The 2026 FIFA World Cup is on course to become the largest betting event ever staged, with industry forecasts suggesting more than $50 billion will be wagered on the tournament worldwide.
According to estimates from financial services firm Macquarie, betting turnover across the competition could rise by around 43% compared to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where approximately $35 billion was staked.
With the tournament expanding from 32 to 48 teams, the number of matches has increased significantly. More than 100 games will be played across six weeks in the United States, Canada and Mexico, creating a much larger betting calendar than the 64-match schedule seen four years ago.
Macquarie analyst Chad Benyon believes the expanded format is the primary reason behind the projected growth. Based on the firm’s estimates, betting activity could average roughly $500 million per match throughout the tournament.
Expanded Tournament Creates New Opportunities
The first-ever 48-team World Cup is expected to generate greater engagement from bettors across multiple regions.
Benyon noted that the host nations’ time zones are likely to boost viewing figures in key markets including Europe, Latin America and Africa. At the same time, the continued expansion of regulated sports betting in the United States is expected to play a major role.
Around 65% of Americans now live in jurisdictions where sports betting is available, compared to approximately 40% during the 2022 World Cup. As a result, this year’s competition will be the first World Cup where a majority of the US population can legally place sports bets.
AdvertisementHowever, Benyon suggested the long-term impact for operators will depend on whether they can retain casual World Cup customers once the tournament concludes.
He added that companies operating both sportsbook and casino products may be best positioned to benefit if they can convert one-off football bettors into broader gambling customers.
Campaigners Raise Concerns
The projected surge in betting activity has also prompted renewed criticism from gambling reform advocates.
Les Bernal, national director of Stop Predatory Gambling, warned that the tournament could lead to significant financial harm for many consumers.
“Hundreds of thousands of people across the world, especially young men, will suffer life-changing debt and financial distress,” Bernal said.
He added: “99 out of 100 sports bettors lose money in the long-term… the business model for commercialised sport gambling operators is completely based upon the people who have been turned into addicted gamblers, an addiction that causes victims to die by suicide at a rate unlike any other.”
Bernal called on governments and regulators to take stronger action against gambling products he believes carry a heightened risk of addiction.
Similar concerns were raised by UK gambling reform campaigner Matt Zarb-Cousin, who argued that football bettors could be exposed to increased marketing for online casino products during the tournament.
He also highlighted findings from a National Centre for Social Research report showing that 79% of gambling company revenues in the UK came from the top 10% of spenders, defined as customers wagering at least £5,639 annually.
Regulatory Scrutiny Intensifies
The World Cup betting boom arrives at a time when gambling-related regulation is becoming an increasingly important topic in the United States.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) recently announced plans to consider new or updated rules in response to the rapid growth of online betting and prediction markets.
Any regulatory changes could affect platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket, both of which have already introduced restrictions on certain markets and user activity as scrutiny around the sector increases.
With record betting volumes expected throughout the tournament, the 2026 World Cup is set to become a major test case for both operators and regulators as sports wagering continues to expand globally.