2026 World Cup Smashes U.S. Sportsbook Betting Records with Historic Handle

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has cemented its place as the most bet-upon soccer tournament in U.S. history, with sportsbooks reporting unprecedented betting volumes that surpassed even the most optimistic projections. The expanded 48-team format, featuring 104 matches across Mexico, Canada, and the United States, created a betting frenzy that left operators scrambling to keep up with demand.

Johnny Avello, DraftKings director of race & sports operations, predicted the tournament’s massive impact back in early July, telling Casino.org that the event would surpass March Madness in total betting action. His forecast proved accurate as the tournament unfolded from June 11 to the final on July 19, where Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The tournament’s success can be attributed to several factors, including favorable kickoff times across North America and an expanded format that created more betting opportunities than ever before. Live betting saw explosive growth, with operators reporting record-breaking action across futures, event markets, and parlays.

Mark Bickerdike, head of soccer at Caesars Sportsbook, highlighted the tournament’s success:

“The soccer tournament has been something special. The handle has been way over expectations. I think it’s going to be bigger than March Madness, when all is said and done.”

Bickerdike added that the final delivered the biggest soccer betting event in Caesars Sportsbook history, with pre-match wagering surpassing previous tournament records. The match between Spain and Argentina set new benchmarks for total handle, total wagers, and unique bettors, finishing nearly 65 percent higher than the previous record game.

Bettors showed strong interest in Lionel Messi, with his ‘Anytime Goalscorer’ prop becoming the most-bet Same Game Parlay leg in Caesars Sportsbook history for a soccer match. The 0-0 draw through regulation time proved profitable for the book, as bettors favored Argentina in both Match Betting and To Lift The Trophy markets.

Over at BetMGM, the Spain-Argentina final was the most bet match in company history, surpassing even major U.S. sporting events like the NBA Finals, Stanley Cup, College Football Playoff, and World Series. Christian Cipollini, senior trading manager at BetMGM, noted that the final generated more betting action than all games in those major leagues combined.

The tournament’s success extended beyond the final, with the most-bet matches including the USA-Belgium Round of 16, England-Norway quarterfinals, England-Mexico Round of 16, and England-Argentina semifinal. Hard Rock Bet revealed that the tournament was on track to become the biggest betting event in U.S. history, with Neil Walsh, senior vice president of Hard Rock Bet, stating:

“We’re talking the equivalent of ten Super Bowls. A sport we were once told Americans would not embrace turned into one for the history books. The whole country wanted in.”