- Americans were projected to wager $1.8 billion on the 2022 World Cup
- Global betting on the 2022 tournament was widely estimated at around $35 billion
- The 2026 World Cup will be larger, with 48 teams and 104 matches
- A reasonable estimate is $2.8 billion to $3.5 billion in U.S. wagers and $40 billion to $50 billion globally
The 2026 FIFA World Cup could become the biggest betting tournament soccer has ever seen.
That is not hard to believe. The tournament will be larger than ever, with 48 teams and 104 matches, which means more betting markets, more live betting opportunities, and more chances for casual fans to get involved. The result should be a huge jump in wagering activity once the tournament begins.
The clearest benchmark we have comes from the 2022 World Cup. Before that tournament, the American Gaming Association estimated that Americans would wager $1.8 billion on the event. On the global side, Bloomberg reported a widely cited estimate of around $35 billion in total wagers worldwide.
Using those figures as the base, a reasonable editorial estimate is that the 2026 World Cup could generate roughly $2.8 billion to $3.5 billion in U.S. wagers and around $40 billion to $50 billion globally.
Those are not official forecasts. They are projections based on prior World Cup betting estimates and the fact that the 2026 tournament will be bigger than any edition before it.
How Much Was Bet on the 2022 World Cup?
The strongest U.S. benchmark comes from the American Gaming Association. Ahead of the 2022 tournament, the AGA estimated that 20.5 million American adults would wager a combined $1.8 billion on the World Cup. That remains one of the best public starting points for estimating what the next tournament could draw.
Globally, the most useful benchmark is the widely reported $35 billion estimate tied to the 2022 World Cup. That number gives us a workable reference point for the scale of worldwide betting interest around the event.
No one should confuse those numbers with the final exact amount wagered everywhere in the world. Global betting estimates always involve some uncertainty because different markets track betting activity differently.
Why 2026 Should Be Bigger
The biggest reason is simple: scale.
The 2026 World Cup will have 48 teams and 104 matches. More matches mean more betting windows, more in play betting, more futures updates, and more total opportunities for money to flow into the market.
The other reason is momentum. Sports betting is far more mainstream now than it was even a few years ago, especially in the United States. By the time the 2026 World Cup kicks off, the American betting audience should be larger, more comfortable with mobile wagering, and more engaged with soccer betting than it was in 2022.
Then there is the North American factor. A tournament hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico should naturally create more betting interest in this region than a World Cup played in a distant time zone. Match times will be easier for U.S. audiences, media coverage will be constant, and local fan engagement should be stronger.
That combination matters.
A bigger tournament plus a stronger North American betting market is exactly how you get a record setting World Cup from a wagering standpoint.
If you plan to bet on the tournament, our list of the best sportsbooks for World Cup betting breaks down the top options for odds, bonuses, and match coverage.
How Much Will Be Bet on the 2026 World Cup?
If Americans were projected to wager $1.8 billion on the 2022 World Cup, then it is reasonable to expect a significantly larger number in 2026.
A fair editorial estimate is $2.8 billion to $3.5 billion in total U.S. wagers.
That range leaves room for growth without getting reckless. It assumes the betting market is larger than it was in 2022, that public interest will be stronger because the event is being hosted in North America, and that a bigger tournament will create more opportunities to bet.
Global Estimate for 2026
The global side is trickier, but the logic is similar.
If the 2022 World Cup drew an estimated $35 billion in wagers worldwide, then the 2026 tournament should reasonably push higher. The format is larger, the number of matches is higher, and legal betting access continues to expand in many markets.
That makes a global range of $40 billion to $50 billion a reasonable editorial projection.
Again, that should be presented honestly. It is not an official FIFA number. It is not a bookmaker consensus figure. It is an estimate built from the best public benchmark available and adjusted for the larger 2026 event.
You can also check our updated World Cup odds for 2026 page to compare futures prices and see how the market is shaping up ahead of kickoff.
Why the Global Number Is Always Hard to Nail Down
World Cup betting totals are messy because there is no single global reporting system that captures every legal and offshore wager in one place.
Some estimates focus mainly on regulated markets. Others attempt to account for offshore sportsbooks and informal betting as well. That is why global event totals often vary depending on who is making the estimate and what exactly they are counting.
That does not mean the estimates are useless. It just means you should treat them as informed ranges, not perfect measurements.
New to soccer wagering? Our guide on how to bet on the 2026 World Cup explains the main bet types, futures markets, and how tournament betting works.
Which Matches Will Attract the Most Betting?
The biggest betting action will likely center around the same types of matches that always pull in casual and serious interest.
That means:
- opening matches
- United States matches
- knockout round games
- major rivalry matches
- the final
Those are the moments when sportsbooks tend to see the strongest mix of volume, public interest, and live betting activity.
The longer tournament also matters. With 104 matches on the board, sportsbooks will have more total inventory than ever before. That alone increases the likelihood of a record World Cup from a betting perspective.
Final Estimate
The cleanest conclusion is this:
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has a real chance to become the biggest betting World Cup ever.
A reasonable working estimate is:
U.S. betting: $2.8 billion to $3.5 billion
Global betting: $40 billion to $50 billion
Those numbers are editorial projections, not official tournament forecasts. They are based on the American Gaming Association’s estimate that Americans would wager $1.8 billion on the 2022 World Cup, Bloomberg’s widely cited $35 billion global estimate for that same tournament, and the fact that the 2026 World Cup will be larger than any previous edition.
If those estimates land anywhere close to reality, the 2026 World Cup will not just be the biggest tournament in soccer history. It could also be the most heavily bet World Cup the sport has ever seen.
Sources
American Gaming Association. 2022 FIFA World Cup Wagering Estimates.
Bloomberg. World Cup Provides a $35 Billion Betting Boon for Bookmakers.
FAQ
How much was bet on the 2022 World Cup in the U.S.?
The American Gaming Association estimated that Americans would wager $1.8 billion on the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
How much could be bet on the 2026 World Cup worldwide?
A reasonable editorial estimate is $40 billion to $50 billion globally, based on the widely reported $35 billion benchmark tied to the 2022 tournament and the larger 2026 format.
Why is the 2026 World Cup expected to attract more betting?
Because the tournament will feature 48 teams and 104 matches, and it will be hosted in North America, where betting interest should be especially strong.
Is there an official forecast for 2026 World Cup betting volume?
Not that I found. The 2026 figures in this article are editorial estimates based on past public benchmarks.
Last Updated: 13 hours ago
