Macquarie: 2026 World Cup may generate $50B in wagers

Macquarie forecasts global wagering on the 2026 FIFA World Cup could exceed $50 billion. The estimate reflects the tournament’s expansion to 48 teams and 104 matches to be held across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The bank used its assessment of the 2022 World Cup as a baseline, placing 2022 wagers at more than $35 billion, or about $0.5 billion per match. Applying the same per-match figure to 104 games produces a total above $50 billion. The forecast includes activity on prediction-market platforms and factors in growth from same-game parlays, live betting and player prop markets.

Macquarie points to wider legal sports betting access in the U.S. as a major factor. About 65% of the U.S. population now has access to legal sports betting, up from roughly 40% during the 2022 tournament. North American time zones and more soccer-specific wagering options are expected to increase engagement.

The report estimates roughly $5.25 billion was wagered on the 2022 final between France and Argentina. By comparison, Macquarie’s estimate for the 2026 Super Bowl is about $1.8 billion, and the firm says global viewership of the 2022 final was roughly ten times that Super Bowl projection.

Operators view the World Cup as a customer-acquisition opportunity in the U.S., where many bettors may place their first wagers during the month-long event. The report states longer-term gains will depend on converting those bettors into repeat customers and cross-selling higher-margin products such as online casino gaming. The report describes the U.S. outcome as high variance, with lasting financial effects hinging on post-tournament retention.

Macquarie expects the tournament’s financial effects to become clearer in 2027 and projects a historical pattern of a 2%–5% uplift in operator EBITDA in the year after a World Cup. The report identifies Flutter Entertainment, Super Group and Rush Street Interactive as operators positioned to benefit and highlights Sportradar and Genius Sports as data providers likely to see increased demand for live data and integrity services.

The projection assumes the same per-match wagering level observed in 2022 while allowing for additional upside from product innovation and a larger legal betting footprint in North America.