Kalshi Secures FIFA World Cup Partnership as $10 Billion Betting Surge Fuels IPO Ambitions
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 26
Kalshi Secures FIFA World Cup Partnership as $10 Billion Betting Surge Fuels IPO Ambitions
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 26
Summary
Kalshi is set to announce Friday that it has become an official FIFA World Cup partner through a branding and product deal with ADI Predictstreet, putting its ads around pitches, on TV and online.
Nearly $10 billion in World Cup wagers over the tournament’s first two weeks helped drive the move, with Kalshi also posting more than $1.6 billion in daily volume versus roughly $1 billion before the event.
That surge has lifted Kalshi’s annualized revenue to well above $2 billion and supported a $22 billion valuation last month, more than four times its October level.
ADI Predictstreet, whose match markets have sometimes drawn less than $20 in bets, will gain volume as Kalshi routes international trading to its platform; Kalshi is available in more than 100 countries.
The added visibility could strengthen Kalshi’s path toward an IPO, which CEO Tarek Mansour said the company is considering, though not this year.
After a $22B valuation, why did Kalshi deny its pivotal FIFA World Cup partnership on the tournament's opening day?
As regulators probe ads targeting youth, is Kalshi’s explosive growth a financial success or a massive societal gamble?
Kalshi Surges to $2.9 Billion World Cup Trading Volume: Partnerships, Regulation, and IPO Ambitions in 2026
Overview
The 2026 FIFA World Cup sparked a massive surge in prediction market activity, with Kalshi leading the way. Just 11 days after the tournament began, Kalshi saw its World Cup trading volume soar to $2.9 billion, surpassing previous records set by events like March Madness and the Champions League. This growth was fueled not only by traditional sports bets but also by a high level of engagement in combination and exotic bets, which together made up over 85% of activity during the week of June 8. The World Cup’s global appeal directly drove Kalshi’s rapid financial growth and market dominance.