2026 World Cup Betting Market Analysis: Global Sports Betting Statistics & Projections
by Devesh Jaganath | by Cydias Aujard
Global Sports Betting Market: Projected Figures for the 2026 World Cup
The World Cup is without a doubt the biggest event on the global sports betting calendar, and the 2026 edition is expected to be a record-breaker!
With the tournament expanding to 48 teams and 104 matches across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, sportsbooks from around the world are preparing for unprecedented levels of betting activity. Here are the projected figures for the 2026 tournament:
According to our projections, over 12 million new betting accounts are expected to be opened during the 2026 World Cup, and a staggering $36.9 billion is estimated to be wagered throughout the tournament.
There is no better time than the World Cup 2026 to join the best online betting sites and take advantage of the massive bonuses they have available for the global spectacle.
More than 12 million new accounts expected globally?
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar set huge records, with Barclays' analysts indicating that the global betting handle during the competition reached approximately $35 billion, more than 60% higher compared to four years earlier.
However, the 2026 edition is expected to smash those numbers by a big margin, with around 12.3 million new accounts expected to be opened in the coming weeks, while the projected betting handle is set at a staggering $36.9 billion.
With a mind-blowing forecast of 6 billion viewers, the 2026 World Cup is set to be history’s biggest sports event, and it is officially the first tournament in which a wave of Gen Z bettors will be able to actively participate.
Surge in betting activity anticipated for World Cup 2026
Indeed, while the projections above are based on in-depth research and analysis, that $36.9 billion figure could be surpassed quite easily, especially if one or more of the host nations - the USA, Canada, or Mexico - go deep in the tournament.
In 2024, Asia and the Middle East accounted for $270 billion of the $712 billion (38%) gross gaming revenue (GGR) globally across all sports, and they are expected to set the benchmark for the 2026 World Cup, with three additional spots allocated to the AFC region.
A significant spike in revenue is also expected from Africa, which, for the first time in World Cup history, will be represented by 10 nations, four more than they were allowed during the 2022 edition in Qatar. Similarly, Latin America will have two additional participants at the upcoming tournament.
Global bettors eyeing big returns at 2026 World Cup
An estimated $610 billion was wagered across all sports worldwide in 2024, with the average percentage returned to player (RTP) as winnings by bookmakers clocked at around 90% (or $549 billion).
For the 2026 World Cup, a similar RTP is projected. Off the anticipated $36.9 billion handle, bookmakers are expected to pay out a whopping $32.94 billion in player winnings, which equates to an 89.3% payout ratio!
In terms of the major markets that are expected to contribute significantly to the $36.9 billion handle for the 2026 World Cup, bettors globally are leaning toward France, Spain and England to go all the way, with these three nations currently showing up as the betting favourites, as explained in our our 2026 World Cup predictions.
As for the Golden Boot winner market, Les Bleus’ marksman Kylian Mbappe is the frontrunner at odds of 7.00 with the best online betting sites, ahead of England’s skipper Harry Kane, and reigning champion Lionel Messi (13.00).
The 2026 World Cup is set to create new betting benchmarks worldwide - why not get in on the action?
