Forecasts Point to Record $5.5 Billion in Wagers for Expanded 2026 World Cup

Bookies.com released projections showing Americans will place $3.1 billion in online sports bets on 2026 World Cup matches across states where such wagering operates legally, while prediction markets including Kalshi and Polymarket are expected to process another $2.4 billion in related activity. Combined totals reach $5.5 billion and surpass the $1.8 billion recorded for the 2022 tournament along with anticipated figures for the 2026 Super Bowl. The tournament expansion to 48 teams and 104 matches plus additional prime-time scheduling for U.S. viewers drive much of the anticipated growth according to the analysis released in recent weeks.

Key Drivers Behind the Projected Surge

The 2026 event stretches across multiple host nations and features a larger field that extends the competition calendar and creates more betting opportunities on group-stage outcomes, knockout rounds, and player-specific props. Observers note that prime-time U.S. kickoffs increase visibility during evening hours when participation rates tend to climb, and data from prior international tournaments shows elevated handle during accessible broadcast windows. Those tracking market trends point out that legal online sportsbooks now operate in dozens of states, allowing broader access than existed during the 2022 cycle when fewer jurisdictions permitted such activity.

Prediction markets add a distinct layer because they permit trading on event probabilities rather than traditional point spreads or moneylines. Kalshi and Polymarket have expanded user bases since the last World Cup, and analysts expect volume to rise as participants shift between contract types on the same matches. The forecast separates these platforms from conventional sportsbooks to highlight how each segment contributes to overall economic activity around the tournament.

Survey Data on American Betting Intentions

A PwC survey of more than 2,000 adults conducted in April found that 58 percent of respondents plan to place at least one wager on 2026 World Cup games, with roughly one-third indicating they intend to risk $250 or more across the competition. These intentions align with the expanded match schedule because more games create repeated decision points for bettors who follow daily results. Figures from the same poll show higher participation rates among adults who already use legal apps, suggesting the existing user base will scale activity rather than entirely new demographics entering the market.

Researchers tracking consumer behavior note that the 104-match format spreads interest across June and July, reducing concentration around a handful of high-profile fixtures. This distribution supports steadier daily volumes compared with shorter tournaments, and operators have adjusted promotional calendars to match the longer window. The survey responses also reveal that many participants combine traditional sports bets with prediction-market contracts on the same outcomes, a pattern that appears in other major events where both products coexist.

Comparisons to Prior Events and Market Context

The $1.8 billion handle from 2022 serves as the most direct benchmark, yet the 2026 projections exceed that total by a wide margin even after adjusting for inflation and population growth. The 2026 Super Bowl, which occurs earlier in the same calendar year, is projected to draw lower overall wagers because it consists of a single game rather than an extended tournament. Market participants who follow handle reports from state regulators observe that multi-week events generate cumulative totals far above one-off contests, and the World Cup structure amplifies this effect through repeated engagement.

As of May 2026, regulatory frameworks in active states remain stable with no major changes announced that would alter the forecast assumptions. Operators continue to report quarterly handle figures that track closely with projections issued before previous international tournaments, providing a track record for evaluating the current estimates. The separation of sportsbook and prediction-market volumes allows clearer attribution of growth to each product type while still reflecting total economic participation.

Conclusion

The Bookies.com analysis synthesizes regulatory data, platform trends, and consumer survey responses to outline expected activity levels for the expanded tournament. Totals of $3.1 billion through legal sportsbooks and $2.4 billion via prediction markets rest on teh structural changes to the competition and documented shifts in how Americans access and use betting products. Those monitoring developments will compare actual figures released after the event against these baselines to assess accuracy and identify any deviations driven by on-field results or external factors.