Get your football betting fix here at Sportsbet!

Football is arguably one of the most popular sports in the world. Also known as soccer, this game has been played throughout history. According to historical accounts, football’s origins can be traced more than 2,000 years ago in ancient China, Greece and Rome. 

However, its recent development, all the modern dynamics of the game such as forbidding tripping and touching the ball with hands are all attributed to the English. 

It can be said that football has one of the largest following across the world. According to the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), there are at least 240 million people that play football on a regular basis. Additionally, prestigious tournaments such as the Premier League, World Cup, and the UEFA Champions League are flocked with fans from all over the globe during major matches. 

If you’re a football fan and you want to stay posted on the latest and hottest updates, Sportsbet gives you all the exciting details you need. From news to betting odds, we have it all for you. 

While football is an exciting sport to wager on, you still need to know a bunch of information about the game that can help you make well-informed betting decisions. So, before you start placing wagers, here’s a comprehensive football guide to make your bets count!

What is football?

Football or soccer is a sport composed of 11 players where there are two teams in the game which will have 11 players each. In each team, there’s one player that will function as the goalkeeper while the rest of the members will play as outfielders. Commonly, the outfielders are experts in defending or attacking. 

Football is played in a rectangular-shaped field called a pitch where there’s a ‘goal’ on both ends. Depending on the category matches, the size of this area can measure up to 110-120 yards long and 70-80 yards wide. 

Inside the pitch, there are ‘goal lines’ that appear perpendicular to another set of lines called the ‘touchlines’. 

The aim of soccer is for the players to score points by kicking the ball past the opponent’s goal line. A standard game of football lasts about 90 minutes which is usually divided into 45 minutes. If a player manages to kick the ball through the rival team’s goal, they will score. The team who manages to accumulate the most points throughout the 90-minute timeframe is the winner.

American vs European Football: What’s the difference?

Most of the time, American and European football are often confused with each other due to the fact that both sports have the same name. However, there’s a big difference between the two that punters need to know before wagering.

American football 

Similar to English football, American football features 11 players per team. However, the difference lies in how the game is played. In American football, the ball is passed between members using their hands. The players need to get past their opponents base in order to score. When a player scores, it’s called a ‘touchdown’. In some instances, players can also opt to kick the ball, which is called a ‘field goal’. 

The ball used in American football is shaped like a spheroid with measurements of 11 inches long and 22 inches wide in circumference. 

Additionally, the American version has more extreme body movements that require the use of brute strength, speed, and power. This is why players wear thick padded uniforms and helmets to avoid injury.

English football 

In English football, the aim is to score a goal by kicking the spherical ball past the rival team’s post. When it comes to popularity, English football is more recognized around the world because it’s not limited to European countries only. Moreover, players don’t need to use bulky safety attire because the game doesn’t require too much force. 

Popular teams and leagues in football 

What makes betting on football, whether American or English, is that there are a lot of teams and leagues that you can wager on. Here are some them:

English football leagues 

Also known as the ‘football pyramid’, the league system is a hierarchical system that determines the relegation and promotion of teams. Through this system, the governing bodies of football can determine which teams can participate in the final round. 

The relegation and promotion is a hierarchical system in which teams are being exchanged in different divisions depending on their performance. So, if a team is performing well throughout the play-offs, they will be promoted at the top of the pyramid. However, if a team doesn’t meet the score requirements, they will be demoted to the bottom of the league table. 

Here are some of the leagues you should know about in English football: 

• Premier League – Also known as the English Premier League or the EPL, this league is known as the top level of the pyramid. In this level, 20 teams will participate while the three teams on the bottom are relegated. 
• English Football League Championship – The English Football Championship is the second level of the football league. In this level, 24 teams will participate in the playoffs. The winning team will earn a place in the third promotion slot. Teams ranked in the last three positions are relegated. 
• English Football League One – This level in the English football league is the third in the pyramid. During the League One, there are 24 teams participating in the playoffs. The team who wins gets third place with the 4 teams at the bottom of the pyramid being relegated.

Aside from the leagues, there are also major international football tournaments that happen every few years. Here are some of them: 

• FIFA World Cup – Also known as the World Cup, the FIFA world cup is a major international football tournament that features some of the best teams in the world such as Brazil, England, Spain, and Germany. Usually, the FIFA World Cup is hosted in various countries across the world. 
• FIFA Women’s World Cup – Next to the men’s World Cup, the Women’s is the next prestigious event in football. This event takes place a year after the men’s. 
• UEFA Euro – The UEFA Euro, or popularly known as the Euros, consists of teams for the European League. Usually, the UEFA features 24 teams allowed for the finals while 55 are allowed to apply.

American Football League 

National Football League (NFL)

The National Football League is a professional American football league in the United States composed of 32 teams divided into two conferences, namely: National Football Conference and the American Football Conference. 

The NFL is one of the most popular sports leagues in the United States and has the most revenue in the sports industry. To date, the NFL is recorded to have the highest attendance in all football tournaments.

Founded in 1920, the NFL features team leagues from different parts of the country such as the Ohio League and the New York Football League. Additionally, it also partially merged with the All America Football Conference in 1949 and fully integrated with the American Football League in 1970. 

Wager on your favourite team now at Sportsbet

There’s nothing more exciting than wagering on your favourite football team or player during an enthralling match. Here at Sportsbet can add more excitement to your game nights with our updated odds, fixtures, and events. 

Now that the football season is on, our site wants nothing more than to give you the thrill and entertainment that you deserve. If you’re a fan of English or American football, spice up this season by betting on the odds we offer. Here are some of the odds that you can wager on:

Sportsbet Football Leagues

Football is an exciting sport and we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy it even more by providing you the hottest odds for different leagues in the world. Whatever country you’re rooting for, we have it for you. Here are some of the countries with leagues you can find on our site:

Sports betting tips to make your wagers count

Nothing gives punters a rush than the thrill of placing wagers on their favourite team or players during matches. However, while betting is about fun and adding extra thrill to watching matches, there are still ways to make it more rewarding. So, if you’re ready to make your game nights more interesting, here are a few tips you can incorporate into your bets: