A new tournament structure and more games to bet on
The FIFA Club World Cup's new format consists of 32 teams divided into four groups. Each team in the tournament will play three matches in the Group Stage, with the top two teams advancing into the next round to compete in the Knockouts. There will be 63 matches in the tournament, a leap from the previous seven-team format. Naturally, this means more matchups to wager on. Also, the format allows for underdogs to compete against European elites, which could also make for an interesting variety of betting options.
You can wager on tournament outcomes like tournament winner, top scorer, or make it onto the subsequent rounds. Each individual fixture will also allow you to wager on options such as match results, outright, and even live bets. You may want to lean on expert soccer picks and predictions like the ones offered by Sportytrader for help in making the most informed betting decisions.
Tournament favorites and their form
French Ligue 1 and UCL champions Paris Saint-Germain are favorites to win the Club World Cup. Despite their loss to Botafogo in their second fixture, they're still in a good position to head to the knockouts and make it all the way. Manchester City and Bayern Munich are also high on the list of contenders. As expected, both teams kicked off the campaign with statement wins.
Powerhouse Spanish side Real Madrid may also have healthy chances at trying for the trophy. Some sportsbooks have priced Real Madrid and PSG at the same odds, based on the former's historic five UCL trophies in the last ten years. However, Los Blancos performed below expectations during the 2024-2025 season. Besides, their opening match against Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal (which ended in a draw) shows they’re a team you should bet on with caution.
Manchester City, on the other hand, reignited trust in football fans after seeing off Wydad AC 2 goals to nil. New signings Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders have impressed with strong performances, although Rico Lewis' awful tackle that earned him a late red card could signal potential disciplinary concerns.
A look at emerging trends and value bets
Early matches played in the tournament signal high-scoring trends, with Bayern Munich putting 10 goals past Auckland City and Juventus beating Al Hilal 5 - 0, all on the first match day. As such, betting on over/under goals seems viable, especially in matchups with a clear difference in team quality.
Competitive group stages could also produce the "Both Teams to Score" (BTTS) markets, as seen in the Boca Juniors vs. Benfica game, which ended 2-2. Lionel Messi's Inter Miami result against Al Ahly may signal too much hype on some popular teams. Underdog unpredictability is always common in tournaments like this, the stalemate between Real Madrid and Al Hilal being a perfect example.
There’s been growing attention on player-specific bets. Both Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) and Ousmane Dembele (PSG) are priced to top the scoring chart. Although Mbappé hasn't been consistent with his integration with teammates Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo, he has a way of finding the back of the net. Dembele was the Ligue 1 top scorer and has been a consistent name on the score sheet this season.
With the switch to a new format, the FIFA Club World Cup is expected to garner more interest from viewers and bettors alike. Stats become even more important the bigger the competition. So, stay updated with teams' forms, injuries, and lineups, as missing key players can influence betting odds. Watch out for trap lines, as some sportsbooks may price misleading odds on popular teams for exploitation. Check and compare odds on different platforms and seize the live betting advantage. By paying attention to stats and forms and avoiding misleading odds, you can confidently make the best betting decision to maximize your profits. You can also leverage strategic betting on the FIFA Club World Cup matches by diversifying your bets across different markets.