England Fans Trail Rivals in ‘Patriotic’ World Cup Betting

• Just 20% of English betting slips back Three Lions to lift trophy
• Portugal boasts the most patriotic bettors by far with more than half of bets placed in that country on their own nation
• Only 9% of Scotland fans put money on the Tartan Army

Monday 8th June: Just one in five England fans are backing the Three Lions ahead of this summer’s World Cup, putting them well behind international rivals in the “patriotic punting” stakes, according to new betting data from Entain, the owner of Ladbrokes and Coral.

England kick off their opening fixture against Croatia on the 17th June, but in the outright market just 20% of betting slips back England to go all the way and end 60 years of hurt in New Jersey on July 19th.

The figures come from Entain’s Patriotic Punter Index, which looks at how strongly fans in different countries back their own sides. The caution comes despite England being third favourite for the tournament.

Looking across the table, Portugal stands out as the most patriotic betting market with 57% of outright slips placed. France follows at 29%, with Austria (25%) and Germany (24%) also showing strong home backing. Colombia (23%) and Brazil (21%) sit just behind, while England’s 20% puts them firmly mid-table. At the other end of the spectrum, Spain sees just 16% of domestic slips on La Roja.

Despite euphoria over the Scots reaching their first World Cup since France 98, Scottish fans are clear-eyed about their chances. Just 9% of all bets placed in Scotland are tempted by the 300/1 odds on them lifting the trophy having never progressed beyond the group stage in their previous final appearances.

And when it comes to the Auld Enemy, there is little love lost. Only 8% of Scots have put money on England to win it all, while in England just 1% of slips are backing Scotland, suggesting that when it comes to World Cup betting, cross-border faith is in even shorter supply than silverware.

Across Entain’s global markets, Spain leads as the most backed team overall, accounting for 17% of all outright bets, followed by France at 15%. England and Portugal are level on 11%, with Brazil close behind on 9%. Argentina and Germany each take 7%, while the Netherlands takes 4% and the USA takes 3% to round out the top selections. The figures underline Spain’s broad appeal across both domestic and international bettors, combining neutral confidence with steady home support.

Tom Ritzema, Group Trading Director at Entain, said: “The Patriotic Punter Index shows that football loyalty and betting logic don’t always go hand in hand. England fans are passionate, but years of near misses have made them think beyond their own country. Portugal clearly stands out as the most patriotic market, with fans firmly backing their team, while countries like France and Germany also show strong belief. What’s striking, though, is the global picture Spain remains the most popular choice across our markets, showing that when it comes to this World Cup, neutrals and patriots alike are looking beyond national borders for their winner.”