The Ultimate WC 2026 Betting Glossary: 65+ Terms Explained

Basic betting terms

The foundational vocabulary every bettor uses. Master these first before diving into specific markets.

Decimal Odds

The odds format used by Napoleon Sports and most European bookmakers. The number represents your total return per €1 staked. Example: odds of 2.50 mean a €10 stake returns €25 (your €10 stake plus €15 profit). Multiply your stake by the odds to calculate total return.

Stake

The exact amount of money you put on a single bet. If you bet €20 on Belgium to win, your stake is €20.

Payout (Returns)

The total amount credited to your account when a bet wins, including your original stake. A €10 stake at 2.50 odds delivers a payout of €25.

Implied Probability

The percentage chance of an outcome happening as suggested by the odds. Calculated as 1 divided by the decimal odds. Example: odds of 2.00 imply a 50% probability (1 / 2.00 = 0.50).

Margin (Overround)

The percentage by which the bookmaker's implied probabilities exceed 100% on a market. A lower margin means sharper odds for the bettor. For 1X2 the tournament matches, a margin below 5% is sharp; above 7% is wide. See our odds comparison guide for detail on calculating margin.

Single Bet

A bet on one selection only. If your selection wins, you collect; if it loses, you lose your stake. The simplest form of bet.

Combo Bet (Accumulator / Multiple)

A single bet that combines multiple selections from different matches. All selections must win for the bet to pay out, but the odds multiply together for significantly higher returns. Napoleon Sports refers to these as Combo Bets; international terminology uses "accumulator" or "multiple". See our overview of betting types.

Combine & Conquer

A Napoleon Sports promo that adds a Profit Boost to your Combo Bet based on the number of selections. Starts at 5% boost from 3 selections, scaling to 100% at 26 selections. 

Bet Slip

The interface where you review your selections, set your stake and confirm your bet. The Napoleon Sports App keeps the bet slip visible at the right of your screen on desktop or at the bottom on mobile.

Settlement

The process of resolving a bet after the match concludes. Winning bets credit your account with the payout; losing bets are simply marked as lost. Most match bets settle within minutes of the final whistle.

Match market types

The major bet markets you will encounter on every WC 2026 match.

1X2 (Match Result / Full Time Result)

The classic match betting market. You bet on the outcome after 90 minutes of regular time. "1" is the home team winning, "X" is a draw, "2" is the away team winning. The headline market for any WC 2026 match.

Asian Handicap

A market that gives a virtual goal advantage or disadvantage to one team to make the betting more even. Eliminates the draw as a possible outcome. Example: Belgium -1.5 means Belgum must win by 2 or more goals for the bet to win.

BTTS (Both Teams to Score)

A simple yes-or-no bet on whether both teams score at least one goal during the match. Yes pays if both teams score; No pays if at least one team finishes scoreless.

Correct Score

A specific bet on the exact final score after 90 minutes. High odds because of the precision required: 2-1, 3-2, 1-0 are all separate selections with different prices.

Over/Under (Total Goals)

A bet on whether the total goals scored by both teams will be over or under a specific line. Over 2.5 goals means you need 3 or more goals in the match for the bet to win. Standard lines: 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5.

Double Chance

A safer 1X2 alternative that covers two of the three outcomes. "1X" pays on home win or draw; "X2" pays on away win or draw; "12" pays on either team winning (no draw). Lower odds, lower risk.

Draw No Bet

A market where you back one team to win, but if the match ends in a draw, your stake is refunded. Lower odds than a straight 1X2 win bet, but with the safety net.

Half Time / Full Time (HT/FT)

A bet on the result at half-time combined with the result at full time. Example: "Belgium / Belgium" means Belgium leading at half-time and winning at full time. There are nine possible outcomes per match with different odds for each. 

Method of Victory

A knockout-only market where you bet on how a team wins: regular time, extra time or penalties. Particularly relevant in tight the tournament knockout matches that often go the distance.

To Qualify

A knockout-stage market where you bet on which team advances to the next round. Includes results from regular time, extra time and penalty shootouts. Pays only on advancement, regardless of how it happens.

Clean Sheet

A bet on a team to keep their opponent scoreless. "Spain Clean Sheet Yes" pays only if Spain concedes zero goals across the full 90 minutes.

Win to Nil

A combination of a team winning and keeping a clean sheet. Higher odds than just winning because both conditions must be met.

Tournament-specific terms

Markets and concepts unique to a tournament structure like the tournament. These are usually long-term outright bets placed before kick-off and settled at the end of the tournament.

Outright Winner (Tournament Winner)

A long-term bet on which nation lifts the tournament trophy. The most popular outright market with all 48 teams priced. See current prices at our favourites guide and dark horses guide.

Each-Way (E/W)

A bet split into two equal parts: one on a team to win the tournament, one on them to "place" (typically reach the final or semi-final, varying by bookmaker terms). Lower variance than a straight outright; partial payout if your team comes close.

Stage of Elimination

A market where you predict the exact round in which a specific team is knocked out: Group Stage, Round of 32, Round of 16, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals or Final. Often offers better value than backing a team to win outright.

Golden Boot (Top Goalscorer)

Tournament Top Goalscorer market. You bet on which player scores the most goals across the entire the tournament. Includes goals scored in extra time. Mbappé won this market in 2022 with 8 goals and he will be in the running again this time around. See current prices in our star players guide.

Confederation Winner

A bet on which football confederation the eventual tournament winner belongs to. Six options: UEFA (Europe), CONMEBOL (South America), CONCACAF (North America), CAF (Africa), AFC (Asia), OFC (Oceania). UEFA usually heavily favoured.

Group Winner

A bet on which team finishes first in a specific group after all three group-stage matches. Often a sharper play than backing a favourite team to win the entire tournament.

To Qualify from Group

A bet on a team to advance from the group stage into the knockout rounds. With 12 groups in 2026, the top 2 from each group plus the 8 best third-placed teams qualify, for 32 teams advancing total.

To Reach the Final

A specific Stage of Elimination market: you bet on a team to make the tournament final, regardless of whether they win it. Often a smarter play on second-tier favourites than backing them outright. For example, if you back Belgium in this market and they reach the final - your bet is a winner regardless of the outcome of the final. 

Player prop markets

Bets on individual player performance during a single match. The most volume-rich category for the tournament star players.

Anytime Goalscorer

A bet on a specific player to score at any point during regulation or extra time. The simplest and highest-volume prop market. Mbappé Anytime Scorer against weaker group opposition typically priced 1.50-1.80.

First Goalscorer

A bet on a specific player to score the very first goal of the match. Higher risk, higher reward than anytime scorer. If the match ends 0-0, the bet loses.

Last Goalscorer

A bet on the player who scores the final goal of the match. Settled at full time after all goals are accounted for. This keeps your bet alive for longer than the first goalscorer market.

Player Assists

A bet on a player to record one or more assists in a match. Standard line is Over 0.5 (one or more). Often priced more generously than anytime scorer for wingers and attacking midfielders like Yamal, Dembélé and De Bruyne.

Player Shots on Target (SoT)

A volume market that pays based on how many times a player tests the goalkeeper, regardless of whether they score. Typical lines are Over 1.5, 2.5 or 3.5. Popular for high-volume shooters like Mbappé and Erling Haaland.

Player to be Booked / Carded

A bet on a player to receive a yellow or red card during the match. Defensive midfielders, aggressive centre-backs and tactical foulers are priced shorter. Includes "First Player Carded" specials in big knockouts.

Live and in-play betting

Markets that open or remain available after kick-off, with odds updating in real time as the match unfolds.

Live Betting (In-Play)

Placing bets after the referee blows the starting whistle. Odds adjust within seconds based on goals, cards, momentum and time remaining. The Napoleon Sports App refreshes live odds in seconds.

Cash Out

A feature that lets you settle your open bet early at a recalculated value before the match ends. If your bet is going your way, Cash Out lets you lock in profit; if it is drifting against you, Cash Out lets you reduce your loss. Available on most pre-match, live and BetBuilder bets at Napoleon Sports.

Next Goal

A live market where you bet on which team scores the next goal in the match. Resets after every goal. Fast-moving market that requires quick decision-making.

Next Goal Minute

A live market where you bet on the time bracket in which the next goal will be scored. Brackets are usually 10-minute windows. Repriced continuously as the match progresses without a goal.

Race to X Goals

A live market where you bet on which team will be first to score a specific number of goals (typically 2 or 3). Useful during attacking matches with momentum swings.

BetBuilder (Multi-Bet)

A tool that combines multiple markets from a single match into one ticket with boosted combined odds. Example: Spain to win + Yamal Anytime Scorer + Over 2.5 goals. Available pre-match and live.

2UP

A Napoleon Sports feature that auto-settles your Match Winner bet as a winner the moment your team goes 2 goals ahead, regardless of the final result. Most valuable in group-stage matches where favourites often ease off and concede late.

Void & Reprice

A Napoleon Sports BetBuilder feature: if one selection in your BetBuilder is voided (e.g., a player you included does not start), the remaining valid selections are automatically recalculated and your ticket stays in play instead of being cancelled.

Napoleon Sports features and promo terms

Specific tools and reward mechanics available exclusively at Napoleon Sports during WC 2026.

Red Odds

Markets at Napoleon Sports where the price has been actively boosted above the standard line. Marked in red in the app for easy spotting. Includes Daily SuperBoost, boosted player markets and live in-play boosts.

Profit Boost

An opt-in promo that adds a fixed percentage to your qualifying winning bet's payout. A 10% Profit Boost on a bet at 2.00 odds effectively turns it into a 2.10 effective payout. Multiple Profit Boosts run during WC 2026.

Daily SuperBoost

A specific Napoleon Sports promo where one popular the tournament market each day is significantly boosted above the standard price. Always marked as Red Odds in the app.

Napoleon Coins

Loyalty currency at Napoleon Sports. 100 Coins equal €1, redeemable to your account from 500 Coins. Earned through Daily Spin, Xtra Payout and selected promos. Coins do not expire.

Daily Streak

A free-to-play prediction game at Napoleon Sports with a €25,000 prize pool that renews every two weeks. Make daily predictions on selected matches; correct picks build your streak.

Daily Spin

A daily reward at Napoleon Sports where you answer one question and spin a wheel to win up to 10,000 Napoleon Coins. Free to participate.

SuperSub

A Napoleon Sports feature for player-specific bets: if your selected player is substituted off, your bet automatically transfers to the player coming on. Protects you against early substitutions wiping out a player prop bet.

Napoleon Social

Community feature in the Napoleon Sports App. See trending bet slips, follow tipsters and friends, copy others' picks with one tap. Useful during high-volume tournaments to surface what the community is betting.

NapoleonTV

Free live streaming of selected events for account holders. Specific WC 2026 stream availability depends on broadcast rights confirmed closer to the tournament.

Compliance and responsible gaming terms

Terms specific to Belgian gambling regulation and the responsible gaming framework that all licensed operators must follow.

Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC)

The federal regulator overseeing all gambling activity in Belgium. Issues licences to operators like Napoleon Games NV, enforces age verification, oversees fund segregation and handles disputes. Cross-verify any operator's licence at gamingcommission.be.

KYC (Know Your Customer)

The mandatory identity verification process required by Belgian law before a bettor can withdraw winnings. At Napoleon Sports, upload a valid eID or passport during registration; verification typically completes within hours.

EPIS (Excluded Persons Information System)

A Belgian-specific national self-exclusion register. Once you register on the EPIS list, you are legally barred from accessing all licensed gambling operators in Belgium, including Napoleon Sports. The strongest self-exclusion tool available to Belgian residents.

Self-Exclusion

A responsible gaming tool where you voluntarily close your account for a fixed period. At Napoleon Sports: 6 months, 1 year or permanently. For complete cross-operator exclusion, you can register on EPIS.

Time-Out (Cooling-Off)

A short-term break from betting where you suspend your account access for a defined period. At Napoleon Sports the options are: 24 hours, 7 days or 30 days. Less drastic than self-exclusion and useful when you need a reset.

Deposit Limit

A mandatory cap you set on how much money you can deposit into your account over a chosen period (daily, weekly or monthly). Belgian regulation defaults to a strict weekly limit unless you explicitly request a higher one.

Loss Limit

A cap on how much you can lose over a defined period. Once reached, betting is blocked until the period resets. A more behavioural tool than a deposit limit because it tracks net loss rather than gross input.

Session Limit

A cap on how long you can be logged into the betting app or website in a single session. After the time elapses, you are automatically logged out. Useful for preventing extended late-night betting sessions during odd-hour the tournament matches.

Responsible Gambling

The framework of tools, attitudes and behaviours that keep betting recreational rather than harmful. Set limits, take breaks, never chase losses. For free and confidential help in Belgium, visit stopoptijd.be.

Minimum Legal Age (21+)

Belgian law sets the minimum age for online sports betting at 21. This is stricter than the EU baseline of 18 and is verified through KYC before any account can be opened. Enforced by all BGC-licensed operators including Napoleon Sports.

A-Z alphabetical index

Quick lookup of all 65+ terms in alphabetical order. Tap any term to jump to its definition.

Now apply what you've learned

Now that you know the language, put it into practice with our specialised WC 2026 betting guides:

• How to Bet on WC 2026: Beginner's Guide : Full step-by-step from registration to your first bet
• WC 2026 Betting: Complete Overview : All markets, all features, all promos in one place
• Tournament Favorites Guide : All 8 top contenders with current odds
• Dark Horses Guide : 12 underdogs that could shock the tournament
• Star Players Betting : Mbappé, Kane, Messi and 8 others with prop markets
• Odds Comparison Guide : How to find sharp prices across the tournament

A reminder on responsible betting

Knowing the language doesn't change the fact that betting carries real financial risk. Set your deposit, loss and session limits before the tournament starts. Use Time-Out if you need a break. Register on EPIS if betting becomes a problem. For free and confidential help in Belgium, visit stopoptijd.be.