The Kentucky Derby lasts two minutes. The Masters is just four days. Wimbledon is two weeks.
But the World Cup? That’s 39 days and 104 matches—more than a month of drama, momentum swings, and moments that’ll make you jump off the couch with so much excitement you risk denting the ceiling!
Call it soccer. Call it football. Around the world, billions of people are completely obsessed with it. And during a tournament like this, it’s easy to get swept up in the action.
So, before the first kickoff it can help to take a step back and think about how you want to approach it. A little planning ahead—and using My PlaySmart tools to budget your spending—will help make your bankroll, and the fun, last until the final goal.
Get ready for a freight train of a tournament
The World Cup is one of the biggest events on the planet, with a massive amount of momentum that doesn’t stop growing until one team claims the trophy.
The action starts with the group stage, composed of 48 matches where teams are split into groups and try to survive long enough to advance.
From there it’s straight into knockout soccer, starting with the round of 32 and working all the way down to the third-place and final matches. One loss here and your team is out.
It’s thrilling and unpredictable and wildly dramatic. Favourites may stumble against weaker teams as underdogs catch fire, further energized by fans after each win. A particularly tough group might get stacked on one side of the elimination bracket, pitting the best teams against each other early on. Star players could be injured, changing the entire direction of the tournament.
It’s these constant shifts in focus and spectacle that make the World Cup so compelling. But they’re also what makes it so easy for us to get swept up in the action and let our emotions get behind the wheel.
This is where a bit of discipline helps.
The bettor’s big picture: Think tournament, not matches
Betting on one match at a time without a plan over the course of a 39-day tournament is a good way to blow your budget early.
A better approach is to pace yourself across the full schedule. Set a total budget before things begin, one you’re comfortable with for the entire run, and figure out how much you can wager per bet so your bankroll lasts until the final game. That way you won’t be reacting to every win or loss. You’ve already decided what you’re willing to spend, and you’re working within that.
Tools like My PlaySmart Deposit Limit and Sports Spend Limit can help here, especially over a stretch this long. They act as a bit of a backstop, helping you put the brakes on when your feelings want to take over.
How to ride the ups and downs
A smooth run in a tournament as big and as long as the World Cup is rare. Teams may start strong in the group stage and then falter in the knockout phase, or vice versa. Swings in fortune are an expected part of the drama.
But try not to let a single emotional result dictate how you react with your next wager. A tough defeat doesn’t need to be fixed with another bet, and an unexpected win doesn’t mean it’s time to suddenly double down.
Chasing losses with bigger and bigger bets is never a good strategy. Unlike a soccer player, a bettor shouldn’t try to leave it all on the pitch in order to win. Just stay the course and stick to your budget.
Your goal: Stay in it until the final goal
As a bettor, the best way to have fun with all of the penalty kicks, fast breaks, and keeper heroics of the World Cup is still having a stake come the final kickoff. That’s when your future self will be thanking you for having a plan.
Visit My PlaySmart Tools and set your Deposit and Sports Spend Limits before placing your first bet. It’ll keep things manageable and ensure you’re not second-guessing your betting decisions midway through.
Picking winners isn’t really what makes us soccer fans. It’s being invested in the Beautiful Game, right up until the final whistle.
