July was a great month with Wimbledon and the Open golf but August could be even better. There’s a feast of sporting events to watch, enjoy and bet on. Whether it be football, boxing or rugby union, there’s going to be plenty for everyone. Let’s take a look at three events that we can look forward to in August.
August 10 – Community Shield: Liverpool v Crystal Palace
It doesn’t seem as if the last football season ever actually ended. Pretty soon after the Premier League ended, we had the much-maligned Club World Cup that was won by Chelsea.
August sees the 2025/26 season begin and the month is packed with betting opportunities for those who love to gamble on the sport.
On August 10th, it’s the Community Shield at Wembley with Premier League champions Liverpool facing surprise FA Cup winners Crystal Palace. Not surprisingly, Liverpool are 8/13 to win this match in 90 minutes.
Liverpool last won the Community Shield in 2022 but that win over Manchester City came at Leicester’s King Power Stadium. This is the first time since 1998 they’ve played in a Community Shield game at Wembley and that was at the old version of the stadium. It’s bound to be an emotional occasion for them after the tragedies of the title parade and death of Diogo Jota.
They have also lost Trent Alexander-Arnold but new signings include Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Giorgi Mamardashvili. The Reds are 2/1 to retain their Premier League title with Arsenal at 9/4 and Manchester City 3/1.
Seven of the last nine Community Shield matches have seen both teams score. UK online bookmakers that offer good deals and give odds of 4/5 that both sides score in this match. Liverpool to win and both teams scoring has odds of 12/5 as per British Gambler.
Crystal Palace are playing in their first Community Shield. The Eagles are the outsiders in this match with odds of 15/4 that they can beat Liverpool in 90 minutes. It’s 10/3 that this game ends in a draw.
It was a great achievement for Palace to win last season’s FA Cup. They haven’t strengthened their squad a great deal and their next great achievement will be keeping their best players at Selhurst Park.
Will players such as Eze and Geuhi still be Palace players by the time the new season begins is a key question for Palace fans. They are as short as 6/1 to be relegated next season and 750/1 to win the title.
August 16 – Moses Itauma v Dillian Whyte
At the age of just 20, is Moses Itauma the future of heavyweight boxing. The British boxer is undefeated in his first 12 professional fights and on August 16 faces his toughest task to date. He takes on former world title challenger Dillian Whyte in Saudi Arabia, will it be a lucky or unlucky 13th fight for the young contender.Itauma is ranked second by the WBA which is totally ridiculous. He hasn’t faced any leading contender so far but that will change on August 16. Bookmakers are convinced he’ll beat Whyte and have Itauma at 1/12 to win the fight. It’s 2/9 that he stops Whyte inside the distance.
Whyte isn’t in the top 15 of any governing body but it’s a different story with Boxrec.They have him at 14th with Itauma only 29th. This is a last-chance saloon match for the 37-year-old who made his pro debut when Itauma was only six.
Whyte is 7/1 with UK bookmakers to get a surprise win. He has won his last three fights, all against opponents far better than anyone Itauma has faced. Whyte has been stopped three times in his pro career but if he can withstand an early onslaught, this could be a very interesting bout. Itauma should win but hopefully we will find out more about just how good he is.
August 22 – Women’s Rugby Union World Cup
Six of the last seven Women’s Rugby Union World Cup tournaments have been won by New Zealand. They are only the second favorites at 12/5 to win this year’s event which is being held in England from August
England won the trophy in 2014 and have lost to New Zealand in the last two tournaments. They have reached the final in the last six World Cups and it’ll be a massive disappointment if they don’t make it a magnificent seven at Twickenham on September 27.
Since losing to New Zealand in the 2022 World Cup final, England have won 25 successive matches. That includes beating New Zealand three times and that is why they are 2/5 to win the World Cup. Also fancied to win the trophy are Canada at 11/2 with France at 10/1.
This should be a great tournament and help publicise the women’s game in the UK. An England win would definitely achieve that.
