The 2026 FIFA World Cup was always going to be a massive betting event. According to a Bloomberg report published July 19, 2026, prediction markets now account for 27% of U.S. legal sports betting volume tied to the World Cup. That is nearly a third of the market, carved out by platforms that barely registered in the mainstream sports betting conversation two years ago.
The total projected betting volume across both traditional sportsbooks and prediction platforms sits at $10 billion for the tournament. Traditional sportsbooks are expected to handle roughly $4 billion across 104 matches.
Kalshi is doing numbers that require a second read
Kalshi has processed approximately $40 billion in sports bets since the World Cup began, with peak monthly totals exceeding $30 billion.
Robinhood-backed Rothera reported an 86% surge in average daily volume, reaching $118 million per day in July 2026. On its best days, Rothera is approaching Polymarket-level activity.
