The USMNT’s loss to Belgium on Monday marked the highest wagered soccer match in the annals of US sports gambling, as reported by multiple sportsbooks to ESPN and Fox Sports this week. While the outcome was disappointing for many American fans, the sportsbooks found solace in what turned out to be a significant win for them.
According to BetMGM, Belgium’s 4-1 win represented “one of the largest payoffs” in their history of soccer betting, while Caesars reported to Fox Sports that the match attracted a record amount of unique bettors.
A Circa bettor notably placed a staggering $750,000 wager on the US at -130 to advance—a substantial show of support that ultimately evaporated.
Significant Liability
The US was identified as Caesars’ largest outright World Cup liability, with Portugal following closely behind, as noted by Fox Sports. The elimination of both teams on Monday bolstered the sportsbook’s futures position.
During the Belgium match, Caesars reported that an impressive 81% of the total handle in the To Qualify market and 78% of the match-betting handle was in favor of the US.
Initially, Belgium was viewed as a slight favorite until Florian Balogun’s controversially overturned red card shifted the odds back towards the US.
Once his suspension was lifted, Balogun garnered considerable interest in prop betting. Caesars indicated he was “an extremely popular choice” in straight and same-game parlay bets, although the striker managed just one clear scoring opportunity without finding the back of the net.
The unprecedented betting volume isn’t surprising. Every match involving the USMNT or another global powerhouse has set a new US World Cup betting record, according to sportsbooks.
Matches such as Argentina versus Cape Verde and Mexico versus England eclipsed the handle seen during the USMNT’s group-stage encounters before the Belgium match set a new benchmark.
Excitement for the World Cup
BetMGM stated that this match drew more betting action than any 2026 College Football Playoff game (except for the national championship), as well as the NCAA men’s basketball championship, or any single game in the NBA Finals, Stanley Cup Finals, or World Series.
“This World Cup has consistently produced record-level betting for us throughout,” remarked BetMGM’s senior trading manager, Christian Cipollini, to ESPN. “There’s palpable excitement across the nation. Regardless of your location, World Cup fever seems to have struck everyone this summer. The timing of the matches has also played a significant role.”
“Holding games on US soil is incredibly advantageous, but last night’s USA game, starting at eight o’clock in primetime, was a crucial factor,” he added.