runner-ups, along with the host nation (which will be Germany for the 2006 World Cup). The other six runner-ups meet in a play-off, and the winners are given a place in the World Cup Finals. Africa will send five football teams, Asia and South America have four each and the North and Central America and Caribbean Zone has three.

Currently the Oceanic group winner plays against the South American zones fifth place team in a play-off, and the team finishing fifth in Asia will play off against the team coming fourth in the North, Central American and Caribbean zone. The winner of each gets a place at the World Cup Finals.

Therefore, 32 teams which will travel to Germany for the 2006 World Cup. These will be put into eight groups, from A-H. There are 8 seeded nations comprising of the defending champions, the host nations, plus 6 teams that FIFA select on the basis of previous success in the tournament, to their world rankings over the past few years.

In the eight groups, no more than two European teams can be drawn in the same group, and no more than one team from the Americas. This ensures that all groups have a fair mixture of teams from all the continents, and not a group made up solely of South American, or European teams, for example.

The top two football teams from each section qualify for the second round, where the team who comes top plays a team who came second in a pre-determined draw. Then follows the quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final to determine who will win the World Cup.

Previous Winners of the FIFA World Cup

Most Wins

5: Brazil

4: Italy

3: Germany

2: Uruguay, Argentina

1: England, France

The results of the last five FIFA World Cup Finals are:

2006 Italy 1-1 France (aet) Italy won 5-3 on penalties

2002 Brazil 2-0 Germany

1998 France 3-0 Brazil

1994 Brazil 0-0 Italy (aet) Brazil won 4-3 on penalties

1990 West Germany 1-0 Argentina

Betting on the FIFA World Cup

Betting on the FIFA World Cup can be great fun, and there a range of options available, from the usual single match bets and tournament winner, down to the spread of goals scored, amount of bookings, the teams that will progress from the groups and even the player to score the most and win the Goldenboot. Before betting, here is a range of hints and tips.

• Expect an Upset

Since the World Cup was held in Brazil in 1950, where an amateur Sweden team beat the mighty Italians and the USA stunned England, upsets have become a part of the World Cups make-up.

But not all these surprise results come out of the blue, and for the punter who is prepared to do a little research and take a small risk, the rewards are there to be found.

In looking for an upset, two things need to be considered: the giant, and the underdog. Some nations are historically more susceptible to being shocked by the underdogs than others. Although Brazil has an almost impeccable World Cup record, there are top ranked nations like Spain who have failed to produce at major tournaments.

Spain are a nation who have an abundance of talent, yet failed to qualify from the group stages of Euro 2004 and France ‘98, plus in the last World Cup were knocked out in the quarter finals to South Korea on penalties, and were also beaten by Northern Ireland in 1982, in Spain.

Even though they have a couple of quarter-final appearances to their name, Spain consistently fail in the high-pressure situations, and are a favourite to bet against.

It is not just Spain who has failed in years gone by; defending champions France were beaten by Senegal in the opening match of the 2002 FIFA World Cup and failed to progress to the knock-out tournament.

Germany had a tough time in USA 1994, and Argentina also came unstuck on the opening match of the Tournament, losing to Cameroon in Italia 1990.

Greece sent shock-waves through world football as the 50-1 tournament rank outsiders went on to win Euro 2004 with their tough defensive displays, proving that the romance and potential of shock is still alive in world football.

With so much pressure on the major nations to succeed, plus with many squads relying on, at times, an ageing squad, be prepared to see some of the big boys flounder.

Many bookies, once the group draw has been completed, will offer you the opportunity to bet on the two teams that will progress from the group stages, and could be a good way to earn a profit if you select the correct two, especially if you stay away from the obvious.

• Look outside Europe

Before Italia 1990, the great Pele said that an African nation would win the World Cup before the turn of the century. Despite his prediction falling short, there has been a surge of African, and now Asian nations emerging as a power in the modern game.

The warning signs were there in the opening game of Italia 1990 when Cameroon beat Argentina 1-0 in the opening match, and were eventually edged out late in extra-time by England 3-2, thanks largely to Gary Lineker's nerve, scoring two penalties in the quarter-finals.

After Olympic success in Atlanta 1996, Nigeria were seen as the team to fear in France 1998, and in the group stages this was true, as they demolished Spain's hopes of progressing yet they were defeated in the second round themselves.

After Nigeria's defeat, many people noticed that despite the attacking flair of these African nations, these teams are also weak defensively, which has held back any realistic chance of these nations challenging for the World Cup until recently.

In the 2002 World Cup Finals, Senegal beat France in the opening game and went on to have a great tournament, and host nation South Korea went all the way to the semi-finals, showing a new found sense of steel and determination from these so-called lesser sides.

Yet with only one non-European/South American team reaching the semi-finals in recent times, backing these nations as eventual winners may not be the best way to spend your hard earned cash.

The rise in these teams comes from the amount of these nations' players playing in Europe, plus the amount of players staying true to their nation of birth. France has a close connection to North Africa but players are no longer using their French bloodline; many are sticking with their African nationality in order to play. Zidane (Algeria), Makelele and Vieira (both Senegal) all play for France for example, but now players like Diouf from Senegal are staying with the teams of their nationality, therefore improving the strength of these nations.

• Host Nation to over-achieve

Home advantage is a big one. Over the years six host nations have gone on to win the World Cup when staged on their own turf. Also teams such as the USA, Brazil, Italy, and of course most recently South Korea have enjoyed a fine run in the tournaments that they have hosted. This doesn't just hold true in the World Cup. England's semi-final appearance in Euro 1996, and Portugal reaching the final of their own tournament in Euro 2004 in more recent memory also show the benefits of playing football at home.

• Know your players

To truly grasp the World Cup and the potential for a shock, it is essential that you know your players, especially from the so-called lesser nations. The Ukraine has one of the world's most lethal goalscorers in Andrei Shevchenko who plays for AC Milan, and is a former European Golden Boot winner.

Ivory Coast and Ghana have Michael Essien and Didier Drogba, whose combined transfer fees total near £50miilion for the Chelsea duo.

Australia has a side packed with Premiership players such as Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, and Mark Schwarzer, and of the African nation, many ply their trade in the Premiership, or at some of Europe's top footballing sides.

101 Premiership footballers alone represented a plethora of nations in the 2002 World Cup, and around 50 Premiership players will be appearing in the African Cup of Nations. With many saying that the English Premiership is the best league in the world, this goes to show the strength of football worldwide.

From 1994 onwards, almost every nation had at least a few of their squad playing in the stronger leagues in Europe such as the German Bundesliga, Italian Seria ‘A, or in the Spanish, French, and English top flight. The days of a team of amateur players brought together for the World Cup Finals is no longer true.

• Success Breeds Success

A good way to see how teams are shaping up is to see how their recent performances in major events fare. To see the dangers of the African teams look to the African Cup of Nations, and for South America, the Copa Libertadores. Also the Olympics and the U-21 tournaments are a very good way to see, even if you are a few years ahead, how the nation's future is shaping up.

For the major nations, look to the European competitions. In Germany for example many of their players play in their domestic league, as do the English, Spanish, and Italians. Therefore take a look at these countries domestic records, plus how they have done in the UEFA Cup and Champions league to see how their players are shaping up.

To find out more about the World Cup's History, please take a look at the History of the FIFA World Cup section.

If you are new to betting and want to place a bet on the World Cup be sure to check out our Football - How To Bet section for some betting hints and tips.

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