Macquarie Sees World Cup Betting Topping $50 Billion as 48-Team Format Adds 100-Plus Matches
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 10
Macquarie Sees World Cup Betting Topping $50 Billion as 48-Team Format Adds 100-Plus Matches
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 10
Summary
$50 billion in global wagers could be placed on the FIFA Men's World Cup, Macquarie said, implying about $500 million bet per match and making it the biggest betting event on record.
The bank tied the jump from $35 billion in 2022 to the tournament's expansion from 32 to 48 teams, lifting the schedule to more than 100 matches from 64 in Qatar.
Favorable host time zones in the US, Canada and Mexico and a broader US betting market—now accessible to about 65% of Americans versus 40% in 2022—are expected to widen viewership and betting demand.
Macquarie said betting operators with casino platforms may benefit most if they can turn World Cup users into repeat bettors, even as US regulators prepare tighter online betting rules that could affect platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket.
Gambling reform groups warned the tournament could deepen addiction and debt, saying young men are especially exposed and that World Cup bettors may be steered into more addictive casino products.
As betting surges, is the World Cup becoming more of a financial market than a sporting event?
Are regulators prepared for the AI-driven technology that will fuel the World Cup's record-breaking betting boom?
Can betting giants' responsible gaming promises truly protect a new generation of fans from mass addiction?
Betting on History: How the 2026 FIFA World Cup Is Set to Shatter Records with $4.4 Billion in Wagers and Transform Global Sports Gambling
Overview
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted for the first time across three countries, is set to make history not only with its expanded format and new in-game rules like three-minute tactical pauses, but also by fueling an unprecedented surge in sports betting. As the tournament unfolds, broadcasters will use these pauses for commercials, while teams gain new strategic opportunities. This unique setup, combined with the event’s global scale and a record number of legal bettors, is expected to create the richest and most dynamic betting environment ever seen, transforming both fan engagement and the sports wagering industry.