News

2026 World Cup Delivers Record Betting Across US Sportsbooks

Written by Kogod School of Business | August 26, 2026

The 2026 World Cup generated record wagering across major US sportsbooks, giving operators an expanded customer base they can seek to retain as attention shifts to American football.

Key Takeaways:

  • Major sportsbooks reported record soccer betting during the World Cup, with several identifying the Spain-Argentina final as their most-bet soccer match ever.
  • Operators attributed the surge in part to the tournament’s North American location, favorable viewing times, increased access to regulated sports betting, and strong interest in the US team.
  • Bakowicz says the influx of World Cup bettors gives sportsbooks a larger audience to reach as they develop marketing strategies for the upcoming NFL season.

“They’re going to have a bigger and wider population to cast a net over from a marketing strategy to get them involved in the NFL,” Matt Bakowicz said.

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