The 2026 FIFA World Cup proved to be one of the largest US sports betting events since the overturning of PASPA for some of America’s most popular online gaming operators.
The nearly 40-day tournament concluded on July 19 with a final that included two leading favorites to win: Spain and Argentina. The 1-0 final score that allowed Spain to edge Argentina to win its second World Cup title ended one of the largest betting events in U.S. history, with the matchup also being one of the most popular soccer matches for bettors.
BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel provided betting data for the World Cup, providing an indication of the growth of betting and soccer in the U.S.
“The 2026 World Cup was record-breaking at BetMGM on many fronts, including the Spain-Argentina Final being the most bet (tickets and handle) soccer match ever in company history,” said BetMGM Senior Trading Manager Christian Cipollini.
BetMGM shares World Cup insights
BetMGM provided data and detailed insights into the betting behavior of customers across the country. According to data provided by the Entain and MGM Resorts joint venture, France garnered the most tickets and handle to win the entire tournament.
France was eliminated in the semifinals by a 2-0 score to Spain, providing a profitable opportunity for BetMGM with the Kylian Mbappé-led group entering the tournament as a top favorite across several sportsbooks, including FanDuel and DraftKings. France’s quick start to the tournament led to bettors increasing liability on the team to win it all.
Throughout this year’s World Cup, Les Bleus had the highest ticket percentage to win the tournament at 14.9%, just ahead of Spain at 13.2%. Meanwhile, France’s total betting handle was 21.1% of wagers placed via BetMGM. Spain was 19.9%, with Argentina at 11%. France’s failure to advance to the World Cup Final was a win for BetMGM.
World Cup Final compared to other US sporting events
BetMGM also contextualized the success of the World Cup Final by comparing the event to some of the most popular events in both U.S. pro and amateur sports.
The World Cup Final between Argentina and Spain garnered more wagers than:
- Each matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks during the NBA Finals
- Every College Football Playoff game except for the final between Indiana and Miami
- Each basketball game played during this year’s March Madness tournament
- All 2025 World Series games between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays
DraftKings benefits from Spanish-language functionality
The World Cup Final garnered the most wagers for a soccer match in DraftKings Sportsbook history, with the operator accepting roughly 2 million wagers on the match.
The location of the 2026 World Cup proved to be a factor in drawing interest from U.S. bettors, as DraftKings reported a 650% increase in total bets on the 2026 World Cup compared to the 2022 iteration of the global soccer tournament. The 2026 World Cup being held in North America allowed the tournament to solidify a presence in millions of American homes amid high expectations for Team USA and a favorable TV viewing schedule.
DraftKings’ ability to resonate with soccer fans during the tournament was bolstered by its Spanish-language functionality.
In November 2025, DraftKings launched its Spanish-language functionality for its mobile sportsbook and online casino operations. The functionality encompasses DraftKings’ entire online platform, including onboarding, betting markets, promotions and customer support.
According to data provided by DraftKings, the Boston-based company reported a 250% increase in active Spanish-language soccer customers throughout the 2026 World Cup.
In total, Team USA was the most-bet team with DraftKings Sportsbook. Meanwhile, Argentine superstar Lionel Messi garnered the most bets as a player with the operator.
Messi’s popularity with DraftKings bettors showcased the competitive nature of the World Cup and its fan bases after Mbappé emerged as the most popular player on BetMGM. He had the biggest liability on BetMGM ahead of Messi and Norway’s Erling Haaland.
FanDuel info as well
The Frenchman was also the most popular goal scorer player for FanDuel’s operations.
The World Cup Final was also the most bet-on soccer match for the Flutter-owned brand.
DraftKings also provided World Cup data for its prediction market product. DraftKings Predictions reported record trading volume and active customers during the final.
About 20% of the trading volume was comprised of parlay-style “combo” trades.
bet365 already looking ahead
British operator bet365 is already preparing for the 2030 World Cup by setting odds. The company expects Spain’s success to continue as it is the current favorite to win the event. Spain is at 9/2 odds, ahead of France at 6/1. Portugal rounds out the top three at 7/1.
“They [Spain] certainly warmed to the task of being pre-tournament favorites, and we are giving them that status again – especially with them as one of the co-hosts with the World Cup split between Spain, Portugal and Morocco,” said bet365 Trading Expert Steve Freeth.
The U.S. National Team has not made it into the top 10 for odds to win it all on bet365.
