- Betting estimates for the 2026 FIFA World Cup predict that it will be the biggest betting event in history.
- The six-week long event could clear the $50 billion mark globally with 40 more matches than the 2022 World Cup, which saw about $15 million in wagers.
- An investment banking company estimates that the U.S. will wager around $3.3 billion, with FanDuel ($1.3B) and DraftKings ($1.1B) expected to receive most of the action.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Americans are set to wager more than $3 billion on the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Betting projections of $50 billion across the globe would make it the biggest legal sports betting event of all time.
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar saw roughly $15 billion in bets, but sports betting expansion in the U.S. has boomed since then. There are eight more states with sports betting for this year’s World Cup, including multiple host locations and large states like Florida, North Carolina, and Missouri.
The rise in betting states, plus 48 teams competing in 104 matches across six weeks, led Macquarie analyst Chad Beynon to predict more than $50 billion in total wagers. The group stage offers at least three matches every day until June 28, when the Round of 32 begins.
World Cup Bet Estimates Over $1 Billion For FanDuel + DK
Beynon’s investment firm predicts that FlutterEntertainment (FanDuel) are best positioned for World Cup betting. Deutsche Bank estimates FanDuel will take in roughly $1.3 billion U.S. World Cup wagers, while DraftKings narrowly trails at $1.1 billion in estimated handle. Next is BetMGM at $250 million, Caesars at $120 million, and theScore Bet at roughly $80 million to round out the top five for US operators.
Internationally, Brazil sports betting estimates showed that six of every 10 Brazilians plan to bet on the World Cup. There are plenty more ways to bet on soccer than the 2022 World Cup, with Caesars claiming to offer 10x more different wagers for this year’s event.
