The Soccer World Cup is finally here after four long years of anticipation. Teammates will leave their regular clubs for their national country, all with the aim of taking out arguably the most prestigious event in sport.
About the 2018 World Cup
Each World Cup, there’s a four-year build up which ends with 18 months of qualifiers to determine the top-32 teams which will partake in the event. The event will take place in Russia with 11 cities playing host to 12 different venues.
This year there will be representatives from Europe, Central and South America, Africa and Asia. The Socceroos did it the hard way, managing to only just scrape in, but regardless they have made their fourth straight World Cup.
Notably, Italy missed out on making the World Cup for the first time since 1958, along with Netherlands, who failed to make an impression on their group finishing in third place. Crowd favourite Iceland made the cut this year, and surprisingly Panama slipped in to the 2018 renewal, but are regarded as extreme outsiders along with Saudi Arabia.
Among the most favoured teams are Germany who will be looking to defend their crown and take out a record-equalling fifth title. Brazil are second favourites and will be looking to get revenge on the defending champions who embarrassed them 7-1 in the semi-finals last time.
World Cup Facts by the Numbers
- 20 – The number of previous World Cup winners dating back to 1930
- 16 – The record for World Cup goals, held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose
- 5 – The record Brazil holds for most World Cup titles
- 0 – The number of teams that have won the World Cup outside of South America or Europe
2018 World Cup Pools
| TEAM 1 | TEAM 2 | TEAM 3 | TEAM 4 | |
| GROUP A | Russia | Saudi Arabia | Egypt | Uruguay |
| GROUP B | Portugal | Spain | Morocco | Iran |
| GROUP C | France | Australia | Peru | Denmark |
| GROUP D | Argentina | Iceland | Croatia | Nigeria |
| GROUP E | Brazil | Switzerland | Costa Rica | Serbia |
| GROUP F | Germany | Mexico | Sweden | South Korea |
| GROUP G | Belgium | Panama | Tunisia | England |
| GROUP H | Poland | Senegal | Colombia | Japan |
World Cup Past Winners
| WINNER | RUNNER UP | |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Germany | Argentina |
| 2010 | Spain | Netherlands |
| 2006 | Italy | France |
| 2002 | Brazil | Germany |
| 1998 | France | Brazil |
| 1994 | Brazil | Italy |
| 1990 | West Germany | Argentina |
| 1986 | Argentina | West Germany |
| 1982 | Italy | West Germany |
| 1978 | Argentina | Netherlands |
| 1974 | West Germany | Netherlands |
| 1970 | Brazil | Italy |
| 1966 | England | West Germany |
| 1962 | Brazil | Czechoslovakia |
| 1958 | Brazil | Sweden |
| 1954 | West Germany | Hungary |
| 1950 | Uruguay | Brazil |
| 1938 | Italy | Hungary |
| 1934 | Italy | Czechoslovakia |
| 1930 | Uruguay | Argentina |
BlueBet will have a host of World Cup markets including match, goalscorer, total goals, scorers, handicaps as well as tournament future betting icnluding Outrights, group winners, tournament top goalscorer, player of the tournament and Socceroo specials.
Find out more about betting on the 2018 FIFA World Cup
