The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off today in North America, with Mexico opening Group A against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca. For US bettors, the tournament lines up with one of the most recognisable welcome offers in the market — bet365‘s First Bet Safety Net Up to $1,000.
bet365’s pull during a tournament like this is in the depth of its sportsbook — outright winners, group-stage progressions, individual match markets, player props and increasingly granular in-play lines as fixtures play out. The welcome offer stretches the first stake just as the schedule densifies, giving new sign-ups extra runway across the World Cup‘s opening weeks.
🏆 FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 — OFFER LIVE
Updated: 11 June 2026 — World Cup kickoff day
Where to bet
Available in states where bet365 is licensed — check the sportsbook for your jurisdiction at sign-up.
bet365‘s welcome offer is live for new US customers this week, arriving just as the 2026 World Cup prepares to kick off on home soil. bet365’s headline US offer is the First Bet Safety Net. Place your first wager with the sportsbook, and if it loses, bet365 returns the stake in Bonus Bets up to $1,000 — effectively softening the cost of getting started ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The timing matters. The tournament’s opening weeks are typically the densest stretch of high-volume football betting on the US calendar, and bet365 is one of the operators with the deepest book around it. A welcome bonus this close to kickoff effectively gives new sign-ups extra cover across the group stage.
Here is how the offer works, who can claim it, and what is moving on the sportsbook right now.
bet365 World Cup Offer: At a Glance
Deposit required. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. T&Cs, time limits, and exclusions apply.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Promo code | No code required — sign up via referral link |
| Welcome offer | First Bet Safety Net — Up to $1,000 in Bonus Bets |
| Maximum bonus | $1,000 in Bonus Bets |
| Product type | State-licensed online sportsbook |
| Eligibility | 21+, legal US address (state availability varies) |
| Squawka rating | 9.6 / 10 |
The structure is straightforward, no convoluted rollover, no impossible turnover threshold. bet365’s headline US offer is the First Bet Safety Net. Place your first wager with the sportsbook, and if it loses, bet365 returns the stake in Bonus Bets up to $1,000 — effectively softening the cost of getting started ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
For a full breakdown of the sportsbook, the margins and the markets on offer, our bet365 review covers the small print behind the welcome offer.
How to Claim the bet365 Welcome Offer
Deposit required. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. T&Cs, time limits, and exclusions apply.
Claiming the bonus is a short process, and the welcome offer applies automatically through the referral link below.
- Open a new bet365 account through the sign-up page.
- Register with a valid US residential address and complete identity verification.
- Deposit funds and place your first wager on any eligible market.
- If your first bet loses, bet365 refunds the stake in Bonus Bets, up to $1,000.
- Bonus Bets are deployed across bet365’s markets — Bonus Bet stake is not returned with winnings.
Claim Bet365 First Bet Safety Net
This week’s World Cup picks worth backing on bet365
| Date | Match | Squawka Pick |
|---|---|---|
| 11/06 | Mexico vs South Africa | Mexico to Win |
| 12/06 | Korea Republic vs Czechia | Draw |
| 13/06 | Brazil vs Morocco | Brazil or Draw |
Squawka’s editorial picks for this week’s World Cup fixtures. Markets and odds available on bet365.
Who Can Use the bet365 Welcome Offer?
The bet365 welcome offer is open to new customers aged 21 and over with a legal US residential address in a state where bet365 is licensed. State availability and offer routing can vary; the most reliable check is the eligibility line on bet365’s sign-up page itself.
Before you fund the account, it is worth checking the current eligibility terms and state-specific T&Cs on the operator’s sign-up page so there are no surprises after registration.
What bet365 Bettors Are Backing for the World Cup
The offer arrives at a busy moment on the sportsbook. Markets around the 2026 World Cup are pulling fresh volume, and we track the live picture for the tournament in our World Cup 2026 predictions tracker, refreshed as the lines move.
For a wider read across the US sportsbook landscape — and how bet365 stacks against the competition — our guide to the best betting sites in the US places it alongside the alternatives.
With a home World Cup approaching and the welcome offer live, the next few weeks are set to be among the most active stretches the US sportsbook market has ever seen.
Frequently asked questions
No — bet365’s headline welcome offer is referral-link only and applies automatically when you sign up through an eligible Squawka link. No code is required at registration.
bet365 is licensed as a US sportsbook in the states where it operates. Availability varies by state — check bet365 at sign-up to confirm it accepts customers in your jurisdiction.
Sign up through the bet365 link, complete account verification and follow the qualifying steps in our how-to-claim list. The $1,000 in Bonus Bets lands once those conditions are met.
The headline claim — First Bet Safety Net — Up to $1,000 in Bonus Bets — is currently uniform across the states where bet365 accepts customers, though the routing of the offer and individual T&Cs can vary by state. Check bet365 for current terms before depositing.
The bonus from the bet365 welcome offer can be deployed across the sportsbook’s 2026 World Cup markets — outright winner, group-stage progressions, individual match results, player props and live in-play markets all open during the tournament.
21+. Deposit required. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs apply. New customers only. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER. Free, confidential support is available at ncpgambling.org.
*Using sportsbook links on squawka.com may earn us a commission, at no additional cost to you. 21+ only. T&Cs apply. Please play responsibly.