2026 World Cup is expected to be the most wagered-on sports event

• An analysis by Macquarie expects the total betting handle on the FIFA World Cup in 2026 to reach $50bn
• This figure is ahead of the $35bn gambled in 2022, with Flutter Entertainment poised to benefit from the betting bonanza
• FanDuel is expected to lead the way in the United States in terms of total gambling handle

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is certainly the largest format of the event so far, but analysts are now predicting that it is also likely to take in the biggest overall gambling haul - a unique combination of mass gambling legalization, more people becoming connected to the Internet, and aggressive marketing.

Macquarie estimates $50bn to be gambled on FIFA World Cup globally

With the event getting underway today, June 11, in Mexico City, the next six weeks are expected to be action-packed as 48 teamsvie through 104 games to secure the tournament’s accolade, while sportsbooks look forward to a record betting handle.

According to Macquarie analyst Chad Beynon, global wagers on the 2026 World Cup could hit $50bn, well ahead of the reported $35bn gambling handle that went down on the 2022 edition of the event.

Macquarie specifically looks into how this newfound appetite for sports wagers would translate into boosting sportsbooks’ revenues, with a 2% to 5% boost estimated for 2027 operator EBITDA.

Flutter Entertainment, the parent company behind FanDuel, is well-poised to gain from the next six weeks of intense betting, with the company leveraging its global footprint despite continuing to axe hundreds of jobs.

However, Flutter Entertainment is not the only company that stands to benefit from the tournament, with Macquarie also noting that Super Group and Rush Street Interactive are equally well-positioned to gain from the incoming soccer bonanza.

Another study by Deutsche Bank puts the total gambling handle expected in the United States at $3.3bn, with FanDuel potentially taking in $1.3bn of this action, followed by DraftKings with $1.1bn, as well as BetMGM with $250m, and Caesars with $120m. theScore Bet will also rake in about $83 million in total sports gambling handle.

Gambling handle in the United States projected to $4.3bn depending on USMNT's performance

In the United States, the total gambling handle expected to be placed ranges from $3.3bn to $4.3bn, with a few studies citing lower figures at around $2.82bn.

Overall, however, a strong performance by the USMNT, which has a slight chance of making it into the quarterfinals, would also reflect on how much money is gambled in the country.

While there is a strong distrust of sportsbooks and whether they can keep people’s private data safe, a growing cohort of Americans is going to be gambling on the 2026 FIFA World Cup that is officially getting underway today.

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