According to CNBC, cited in reports on Kalshi’s World Cup performance, a significant proportion of traders backed Argentina to lift the trophy, while many also wagered on Lionel Messi to finish as the tournament’s top scorer by winning the Golden Boot.
Kalshi, the United States-regulated prediction market platform, recorded a staggering $26 billion in trading volume during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, eclipsing the approximately $900 million generated during the 2026 Super Bowl and underscoring football’s dominance as the world’s most followed sport.
The company also disclosed that it added about three million new users over the course of the World Cup, marking one of the fastest periods of user growth in its history as millions of football fans flocked to prediction markets to trade contracts on match outcomes and individual player performances.
The figures highlight the enormous commercial appeal of football compared to American football. While the Super Bowl remains the biggest annual sporting event in the United States, the FIFA World Cup attracted trading volumes nearly 30 times larger on Kalshi’s platform.
According to CNBC, cited in reports on Kalshi’s World Cup performance, a significant proportion of traders backed Argentina to lift the trophy, while many also wagered on Lionel Messi to finish as the tournament’s top scorer by winning the Golden Boot.
