Forecasts Signal Record U.S. Betting Volume on 2026 FIFA World Cup

Bookies.com has released projections showing Americans will place $3.1 billion in wagers on the 2026 FIFA World Cup through legal online sports betting platforms, while an additional $2.4 billion will flow through prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket; the combined total would exceed the $1.8 billion recorded for the 2022 tournament and reach levels comparable to annual Super Bowl activity.

Event Details and Scale

The tournament, scheduled to begin June 11 with 48 national teams competing across 104 matches hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico and the United States, creates an expanded schedule that analysts link directly to higher expected participation from U.S. bettors; the increase from 32 to 48 teams extends the number of games and broadens the range of markets available on regulated platforms.

Projected Breakdown by Channel

Legal online sportsbooks account for the $3.1 billion portion according to the forecast, while prediction markets are expected to capture the separate $2.4 billion figure through event contracts that settle on specific outcomes; these two channels operate under distinct regulatory frameworks yet both draw from the same pool of U.S. participants seeking exposure to World Cup results.

Survey Data on Bettor Intentions

A PwC survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults conducted in April 2026 found that 58 percent plan to place at least one bet on the event, and approximately one-third of respondents indicated they expect to wager $250 or more during the tournament period; researchers compiled these responses to quantify anticipated activity ahead of the expanded competition.

Those figures represent a measurable step up from 2022 participation rates, and observers note the growth coincides with wider availability of state-licensed apps in additional jurisdictions since the previous World Cup cycle.

Comparison With Prior Benchmarks

The 2022 World Cup generated $1.8 billion in U.S. legal wagers, a total that the new forecast more than doubles when combining both sportsbooks and prediction markets; Super Bowl betting has historically hovered near the combined $5.5 billion mark cited for 2026 World Cup activity, providing a familiar reference point for volume expectations.

Data indicates the increase stems from the longer tournament format together with continued expansion of legal channels rather than any shift in individual betting behavior alone.

Market Channels and Regulatory Context

Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket function through distinct contract structures that allow users to trade positions on match results and tournament milestones, while traditional sportsbooks offer standard point spreads, totals and prop bets; both segments remain subject to state-level oversight that determines which operators may accept wagers from residents.

According to the cited projections, the split between the $3.1 billion and $2.4 billion amounts reflects current user preferences across these platforms as the event draws closer.

Conclusion

The Bookies.com forecast, paired with PwC survey responses, supplies concrete numbers on expected 2026 World Cup wagering through legal U.S. channels and highlights the continued growth trajectory since 2022; additional context on hosting arrangements and platform categories further situates the projections within the broader regulated betting environment.