Eilers & Krejcik Gaming (EKG) could see the FIFA World Cup betting handle nearly tripling from 2022.
Key Takeaways
- Marketing firm EKG projects a 182% increase in World Cup handle from 2022 to 2026.
- Wagering estimates could reach as much as $4 billion if the U.S. team goes on a deep tournament run.
- More matches, two popular brands, and an expanded online sports betting presence in the U.S. dictates the projections.
The marketing and research firm projects that $2.82 billion will be wagered on this summer’s major soccer event, which runs June 11 through July 19 in North America.
EKG estimates that the previous World Cup generated between $900 million and $1 billion in online betting in the U.S. The high end of that estimate means wagering could see a 182% boost in 2026.
An increase in tournament participants to 48 countries helps raise projections as there will be 104 matches played across America, Canada, and Mexico. The previous World Cup had 64 matches across the Middle East.
Enjoying Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account
USMNT dependent
The gaming firm believes USA's World Cup performance on its home soil will dictate how many dollars are wagered in America this summer.
“Our forecast comes with wide error bars because of the impact of a potential run from the U.S. Men's National Team, but our base case assumes they advance from the group stage before exiting in either the Round of 32 or Round of 16,” EKG wrote in its report.
If Team USA goes on a deep run, the soccer tournament handle could come close to reaching $4 billion, according to Eilers & Krejcik. An early exit could even lower projections to just over $2.3 billion. The American squad reached the Round of 16 in 2022, but has also failed to make it out of the group stage three times since 1990.
Canadian online sports betting operator BET99 told Covers this week that its projections are also tied to how the home team plays in Toronto and British Columbia.
More markets
The online sports betting landscape has evolved, grown, and expanded since the last World Cup, which has also helped raise the handle expectations. There were 22 states with online wagering in 2022. Missouri became the 39th state to launch sports betting in December 2025.
FanDuel and DraftKings have dominated in numerous jurisdictions and are the top two market-share leaders in the U.S. EKG projects that those two online sportsbooks will account for 70% of the total World Cup handle.
DraftKings could take in $1.02 billion in soccer bets this summer, with FanDuel generating a $945-million handle. Fanatics Sportsbook and Hard Rock Bet, according to EKG, could combine to account for 14% (or $396 million) of the U.S. dollars wagered on this World Cup. A recent study found that 3/4 of American bettors intend to bet on the World Cup.
