10 Facts About 2026 World Cup Betting

70% of sports fans are planning to place a bet during the 2026 World Cup 

An extraordinary 70 percent of sports fans are planning to place bets on the 2026 World Cup this summer. Deeper analysis from Spotlight Sports Group shows us that 66 percent of those betting on the competition will be doing so for the first time, with that figure rising to 90 percent in the USA.

The growth in football’s popularity in the US is significant. In 2022, the World Cup final was the second most-popular event of the year with American sports bettors, only surpassed by the Super Bowl.

86% of survey respondents said they will be involved from start to finish of the tournament

Long-winded competitions can often bore fans, with some not taking much notice of events until the real jeopardy kicks in during the knockout stages. 

Given the expanded format of this competition to 104 matches over 39 days, that was always a risk. But the statistics say otherwise, with 86 percent of those surveyed claiming they will be involved from start to finish.

Still, the final is always the big one. The 2022 World Cup final drew huge audiences world wide, including over one million people in Ireland who witnessed history when Messi’s Argentina beat Mbappe’s France in a nail-biting penalty shoot-out.  

72% of respondents from the UK said they will watch matches during unusual hours

There will be plenty of angry bosses across the UK during the World Cup with 72 percent of respondents claiming they will be watching matches during unusual hours. 

The late-night kick-offs for European fans are also expected to lead to a rise in betting habits, with 44 percent of those surveyed stating they believe it will lead to an increase in pre-match wagers. 

93% of surveyed people said they support a new format with 48 teams and 104 matches

This stat took us by surprise. The initial announcement that the tournament was to be expanded to 48 teams and 104 matches was met with a lot of scepticism in the UK, particularly amongst the media. 

However, it would appear that they either misread the room, or people have come around to the idea of having more matches to watch and bet on. A figure of 93 percent approval is staggering and underlines the true appetite for the competition. 

50% of sports fans have low confidence in their knowledge of betting

It also comes as a bit of a shock to see that of all those planning to bet on the World Cup, 50 percent have low confidence in their knowledge and seek reassurance from trusted sources. 

The cause could be a lack of information about countries from different continents, or it may be because fans are betting as enthusiasts rather than experts.  

73% of surveyed fans said expert tips and analysis help them make better decisions

Low confidence is probably tied into why 73 percent of the fans surveyed said expert analysis will help them make better selections, with 55 percent also relying on trusted pundit reviews.

Seeking expert analysis shows a bettor is looking for that snippet of information to justify their wagers. However, trusted pundits are often no more accurate than the average fan and blindly following their advice could be risky.

46% of US fans stated they prefer simple and straightforward odds

Keeping things simple is key in today’s fast-moving world. Sports fans don’t want to have to spend hours learning about bet types, especially all those who will be betting on the World Cup for the first time. 

This is reflected in America, where 46 percent of fans stated they prefer straightforward odds, the sort you get wagering on their three main betting markets, the moneyline, spread and total. 

21% of surveyed people indicated that they bet on their country out of loyalty

Football fans are a loyal bunch. Sometimes, to the point where logic is ignored. A prime example came when over 6000 Ireland fans travelled to Czechia for their recent World Cup playoff match, despite the Irish allocation being just 1,024 tickets. 

This loyalty clearly extends into betting, with around one in five fans claiming they are willing to bet on their own nation at this year’s World Cup. Although not a huge percentage, this statistic indicates a section of fans aren’t really interested in value, only in supporting their team in any way they can.

50% of fans discover betting opportunities through social media

Reflecting modern habits and human behaviour, half of bettors now discover betting opportunities through their social media. 

It’s easy to bet on an app on your mobile, and with all betting platforms now having huge social media presences, the connection is easy to make. Given the high profile of the upcoming World Cup, this figure is only likely to further grow. 

86% of fans trust AI-based prediction tools for validating bets

Artificial intelligence is now influencing nearly every walk of life, and football betting is no different. A staggering 86 percent of fans trust AI-based prediction models to validate their bets.

Is that risky? Probably. AI can often get sports predictions wrong, pulling up old information that isn’t relevant. The answer you receive can also depend on how you frame your question.

As high as that figure is, it is lower than the 96 percent of fans who use trusted sports news sites to validate their bets. 

Conclusion

The 2026 World Cup looks set to break all kinds of records for fan engagement and sports betting. More and more fans now appear to see betting on matches as part of the overall experience, and as the statistics show, they will find their bets through a variety of different channels.

Confidence in bet selections appears to be an issue. Combined with the ways fans are choosing and validating their bets, this suggests that many are betting primarily for entertainment rather than as serious gamblers. 

Overall, the data gives a clear picture. Fans are engaged, they want simplicity with their bets, and they want trusted voices to guide them. It’s within the power of betting sites to provide this and make it an even more enjoyable World Cup for all.

Source:

• Spotlight Sports Group