The 2026 FIFA World Cup has set records for sports wagering in the United States, with an unprecedented amount of betting activity during the 48-team, 104-match tournament hosted across Mexico, the United States, and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
DraftKings Director of Race & Sports Operations Johnny Avello informed Casino.org that midway through the tournament, the betting handle far exceeded their expectations.
“This soccer tournament is something truly remarkable,” Avello remarked. “The betting handle has gone well beyond our projections, and I believe it will surpass March Madness in overall volume.“
The tournament’s expanded format allowed for more live betting options, thanks to kickoff timings appealing to North American fans.
“A World Cup hosted by home nations fueled high anticipation and interest,” stated Caesars Sportsbook Head of Soccer Mark Bickerdike. “We are grateful that the event surpassed even our most optimistic estimations, showing strong engagement across futures, event markets, and our same-game parlay offerings.”
Final Match Excitement
Spain triumphed over Argentina 1-0 in overtime at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, capturing the championship with Ferran Torres scoring in the 106th minute after a scoreless first 90 minutes.
Betters leaned towards Argentina in both the three-way moneyline and “To Lift the Trophy” markets, both pre-match and in-play, according to Bickerdike.
“The 0-0 stalemate after regulation was beneficial for us,” he said. “Numerous bets on Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal to score also led to favorable outcomes in our straight-bet and same-game parlay markets.”
Before the match, Bickerdike told Fox Sports that overtime would be the ideal outcome for the bookmakers. “Let’s see 120 minutes on the clock,” he expressed, adding that Caesars desired a win for Spain.
The final became the most significant soccer betting event in Caesars Sportsbook’s history, with total wagers nearly 65% higher than the company’s previous record for a game, according to Bickerdike. The Messi Anytime Goalscorer was the most popular same-game parlay leg ever recorded for a soccer event by the operator.
At BetMGM, Spain’s victory aligned with public preferences, as the team was the most supported to win the trophy going into the tournament, remarked Senior Trading Manager Christian Cipollini.
The Spain-Argentina final ended up being the most-bet soccer match ever at the company in terms of tickets and handle. The five most-ticketed matches included the final, USA-Belgium in the Round of 16, England-Norway in the quarterfinals, England-Mexico in the Round of 16, and England-Argentina semifinal.
BetMGM noted that the final attracted more bets than any game in the 2025 World Series, every 2026 NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final match, and every College Football Playoff game, with the exception of the Indiana-Miami national championship.
Hard Rock Bet Senior Vice President of Sportsbook Neil Walsh indicated that internal metrics positioned this tournament as one of the largest betting events in U.S. history even before the final match began.
“This is on par with 10 Super Bowls,” said Walsh. “A sport that many believed Americans would not embrace has made its mark in history, with national enthusiasm evident.”
Winners in Futures Markets
Argentina’s second-place finish also yielded positive outcomes for operators in futures markets, as the team posed a larger financial liability compared to the victorious Spain, reported Fox Sports.
“The futures market performed well, marking a superb conclusion to a highly lucrative World Cup,” stated Circa Sports Director of Operations Jeff Benson. Bickerdike highlighted that Spain was Caesars’ second-most wagered team to win outright.
SuperBook Vice President John Murray told Fox Sports that the combination of a scoreless regulation time and Spain’s extra-time goal constituted a near-optimal outcome.
“That was almost our ideal scenario, taking into account the game result, props, futures, and more,” Murray said. “It was a fantastic closing chapter for us.”
After the tournament, Avello told Fox Sports that the final marked the peak of a heavily wagered event overall.
“The tournament may be concluded, but we’re still riding the high from a month filled with World Cup soccer,” he remarked. “This was the year’s major event, full of highs and lows. But overall, what a ride!”
Large Bets and Significant Payoffs
Notable individual wagers included a $1.5 million bet on Argentina attributed to Drake, as well as a $250,000 wager on June 17 at DraftKings on Argentina with +850 odds to win the tournament, which would have yielded $2.125 million had it been successful.
On Polymarket, one user placed $1.55 million against the final score being 3-2 in favor of Argentina, yielding a profit of $44,772, while another bet $318,255 that Messi would not score twice against Spain, resulting in a $29,337 gain.
A FanDuel customer created a $2.01, six-leg parlay in February that included NBA, NHL, and World Cup futures at the astonishing odds of +441718, opting to cash out for $4,434.27 once Spain remained the final leg of the bet.