The Super Bowl is famous for the insane betting scene around the NFL's biggest game. American football can bet on everything from the color of the Gatorade bath to the coin toss to how long it takes to play the national anthem and much more.
While the World Cup final isn't quite on that level, there are some exciting and fun options for bettors.
Many bookmakers have gone out of their way to add options, knowing the World Cup final will have the highest betting interest and volume of any match over the past year. Some have even come up with creative, fun ways to bet the match that are outside the scope of normal consideration.
As France and Argentina meet in a matchup of football's biggest superstars, here's a rundown of all the most interesting bets that seem really out there.
MORE: Full betting preview of 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France
World Cup final alternative bets in USA
Not many of the U.S. sports books are doing anything terribly interesting for the World Cup, but a few have some interesting pre-crafted same-game parlays.
FanDuel has the most interesting selections to choose from. Their promoted parlays are mostly centered around attacking play in the match, so if you think the game will be a low-scoring, cagey affair then these won't be for you. But if you want another reason to root for the best players to score, there are some fun plays.
The most valuable pick is probably each team to have 1+ shot on target in each half, as that seems a great value at nearly even money (-120).
Alternative France vs Argentina odds from FanDuel
| FanDuel selection | Odds |
|---|---|
| Each team 1+ SoT in each half | -120 |
| Each team 4+ corners | +160 |
| 1+ goals & each team 1+ corners all before 29:59 | +280 |
| L. Messi first SoT for ARG & K. Mbappe first SoT for FRA | +700 |
| J. Alvarez first SoT for ARG & O. Giroud first SoT for FRA | +1600 |
| FRA to win each half & win match by 3+ goals | +1900 |
| K. Mbappe to score in 1H & ARG to win the match | +3100 |
Note: All bets are for regulation only, 90 minutes plus stoppage time, unless otherwise noted
World Cup final alternative bets in Canada
Sports Interaction in Canada has some of the most fascinating selections on the market for betting the 2022 World Cup final. The most fun options are on their World Cup Specials section, which includes some funny and intriguing options.
The funniest pick is easily the option to bet on whether the captain of the winning team will drop the World Cup trophy, which comes in at +3300 odds. All eyes on Lionel Messi or Hugo Lloris!
There's also a few Lionel Messi-focused bets, including a "triple play" on Messi to score a goal, assist a goal and pick up a yellow card. We all know Messi's talents, but will referee Szymon Marciniak have the guts to go to his pocket for the greatest player of all time?
Finally, you can bet on there being a pitch invader at the match. The bet is crafted to where a "yes" bet cashes if "anyone runs onto the pitch during play (excluding players & officials)." Seemingly, that would include coaches!
Alternative France vs Argentina odds from Sports Interaction
| Sports Interaction selection | Odds |
|---|---|
| Combined age of all goalscorers: O/U 63.5 years | 1.83 / 1.83 |
| Winning capt. drops World Cup trophy | Yes: 34.00 |
| Combined shirt numbers of all goalscorers: O/U 29.5 | 1.83 / 1.83 |
| Lionel Messi triple play: Messi to score, assist, & be booked | 34.88 |
| World Cup final pitch invader (Y/N) | 9.00 / 1.05 |
Note: All bets are for regulation only, 90 minutes plus stoppage time, unless otherwise noted
World Cup final alternative bets in UK
For a while now, SkyBet in the UK have been making RequestABet options available to fans, which can produce some wacky selections for others to bet on.
SkyBet has also added a few options not usually available for football matches, including goalkeeper saves, goal methods, and the result of a string of shots by a particular player.
Below is a conglomeration of all the most intriguing options at SkyBet, including from their RequestABet (RaB) collection and their newest options.
Alternative France vs Argentina odds from SkyBet
| SkyBet selection | Odds |
|---|---|
| RaB: J. Alvarez & K. Mbappe to score, and A. Rabiot & N. Molina to be red carded | 250/1 |
| RaB: O. Giroud to score a header & L. Messi to score from outside the penalty area | 100/1 |
| RaB: L. Messi & K. Mbappe 2+ SoT each, and J. Alvarez & O. Giroud 1+ SoT each | 9/1 |
| RaB: N. Otamendi & D. Upamecano 1+ headed shots on target each | 80/1 |
| RaB: A. Griezmann & K. Mbappe each to assist a goal scored by the other | 80/1 |
| L. Messi first three shots of the match: X-X-X, O-X-X, X-X-O, O-O-O* | 8/1, 9/1 9/1, 11/1 |
| K. Mbappe first three shots of the match: X-X-X, O-X-X, X-X-O, O-O-O* | 11/1, 10/1 10/1, 9/1 |
| E. Martinez 4+ saves in the match | 6/4 |
| H. Lloris 4+ saves in the match | 15/8 |
| To score a headed goal (ARG, FRA) | 5/2, 2/1 |
| Player to have 3+ fouls (N. Molina, N. Otamendi, A. Rabiot, J. Kounde) | 5/2, 5/4 6/4, 13/2 |
* X = on target, O = off target
Note: All bets are for regulation only, 90 minutes plus stoppage time, unless otherwise noted
World Cup final alternative bets in Australia
Ladbrokes in Australia has focused a lot of their World Cup final specials on the two star players, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
However, that's not all their special selections are confined to, as there are also some intriguing plays focused on other key players in both squads. You can bet on Lautaro Martinez to have an eventful time off the bench, Adrien Rabiot to be a midfield destroyer, or goals from either inside or outside the penalty area.
| Ladbrokes selection | Odds |
|---|---|
| L. Messi 4+ shots, and goal in 2H | 9/2 |
| L. Messi anytime goal, 4+ shots, and 55+ passes | 15/2 |
| L. Messi first goalscorer, last goalscorer, and 1+ assists | 125/1 |
| K. Mbappe anytime goal & 1+ cards | 11/1 |
| K. Mbappe anytime goal, 5+ shots, and 40+ passes | 28/1 |
| K. Mbappe first goalscorer, last goalscorer, and 1+ assists | 90/1 |
| L. Martinez 1+ offside, 1+ SoT | 9/5 |
| A. Rabiot win 4+ tackles | 29/20 |
| L. Messi score from outside the box | 15/2 |
| O. Giroud score from inside the box | 12/5 |
