Posted on: May 31, 2026, 08:21h.
Last updated on: May 31, 2026, 08:21h.
- Eilers & Krejcik Gaming projects between $2.32-$4.33 billion in soccer handle, especially if the U.S. National Team advances into the Round of 16
- H2 Gambling Capital study estimates record betting on 2026 World Cup
- 43% of Canadian soccer fans plan to support more than one nation, according to FanDuel Canada and Angus Reid study
The upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to generate between $2.32-$4.33 billion in U.S. online sports betting handle, through legal sportsbooks, a 182% increase compared to handle from the 2022 tournament, according to research firm Eilers & Krejcik Gaming (EKG).
June 11 World Cup Kickoff
The 2022 World Cup was played in Qatar. The potential for a deep tournament run by the U.S. Men’s National Team is a big reason for the wide forecast range this time out, according to the EKG study.
The firm estimated that $900 million to $1 billion was wagered via U.S. legal sportsbooks on the 2022 World Cup.
The World Cup kicks off in Mexico City on June 11, at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, with the Mexican National Team hosting South Africa, and wraps up with the final match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19.
More Teams, More Matches
Other factors in the betting uptick – more teams, more matches, a home soil tournament, and more sports betting platforms. Forty-eight teams will be playing (expanded from 32) 104 matches (up from 64 matches) across 16 cities in Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. Seventy-eight of those World Cup matches will be played in the U.S.
According to FIFA, Mexico is ranked No. 15 in the world, the U.S. No. 16, with Canada ranked No. 30.
The study also projected a combined 70% market share for DraftKings and FanDuel ($1.02 billion and $945 million respectively). Fanatics and Hard Rock were also projected to do well – a combined 14% market share.
FanDuel Study
Another study released by H2 Gambling Capital (the global gambling sector market data provider) shed further light on massive levels of betting handle expected on the World Cup. H2 estimated that $60 billion will be wagered on the tournament through legal sportsbooks, a 71% increase over their estimates for the 2022 tournament.
Out of that H2 estimated that $5.7 billion will be wagered across the three host nations. Mexico is expected to have the highest soccer share of betting spend, followed by Canada and the U.S. However with its market size, the U.S. is expected to hit $2.9 billion of handle on legal sportsbooks, followed by $2.5 billion for Mexico and $0.3 billion in Canada.
According to a study released last week by FanDuel Canada, in tandem with Angus Reid, 43% of Canadian soccer fans plan to support more than one nation during the tournament.
Other key findings from the Canada-wide survey: Second-team support is driven most by heritage (37%) and family connection (21%), and the top teams Canadians plan to cheer for alongside Canada are England (39%), Germany (19%), and Brazil (18%).
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