The USA is finally hosting the World Cup again, 32 years after hosting the 1994 edition. This time, the US is co-hosting the 23rd edition of the World Cup with Mexico and Canada. The 2026 World Cup event is one of the most anticipated events in football history, and sportsbooks fully confirm this.
Recent data shows that the tournament will feature the highest World Cup betting odds 2026. Sports betting across various bookies is projected to supersede that of the 2024 Super Bowl and the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
According to Optimove Insights 2026 US World Cup Betting Intentions Report, half of US bettors say they will place at least one bet on the 2026 World Cup.
The study also revealed that 84% of US bettors will favour their national team during the World Cup, with 60% describing their loyalty as strong. But the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) is not the favourite team being voted to win the World Cup. That goes to France, for now, as shown on Polymarket, the largest prediction markets platform.
However, the average odds for the US winning across various sportsbooks is at +6000, with a bet of $10 set to win $610. The odds for the USA winning continue to shorten as sentiment slightly shifts towards the hosting country.
For one, bettors are considering the home advantage the United States holds, which can be a strong motivating factor for a more passionate performance. Although home-field advantage does not necessarily guarantee a win. The USA squad lineup for 2026 includes:
| Goalkeepers | Matthew Freese, Patrick Schulte, Chris Brady, Matt Turner |
| Outfield Players | Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson, Auston Trusty, Alex Freeman, Joe Scally, Chris Richards, Cristian Roldan, Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Brenden Aaronson, Giovanni Reyna, Johnny Cardoso, Aidan Morris, Sebastian Berhalter, Malik Tillman, Tanner Tessmann, Patrick Agyemang, Timothy Weah, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Max Arfsten |
The USA team could pose as a strong competitive team with Mauricio Pochettino as the coach. Mauricio Pochettino has been the USA coach since 2024, and this will be his first World Cup.
Historically, Mauricio Pochettino has produced some decent victories and is regarded as one of the top managers in the world. He previously coached Tottenham Spurs and Chelsea in the Premier League and Ligue 1 and led Spurs to the UEFA Champions League Final in 2019.
However, Pochettino’s USMNT team lost to Portugal in a 2-0 match and again to Belgium in a 5-2 defeat in the pre-World Cup friendlies. USMNT fans are now concerned the team may be unable to hold out against other teams with proven global talents.
Sportsbooks Brace for Record World Cup Bets
While the USA is not among the top seven most likely to win based on sports betting and prediction market stats, sportsbooks are bracing up to handle a high volume of live bets after the World Cup kicks off.
For the 2026 USA World Cup, Americans are projected to wager $3.1 billion in sportsbooks which could surpass the $1.8 billion wagered during the 2022 edition in Qatar.
For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the $3.1 billion revenue is expected to be generated across sports betting platforms as follows:
- $1.6 billion from licensed US sportsbook apps
- $920 million via offshore and unlicensed platforms
- $380 million through retail sportsbook locations
- $200 million via sweepstakes and social sports formats
Prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket will also handle another $2.4 billion in bets. With pre-match and prediction markets already raking in bets in the billions, this World Cup edition is expected to be a windfall for sportsbooks.
Another factor positioning the global tournament for the most revenue-generating event in football history is the legalisation of sports betting in more countries like Brazil, the UAE, and Finland.
The US has also expanded access to sports betting to more states like Missouri and North Carolina.
The updated World Cup format from 32 teams to 48 teams increases the matches up to 104 matches, giving bettors far more wagering opportunities across the five-week run.
The World Cup is also scheduled to take place in early summer, outside of the American football season, eliminating any clashes with the NFL.
With participation expected to surpass previous editions, major sportsbooks are positioning to take a share of the market. Various bookies are reported to have committed to spending an estimated $400 million in total on promotions related to the World Cup.
Published by Patrick Jane
02.06.2026