According to a forecast by investment bank Macquarie, more than $ 50 billion will be wagered on World Cup 2026 matches — almost 43% more than during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. This growth is driven not only by interest in football: over the past four years, the structure of the market itself has changed.
World Cup 2026 will be the first major tournament where most adult Americans have legal access to betting, following the U.S. decision in 2018 to open regulated betting markets state by state.
World Cup 2026 will be the first major tournament where most adult Americans have legal access to betting, following the U.S. decision in 2018 to open regulated betting markets state by state.
Tournament scale
🔵 48 teams instead of 32 — the first expansion of the World Cup format in history
🔵 More than 100 matches over six weeks, compared with 64 games in Qatar
🔵 Estimated betting volume of around $ 500 million per match
🔵 Three host countries — the U.S., Canada, and Mexico — provide convenient broadcast times for Europe, Latin America, and Africa
Legal betting in the U.S.
🔴 In 2018, the Supreme Court lifted the federal ban on sports betting; since then, dozens of states have opened regulated markets
🔴 By 2026, 65% of Americans will have legal access to betting, compared with 40% during World Cup 2022
🔴 Industry forecast: the global sports betting market is expected to grow from $ 92 billion in 2025 to $ 205 billion by 2032
🔴 Growth is being driven by live betting, virtual sports, and mobile platforms
Operators focus on retention
🔵 The short-term tournament boost for operators is clear — but the key priority is different: how many new players will stay after the final
🔵 Major events are used as an acquisition channel, while casino products within the same platform increase retention potential
🔵 Macquarie analyst Chad Beynon directly points out that the long-term value lies in converting tournament audiences into regular bettors
Prediction markets under pressure
🔴 Alongside the growth of betting, the U.S. financial markets regulator, the CFTC, has proposed tightening rules for prediction markets
🔴 Contracts related to terrorism, war, and other illegal activities may fall under restrictions
🔴 Regulators are observing a blurring of boundaries between betting, financial instruments, and online platforms
Conclusion
World Cup 2026 will be the first tournament where the U.S. participates not only as a host country, but also as a full-scale betting market. It took eight years to build the legal infrastructure, and now it will operate under maximum load for the first time.
🔵 48 teams instead of 32 — the first expansion of the World Cup format in history
🔵 More than 100 matches over six weeks, compared with 64 games in Qatar
🔵 Estimated betting volume of around $ 500 million per match
🔵 Three host countries — the U.S., Canada, and Mexico — provide convenient broadcast times for Europe, Latin America, and Africa
Legal betting in the U.S.
🔴 In 2018, the Supreme Court lifted the federal ban on sports betting; since then, dozens of states have opened regulated markets
🔴 By 2026, 65% of Americans will have legal access to betting, compared with 40% during World Cup 2022
🔴 Industry forecast: the global sports betting market is expected to grow from $ 92 billion in 2025 to $ 205 billion by 2032
🔴 Growth is being driven by live betting, virtual sports, and mobile platforms
Operators focus on retention
🔵 The short-term tournament boost for operators is clear — but the key priority is different: how many new players will stay after the final
🔵 Major events are used as an acquisition channel, while casino products within the same platform increase retention potential
🔵 Macquarie analyst Chad Beynon directly points out that the long-term value lies in converting tournament audiences into regular bettors
Prediction markets under pressure
🔴 Alongside the growth of betting, the U.S. financial markets regulator, the CFTC, has proposed tightening rules for prediction markets
🔴 Contracts related to terrorism, war, and other illegal activities may fall under restrictions
🔴 Regulators are observing a blurring of boundaries between betting, financial instruments, and online platforms
Conclusion
World Cup 2026 will be the first tournament where the U.S. participates not only as a host country, but also as a full-scale betting market. It took eight years to build the legal infrastructure, and now it will operate under maximum load for the first time.