What does "to qualify" mean in football betting?
Short answer
A to qualify bet is on a team going through to the next round, so extra time and penalties count, unlike a standard match result bet, which settles on 90 minutes plus stoppage time (Sky Bet's football rules, checked 17 Oct 2026).
Confirmed for 7 of 9 bookmakers from their own terms. Last checked
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How often this rule matters
How often extra time or penalties decide a cup tie
- 25%
- of FA Cup matches went to extra time or penalties since replays were scrapped62 of 246 matches, first round proper to the final, 2024-25 to 2025-26
- 12%
- of Champions League knockout ties went to extra time or penalties12 of 97 ties from the knockout play-offs or last 16 to the final, 2021-22 to 2025-26
- 23%
- of EFL Cup matches went to penalties107 of 465 matches, 2021-22 to 2025-26. Rounds one to five go straight to penalties if level after 90 minutes.
Champions League figures count two-legged ties, not single matches.
Historical figures, not a prediction. Source: TheStatsAPI, seasons 2021-22 to 2025-26How we count this
The rule at each bookmaker
In our fixed table order, never by commission. Each row links to the bookmaker's own page we read.
| Bookmaker | Standard football bets | To qualify markets | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| bet365 | Most markets settle on the result after 90 minutes. Some markets include extra time. | To Qualify: the team that goes through to the next round, whether in normal time, extra time or on penalties. | bet365's terms on help.bet365.com, opens in a new tabChecked |
| Sky Bet | 90 minutes including stoppage time, unless the market says otherwise. | Extra time and penalties count only for selections quoting To Qualify, Lift The Trophy or Win The Tie. Other selections in the same BuildABet or RequestABet still settle on 90 minutes. | Sky Bet's terms on support.skybet.com, opens in a new tabChecked |
| Paddy Power | Regular time including stoppage time. Extra time and penalties don't count unless stated. | To Qualify and To Lift the Trophy include extra time and penalties. | Paddy Power's terms (1) on helpcenter.paddypower.com, opens in a new tabPaddy Power's terms (2) on helpcenter.paddypower.com, opens in a new tabChecked |
| William Hill | Normal time including stoppage time. Extra time and penalty shoot-outs don't count unless stated. | To qualify for the next round includes normal time, extra time and penalty shoot-outs. Over two legs it settles after the second leg, including extra time, away goals if they apply, and penalties. | William Hill's terms on help.williamhill.com, opens in a new tabChecked |
| Ladbrokes | We couldn't confirm this from Ladbrokes' own terms on the pages we checked on 17 Oct 2026. We don't guess. | None found | |
| Coral | We couldn't confirm this from Coral's own terms on the pages we checked on 17 Oct 2026. We don't guess. | None found | |
| Unibet | Pre-match bets settle on regular time only, unless stated. | A To Qualify market includes any extra time and additional matches, and is void if it is not decided within 48 hours of the scheduled start (rule 29). | Unibet's terms on unibet.co.uk, opens in a new tabChecked |
| 888sport | 90 minutes plus injury time. Extra time does not count unless 888sport says otherwise. | Not stated separately on the pages we checked. | 888sport's terms on help.888.uk, opens in a new tabChecked |
| BoyleSports | 90 minutes including stoppage time. Extra time, penalties and golden goal don't count unless stated. | In knockout competitions, bets settle on the team that qualifies for the next round. | BoyleSports' terms on boylesports.org.uk, opens in a new tabChecked |
To qualify vs match result: a worked example
A cup tie finishes 1-1 after 90 minutes and the home team wins on penalties. A match result bet on the home team loses, because the result after 90 minutes was a draw, and a bet on the draw wins. A to qualify bet on the home team wins, because they went through, and a to qualify bet on the away team loses.
Market names that include extra time and penalties
Look for the words To Qualify, Lift The Trophy or Win The Tie. Sky Bet names all three, Paddy Power names To Qualify and To Lift the Trophy, and bet365 and William Hill name To Qualify. Other markets, such as match result, both teams to score and correct score, settle on 90 minutes plus stoppage time at the bookmakers we could confirm, unless the market says otherwise. bet365's goalscorer markets, for example, include extra time if it is played.
To qualify inside bet builders and two-legged ties
At Sky Bet, a To Qualify selection in a BuildABet or RequestABet settles on the whole tie, while the other selections in the same bet settle on 90 minutes. In a two-legged tie, the market covers both legs: William Hill settles it after the second leg, including extra time and penalties if they are needed.
Questions
Does to qualify include penalties?
What is the difference between to qualify and match result?
Does a to qualify bet cover both legs of a tie?
What happens to a to qualify bet if the tie is postponed?
Is to qualify the same as to lift the trophy?
Related
- Does extra time count in football bets?
- Bet builder rules at every bookmaker
- Postponed match in your acca
- FA Cup betting rules
- Carabao Cup betting rules
- Champions League betting rules
Rules change. This is what each bookmaker's own terms said on the date shown. Always read the full terms before you bet. 18+ only.
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