Here at oddschecker, we have provided a selection of offers and bet builder strategies for week 1 of the 2026 World Cup. Find out how to make the most of your free bets below.
The wait is finally over. The biggest sporting event on earth is getting underway, and with an expanded 48-team tournament spreading across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Week 1 of the World Cup promises unprecedented scale, chaotic drama, and non-stop betting action.
With 16 groups of three teams starting their campaigns, the traditional margin for error has completely vanished. Giants like Brazil, France, Argentina, and England are under immediate pressure to perform, while the condensed group stage structure opens the floodgates for potential historic upsets. For bettors, this means the typical tournament rulebook has been thrown out the window.
Below, you'll find some exciting World Cup sign up offers, as well as some betting strategies and bet builder bets ready to place during the first week of action.
Mexico v South Africa Bet Builder - Best Price 33/1
Mexico v South Africa is the opening game of the tournament, and it brings with it a massive dose of heavy nostalgia and high stakes. By a fascinating twist of fate, this curtain-raiser at the iconic Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca) is a reverse replay of the historic 2010 World Cup opening match, where South Africa served as the hosts. Below, you'll find a bet builder which is best priced at 33/1 with BetMGM at the time of writing, and you can also bet £10 and get £40 in free bets with the BetMGM sign up offer!
Brazil v Morocco Bet Builder - Best Price 40/1
Moving from the opening night drama in Mexico City, we shift our attention to one of the best matchups of Week 1, Brazil v Morocco.
This is a clash between the ultimate footballing aristocrats and the ultimate modern giant-killers. Morocco, who captured the world's heart with their historic semi-final run in 2022, are no longer a surprise package - they are a deeply respected, world-class defensive unit. With bet365, you can bet £10 and get £30 in free bets, which you may want to use on the following bet builder, which is best-priced at 40/1:
Paddy Power World Cup Offer: Bet £5, Get £40 in Free Bets for Haiti v Scotland
Paddy Power is giving new customers a massive return on investment to use across the opening week of the tournament. By betting just a single fiver on Haiti v Scotland, you will instantly unlock £40 in free betting tokens.
Group C is widely considered one of the most ruthless pools in the expanded 48-team tournament, featuring South American powerhouses Brazil and 2022 semi-finalists Morocco. Therefore, this is a must-win for Steve Clarke's side if they are to have a realistic chance of qualification. You could back Scotland to win and Lawrence Shankland to score with your £5 qualifying bet to unlock £40 in free bets, which is currently just above Evens.
Netherlands v Japan: Bet £10, Get £50 in Free Bets with Betfair
The opening week of the World Cup shifts into overdrive as the Netherlands prepare to clash with Japan in a fascinating Group E encounter.
This is a matchup built on a stark contrast of styles: the Dutch, famous for their tactical fluidly, physical strength, and European pedigree, going toe-to-toe with the Blue Samurai, renowned for their breathless work rate, lightning-fast transitions, and elite technical discipline.
New Betfair customers can claim £50 in free bets when they bet £10 on Netherlands v Japan, which means you can then use this huge bonus on the rest of the tournament! Click the link below to claim this incredible Betfair World Cup offer.
England v Croatia Betfred Offer: Get 66/1 on England to Wear White
It wouldn't be the World Cup without betting on England, and Betfred have an outstanding offer to kick things off for their first game. New customers can sign up and get boosted odds of 66/1 on England to wear white against Croatia! If they do, you'll then be credited with £66 in free bets, which you can use for the rest of the week's games! Click the link below to claim this offer!
Latest World Cup Winner Odds
Here are the latest World Cup winner odds for 2026:
