Soccer betting grew fast in America
Soccer was an afterthought for American bettors just five years ago, but that is no longer the case. Major League Soccer (MLS) added eight new teams between 2017 and 2023, and the English Premier League now pulls around 1.5 million American viewers each weekend through TV deals with NBC and Peacock.
US, Canada, and Mexico are the hosts of the 2026 World Cup as well, with sixteen American cities set to host matches. That is one of the reasons why betting on soccer has never been more popular.
On top of that, games are played almost every day of the year. Premier League matches kick off Saturday mornings at 7:30 AM Eastern, LALIGA matches in the afternoon, while MLS matches are usually in the evening. If you've browsed new betting sites lately, you probably noticed soccer right next to football and basketball on the main menu.
What you should know about betting on soccer
Let's talk about how to bet on soccer before reviewing specific sites. Specifically, we’ll talk about popular markets. Some concepts may seem familiar if you've bet on other sports, but soccer has quirks that you should get to know before your first wager.
1. The three-way moneyline
Draws are common in soccer. That’s why you might have noticed that sportsbooks offer three choices instead of two. You can bet on the home team to win, the away team to win, or a draw. Your bet covers the 90 minutes and stoppage time, while overtime and penalty shootouts don't count for standard bets.
The draw option tends to confuse new players because it doesn't exist in most American sports. Veteran bettors prefer betting on draws in close matchups. With that in mind, here’s a fun fact you probably didn’t know. About 25% of soccer games end in a draw.
2. Goal spreads
These will seem familiar if you've used football betting sites because they work similarly to point spreads. The spread balances out mismatched teams by requiring the favorite to win by a certain margin. For instance, a team listed at -1.5 goals needs to win by two or more, while the underdog at +1.5 wins if they win outright, draw, or lose by just one goal.
3. Over/under totals
This one is quite simple. The sportsbook sets a number for total goals, which is usually 2.5, and you bet on whether both teams combined will score over or under that line. Defensive matchups are around 2.0, while games that involve teams that are known for their strong attack might be set at 3.0 or higher.
4. Player and team props
Finally, you can bet on whether one player will score anytime, be the first one to score, if he makes a shot on target or an assist. If you’re someone who tracks players’ performance, you could put that knowledge to good use. On the other hand, team props cover things like total corners, cards, and clean sheets.
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- Deep market coverage across major U.S. sports and leagues
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Common soccer bet types
| Bet type | What you bet on | Best for |
| 3-Way Moneyline | Home win, away win, or draw after 90 minutes | Beginners |
| Goal Spread | Favorite wins by X goals, or underdog stays close | Lopsided games |
| Over/Under | Combined goals from both teams | All bettors |
| Player Props | Goals, assists, shots for one player | Dedicated fans |
| Futures | League winner, top scorer, relegation | Long-term bettors |
Our recommended 5 soccer betting sites
We signed up at each platform and placed soccer bets. Having played at these sites for some time, here are our 5 best sportsbooks.
bet365: Best for international soccer
- Generous welcome bonus
- 24/7 live chat
- Intuitive site interface
- Dedicated mobile app
- No VIP program
bet365 started in the UK back in 2000, and soccer betting has always been their specialty. The coverage they offer runs remarkably deep with betting lines on Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, and dozens of smaller competitions that other books ignore.
They even had lines on second-division matches from Slovakia and the Norwegian third tier. Something like this matters if you like betting on lesser-known competitions where the odds tend to be softer. bet365 has two welcome offers. Which one you stand to get depends on the state you’re in. You can either get up to a $1,000 refund in bonus bets if your first wager fails, or bet $5, and receive $200 in bonus bets, regardless of the outcome.
Of all their great features, we really like live streaming. This is because you can watch thousands of games right inside the app while you bet. Their Early Payout shouldn’t be overlooked as well. If your team goes up by two goals at any point, they pay out your moneyline bet immediately at full odds, even if the other team comes back to win 3-2. bet365 currently operates in 16 US states including New Jersey, Colorado, Ohio, and Virginia.
BetMGM: Best for MLS and live betting
- Comprehensive sports betting markets
- Regular bonuses and promotions
- Dedicated mobile betting apps
- Not available in all US states
BetMGM signed an official partnership with Major League Soccer in 2022, which translates to more promos tied to American teams and deeper coverage of domestic matches than you'll find elsewhere.
The live betting stood out most during our testing because we could place wagers 75 minutes into games and the odds updated fast enough to actually be useful. Some apps freeze during busy moments like penalty decisions, but BetMGM kept pace. They also reward new players with up to $1,500, provided their first wager losses.
One feature called Edit My Bet lets you change a wager after you've already placed it, which comes in handy when your team falls behind early. BetMGM also offers the two-goal early payout similar to bet365, so your bet is paid out the moment your team takes a two-goal lead.
The MGM Rewards program adds real value if you travel because points work at MGM hotels and casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and other cities. Finally, BetMGM operates in 24 states.
FanDuel: Easiest app to use
- Wide range of sports and bet types
- Includes deep prop markets
- Fast withdrawals with PayPal and Venmo
- Reliable app with quick loading and stable live betting
- Some prop markets can be buried under extra clicks
FanDuel has the best app in the business, and user ratings across both app stores confirm it. Everything works like clockwork, so finding soccer is just two screen taps away and building a same game parlay has never been easier.
FanDuel tends to post soccer lines earlier than other books, which matters if you want to grab numbers before they move. The Same Game Parlay builder runs smoothly and lets you mix match results, total goals, and player props into one bet. Profit boosts appear for big games regularly.
Their welcome bonus is also great, as new players can wager $5 and get $300 in bonus bets if the bet wins. If you've tried MLB betting on FanDuel before, then you’ll definitely enjoy betting on soccer.
Caesars: Best rewards program
- Generous welcome offer
- Licensed and regulated
- Competitive odds on popular sports
- Live betting with integrated streaming
- Not legal in all US states
FanDuel has the best app in the business, and user ratings across both app stores confirm it. Everything works like clockwork, so finding soccer is just two screen taps away and building a same game parlay has never been easier.
FanDuel tends to post soccer lines earlier than other books, which matters if you want to grab numbers before they move. The Same Game Parlay builder runs smoothly and lets you mix match results, total goals, and player props into one bet. Profit boosts appear for big games regularly.
Their welcome bonus is also great, as new players can wager $5 and get $300 in bonus bets if the bet wins. If you've tried MLB betting on FanDuel before, then you’ll definitely enjoy betting on soccer.
DraftKings: Best for statistics and props
- Legal in 26 US states
- Long A-Z list of sports markets
- Awesome promos
- Limited list of legal states
DraftKings was built on daily fantasy sports, so data sits at the center of their product in a way other sportsbooks can't match. If you’ve never used this sportsbook before, you can get a nice welcome bonus. All you need to do is register and wager at least $5. If it’s successful, you’ll get $300 in bonus bets.
Before placing a bet, you can check head-to-head records, recent form, and betting trends all in one place. They display facts like "this striker has scored first in his last four home games" right next to the relevant prop bet, which makes research feel like a built-in part of the experience.
Crucial matches on DraftKings offer over 200 different betting options. They also feature free-to-play contests that let you make picks without risking money. While it is also one of the best cricket betting sites, you can bet on many other sports too.
What to look for in a soccer betting site
If you want to try to explore other sites, feel free to do so. However, before you do, here are some things that you should look out for.
- League coverage – Can you bet on the leagues you watch? Premier League and Champions League appear everywhere, but MLS coverage varies, and not to mention smaller leagues. That’s why you should always check league coverage.
- Live betting speed – Soccer games run 90 minutes with constant momentum changes. Slow apps mean missed opportunities, so a speedy app is crucial.
- App performance – Most betting happens on phones, so the app needs to load fast and stay stable during popular games.
Tips for betting on soccer
Winning your soccer bets are never guaranteed, but these tips will give you better insights when it comes to games and outcome predictions:
Tip #1 🏆
Bet on leagues you actually watch and follow closely. If you're a Premier League fan, stick to Premier League matches where you understand team form and manager tactics. Don't bet on Serie A just because there happens to be a game on, because your edge comes from knowing details that casual bettors overlook.
Tip #2 ⚖️
Consider betting on draws more than you probably do right now because roughly one in four soccer games ends tied. Skipping the draw option is common among American bettors because of sports where ties don't count. Good odds often hide on draws in close matchups between mid-table teams.
Tip #3 📊
Open accounts at multiple sportsbooks because lines differ from site to site. A team listed at -150 on FanDuel might sit at -140 on DraftKings for the same game, and having three or four accounts lets you grab the best number each time. You also collect multiple welcome bonuses this way.
Soccer betting pros and cons
Most often than not, soccer betting is advantageous to online punters. Nevertheless, here are both its upsides and downsides:
- Games run almost every day of the year
- Live betting fits the 90-minute game format perfectly
- Plenty of available betting markets
- European fixtures start early, limiting live betting options for most Americans
Final thoughts – Which site will you play at first?
We’ve researched and tested many sportsbooks to come up with the five best soccer betting sites on this list. With Major League Soccer’s rising popularity and America being one of the hosts of the 2026 World Cup, betting on soccer has gotten more exciting than ever. So, now might be a good time to learn more about betting on soccer and where to do it.
Since each of these sites features something unique, our suggestion is to sign up at two or three of these sportsbooks, collect the welcome bonuses, and see which one fits your style. To do so, click on our banners, register and start betting on leagues you actually watch.
Top sports betting bonuses in May
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New Users – Bet $5 Get $150 If Your Bet Wins!
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Soccer betting sites FAQs
Which soccer betting app works best?
FanDuel is the best app because it is simple to navigate and it’s easy to find what you need.
️ Do overtime and penalty kicks count toward my bet?
Regular soccer bets settle after 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and shootouts only count when the bet type states so.
Can I bet on European leagues from the United States?
Of course you can. All major US sportsbooks cover the Premier League, La Liga, Champions League, in addition to other European competitions.
