World Cup betting handle may hit $2.82 billion

(AsiaGameHub) –   Eilers & Krejcik Gaming anticipates that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will generate a significantly larger U.S. online betting market compared to the 2022 tournament, driven by an increased number of matches, favorable North American time zones, and heightened mainstream interest in soccer wagering.

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Good to Know

• EKG forecasts wagers totaling $2.82 billion for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
• A strong performance by Team USA could drive the handle to nearly $4 billion.
• Conversely, an early elimination for the U.S. might reduce betting volume to slightly above $2.3 billion.

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Scheduled from June 11 to July 19 across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected by EKG to yield a betting handle of $2.82 billion. This figure significantly surpasses the $900 million to $1 billion estimated for the 2022 World Cup.

Compared to the upper limit of the 2022 range, the 2026 projection represents an 182% surge in U.S. online World Cup betting. The expansion of the tournament format accounts for much of this growth, with the number of teams increasing from 32 to 48 and the total matches rising from 64 to 104.

Team USA Performance May Determine Final Betting Totals

EKG does not regard the $2.82 billion forecast as fixed. The performance of Team USA could adjust these figures in either direction, particularly given that the tournament is taking place partly on home turf.

“Our forecast comes with wide error bars because of the impact of a potential run from the U.S. Men’s National Team, but our base case assumes they advance from the group stage before exiting in either the Round of 32 or Round of 16,” EKG noted in its report.

An extended run by Team USA would likely stimulate more casual wagering, increased in-play betting, and greater engagement from U.S. sportsbooks. EKG indicated that in such a scenario, the handle could approach $4 billion.

On the other hand, a brief tournament appearance could diminish that potential. An early exit might result in a total betting handle of just over $2.3 billion. While Team USA advanced to the Round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup, the squad has also failed to progress past the group stage on three occasions since 1990.

For sportsbook operators, the expanded FIFA World Cup offers an extended betting schedule, a wider array of soccer markets, and additional opportunities to attract casual bettors. Nevertheless, EKG identifies Team USA’s performance as the most significant variable influencing U.S. World Cup betting handle.