EKG Projects Record-Breaking US Sports Betting Handle for 2026 FIFA World Cup
Research firm Eilers & Krejcik Gaming released projections showing the 2026 FIFA World Cup will generate the largest online sports betting handle in US history with a base-case estimate of $2.82 billion, nearly three times the amount recorded during the 2022 tournament. The full forecast range spans $2.32 billion to $4.33 billion and accounts for multiple structural changes that reshape how Americans place wagers on international soccer.
Expanded Tournament Format Drives Volume
The 2026 edition features 48 teams instead of the traditional 32, which increases the total number of matches and extends the length of the competition across June and July. Observers note that each additional game creates new betting opportunities in pre-match markets and live in-game options while longer tournament windows give operators more days to capture activity from casual and frequent bettors alike.
US Hosting and Legalization Trends Shape Access
Multiple venues in the United States will host matches, a factor analysts at EKG identify as significant because domestic games tend to draw heightened interest from American bettors. At the same time, additional states are expected to have legalized online sports betting by the time the tournament begins, expanding the pool of regulated platforms available to participants. Data from the analysis shows these two elements—local hosting combined with broader legalization—compound to lift overall handle beyond previous cycles.
Projected Performance of the US National Team
The forecast incorporates scenarios where the US team advances deep into the knockout stages, an outcome that historically correlates with spikes in betting activity on both sides of the matches involving that squad. EKG models treat strong US progression as an upside variable that pushes the upper end of the range toward $4.33 billion while the base case assumes a more typical tournament path for teh home side.
Market Share Among Major Operators
DraftKings and FanDuel together are projected to capture approximately 70 percent of the total handle generated by the event. This concentration reflects the established user bases and promotional reach these two platforms maintain across legal states, even as smaller operators continue to compete for niche segments. The remaining share is expected to distribute among regional sportsbooks and emerging brands that have secured licenses in newer markets.
Comparison With Prior World Cup Cycles
During the 2022 tournament the estimated online handle in the United States fell between $900 million and $1 billion. The jump to a base-case figure of $2.82 billion represents a structural shift rather than simple year-over-year growth. Factors such as the increased match count, additional legal jurisdictions, and games played on American soil combine to produce this step-change in volume according to the EKG modeling.
Implications for Platform Operations
Operators will adjust risk management protocols and promotional calendars to accommodate the extended schedule and higher anticipated traffic. Live betting markets are expected to see particular emphasis because soccer lends itself to in-play wagering throughout each 90-minute match plus stoppage time. Technology teams at major sportsbooks have already begun testing capacity expansions to ensure platforms remain stable during peak moments such as group-stage openers and knockout rounds.
Conclusion
The EKG analysis provides a quantified outlook for what many industry participants anticipate will be a landmark event in American sports betting. With the 48-team format, US-hosted matches, continued state-by-state legalization, and potential strong showings by the home team all factored into the model, the projected handle range of $2.32 billion to $4.33 billion establishes a new benchmark. DraftKings and FanDuel stand positioned to process the majority of that activity while the broader market absorbs the remaining volume across an expanded regulatory landscape.