Initial betting statistics from prominent sportsbooks suggest that the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the largest soccer betting occasion ever, fueled by remarkable betting activity in the United States.
In a conversation with Casino.org on July 1, around the halfway point of the tournament that began on June 11, Johnny Avello, the Director of Race & Sports Operations at DraftKings, mentioned that betting was already heading towards unprecedented figures.
“The soccer tournament has been something special, I tell you,” Avello said. “The handle has been way over expectations. I think it’s going to be bigger than March Madness, when all is said and done.”
Initially, 48 squads commenced the World Cup, with a total of 104 contests being held (72 during the group stage and 32 in the knockout stage) across three nations - Mexico, the U. S., and Canada - culminating in the final match yesterday (July 19) at MetLife Stadium located in New Jersey, where Spain triumphed over Argentina with a score of 1-0.
The popularity of live betting surged, attributed to favorable kickoff times throughout North America, and this broadened format provided more wagering options in contrast to the earlier tournament featuring 64 matches.
Expansion of Format Enhances Wagering
As betting surpassed all prior tournament records, the significant role of the U. S. as the host was evident. “A World Cup hosted by the home nation raised anticipations for participation and interest,” remarked Mark Bickerdike, the Head of Soccer at Caesars Sportsbook.
“Thankfully, the tournament exceeded even our most optimistic projections, and we saw strong participation across Futures, event markets, and our Same Game Parlay product.
“There was some uncertainty around the impact of an extended tournament format, but World Cup fever took hold following the United States Men’s National Team’s promising start, and that enthusiasm continued throughout the knockout stages and into the final,” Bickerdike added.
The conclusion of events on Sunday marked the largest soccer wagering occasion ever for Caesars Sportsbook, as stated by Bickerdike.
“Interest was off the charts before kickoff, with pre-match wagering already surpassing our previous tournament record,” he said.
That buildup of enthusiasm prior to the match became evident in an intense final on the field, where Spain controlled the ball and fashioned the most significant opportunities of the game.
Final Generates Huge Volume
The scoreless tie during regulation proved to be a significant victory for the betting establishments, Bickerdike noted. Wagers strongly leaned towards Argentina both before the match and during live betting in the overall match bets as well as in the 'to win the trophy' categories.
Additionally, a considerable number of bets were placed on Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal scoring, resulting in favorable outcomes for both the direct betting markets and the Same Game Parlay options.
“By the final whistle, the match had set new Caesars Sportsbook records for total handle, total wagers and unique bettors,” he said. “Handle finished nearly 65 percent higher than our previous record game, underscoring the extraordinary interest in soccer’s biggest match and the incredible momentum we saw throughout the tournament.”Messi Anytime Goalscorer became the most wagered option for the Same Game Parlay that Caesars Sportsbook has witnessed for a soccer contest.
BetMGM Reports Unprecedented Activity
At BetMGM, the triumph of Spain proved to be a significant win for the betting public. La Roja was the team that received the most backing to claim the trophy as the tournament commenced, maintaining consistent betting interest throughout each stage, as stated by Senior Trading Manager Christian Cipollini.
"The 2026 World Cup set numerous records at BetMGM, with the final between Spain and Argentina emerging as the most bet soccer match ever in terms of total tickets and overall handle," Cipollini mentioned.
The five matches that received the highest ticket counts during the tournament included the Spain vs. Argentina final, USA vs. Belgium (Round of 16), England vs. Norway (Quarterfinals), England vs. Mexico (Round of 16), and the England vs. Argentina semifinal.
Fueled by significant interest from U. S. bettors, the Spain-Argentina final attracted a greater volume of bets at BetMGM compared to all games in the 2025 World Series, the 2026 NBA Finals, and the Stanley Cup Final, surpassing every matchup of the 2026 March Madness as well as all College Football Playoff contests aside from the Indiana vs. Miami national championship.
Ten Super Bowls
Prior to the final on Sunday, internal analytics from Hard Rock Bet indicated that the tournament was on track to be the largest betting phenomenon in U. S. history.
“We’re talking the equivalent of 10 Super Bowls,” Neil Walsh, Senior Vice President of Sportsbook at Hard Rock Bet, said on Saturday. “A sport we were once told Americans would not embrace turned into one for the history books. The whole country wanted in.”
