Method of Qualification Betting Market Explained
The Method of Qualification market lets you bet on the way in which a particular team will qualify for the next round of a tournament. You are betting not only on the team progressing in the competition, but also on how they will advance to the subsequent round.
This market is settled on the winner of the match combined with a prediction on whether the tie will be decided in regular time, extra time or via a penalty shootout. If you correctly guess which team will qualify but fail to accurately predict the method of victory, your wager will lose.
Options Available To Bet On
There are three primary options at sportsbooks supporting the Method of Qualification market:
- 90 Minutes of Normal Play means the team qualifies by winning during a standard football match including injury time.
- Extra Time means the team qualifies by winning after an additional 30 minutes of play when the match could not be settled in 90 minutes.
- Penalties means the team progresses to the next round by winning a penalty shootout after normal time and extra time end level.
You may also have the opportunity to bet on more niche options where available, such as aggregate scoreline in two-legged affairs. It is worth noting that the away goals rule has been abolished by many major football competitions.
Method of Qualification Example Bet
To provide better insight into how this market works, here is an example scenario. We will walk through each step and show how each outcome would play out.
Liverpool vs Chelsea – FA Cup Example
It is Liverpool vs Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium. You have found the following odds for Method of Qualification markets:
- Liverpool win in normal time at 2.00
- Liverpool win in extra time at 4.00
- Liverpool win on penalties at 7.00
- Chelsea win in normal time at 3.00
- Chelsea win in extra time at 6.00
- Chelsea win on penalties at 9.00
You bet on Liverpool to win on penalties at 7.00 using a £10 stake. If Liverpool progress through a win in normal time or extra time, your bet loses. If Liverpool win on penalties and advance to the final, your bet wins.
The match plays out as follows:
- Liverpool and Chelsea draw 2-2 after normal time.
- Neither side can be separated after extra time.
- Liverpool win 6-5 on penalties and advance to the FA Cup Final.
Because Liverpool’s victory was earned via penalties, your bet wins. Your £10 stake returns £70 in total. OnTheBallBets recommends checking our football betting sites guide for bookmakers with the best Method of Qualification markets.
Is Injury Time Included in Extra Time Bets?
In Method of Qualification markets, injury time at the end of normal time is not included in extra time bets. This is because extra time and injury time are entirely separate. Injury time is considered part of the 90 minutes of normal play.
However, there is one instance where injury time is included in extra time bets. Referees may add an additional period at the end of extra time itself. If a team scores the winning goal in that added time during extra time, your bet will win.
When Can You Bet on Method of Qualification?
The main instance is cup competitions where one team must progress to the next round. Popular tournaments for this type of bet include the Champions League, Europa League, FA Cup, League Cup and other top European knockout competitions.
The selections available to you will depend on the sports betting site and the type of fixture being played. Some knockout matches do not use extra time and go straight to a penalty shootout if level after normal time.
Here are the typical options available by competition:
Champions League Knockout Rounds
- 90 Minutes of Normal Play
- Extra Time
- Penalty Shootout
Europa League
- 90 Minutes of Normal Play
- Extra Time
- Penalty Shootout
FA Cup
- 90 Minutes of Normal Play
- Extra Time
- Penalty Shootout
League Cup
- 90 Minutes of Normal Play
- Extra Time in semi-finals only
- Penalty Shootout
Europa Conference League
- 90 Minutes of Normal Play
- Extra Time
- Penalty Shootout
Related outright markets worth exploring include stage of elimination, to qualify, to reach the final and to win outright. Our Trust Index helps identify reliable operators for knockout competition betting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between extra time and injury time in betting?
Extra time is an additional 30 minutes played when a knockout match is level after 90 minutes. Injury time is added at the end of each half to compensate for stoppages. For betting purposes, injury time at the end of normal play is part of the 90-minute result, not extra time.
Can I bet on Method of Qualification for league matches?
No. Method of Qualification markets are only available for knockout competition fixtures where one team must progress to the next round. League matches that end in a draw do not have extra time or penalties.
What happens if a match is abandoned before full time?
Rules vary between bookmakers. In most cases, if a match is abandoned and replayed, bets on the original fixture are voided and stakes are returned. Check the specific terms at your chosen sportsbook for their policy on abandoned matches.
