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With the 2026 FIFA World Cup underway across North America, sportsbooks are preparing for what could become the largest betting event in U.S. history.
Legal sportsbooks in the United States generated an estimated $900 million to $1 billion in betting handle during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Industry analysts now project that figure could more than triple during the 2026 tournament, which is being hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
According to multiple gaming industry research firms, including Eilers & Krejcik Gaming (EKG) and H2 Gambling Capital, U.S. sportsbooks are projected to generate between $2.8 billion and $4.3 billion in betting handle during the tournament. Global betting volume could surpass $60 billion across regulated markets alone.
If projections hold, the 2026 FIFA World Cup would eclipse recent Super Bowls as the largest single sporting event for betting handle in the United States. Analysts say the tournament’s expanded format, favorable North American time zones and broader access to legal sports betting are driving unprecedented interest.
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More matches and markets reshaping World Cup betting
Several factors are fueling expectations for record-setting wagering activity during the 2026 World Cup.
The most significant change is the tournament’s expansion from 32 teams to 48. FIFA’s new format increases the total number of matches from 64 to 104, creating substantially more betting opportunities across group-stage and knockout-round play.
Legal sports betting has also expanded rapidly across the United States since the 2022 World Cup. More than 35 states now offer regulated sports wagering in some form, giving sportsbooks access to a significantly larger customer base than they had four years ago.
Industry analysts also expect operators such as DraftKings and FanDuel to dominate tournament betting volume. EKG projects the two sportsbooks could combine for nearly $2 billion in handle during the event alone.
Another major variable is the performance of the U.S. men’s national team. Analysts believe a deep run by the Americans could push betting volume toward the upper end of projections, potentially exceeding $4 billion in total U.S. handle.
Global betting activity is projected to reach new highs
Worldwide interest in World Cup betting is also accelerating as more countries legalize online sports wagering.
According to an article by Bright Side of News, H2 Gambling Capital estimates that regulated sportsbooks worldwide could generate approximately $60 billion in betting handle during the 2026 tournament — a 71% increase from the 2022 World Cup. Analysts attribute most of that growth to expanded legalization, stronger mobile betting adoption and increased engagement across North America and Latin America.
The rise of prediction markets is also reshaping the broader wagering landscape. Platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket have seen significant growth in World Cup-related trading activity during the tournament, adding another layer to the rapidly evolving sports betting ecosystem.
With more matches, broader legal access and heightened consumer engagement, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to redefine the scale of sports betting both in the United States and globally.
