U.S. Soccer Betting Surges After 2026 World Cup

U.S. sportsbooks reported sharp year-over-year increases in soccer betting volume after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which was hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

BetMGM recorded a 24.5% increase in bets and a 34.5% rise in handle on club soccer in the two months after the tournament ended. Hard Rock Bet reported nearly 30% more total soccer wagers — including 43% more on the Premier League and 21% more on the UEFA Champions League.

Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane attracted twice as many bets in the Champions League as in the same period last year, according to Hard Rock Bet. Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami CF drew nearly 40% more bets year-over-year at Hard Rock Bet.

MLS betting also accelerated. From mid-July to the end of October, MLS saw a 30.4% increase in tickets and a 38.8% rise in money wagered, per industry data. Hard Rock Bet reported a 27% increase in MLS handle over that timeframe.

DraftKings director of sports operations Johnny Avello said new bettors discovered soccer during the World Cup. Caesars lead soccer trader Mark Bickerdike said MLS moved from the fourth- to second-most-bet soccer league on its platform since August 1 — driven by expanded engagement across pre-match and in-play markets.

The momentum coincides with MLS’s planned transition to a fall-spring schedule aligned with global soccer calendars. Bickerdike noted the change could support full-day soccer programming — starting with European leagues and ending with MLS — creating a seamless betting experience.

After MLS Decision Day on Saturday, Nashville SC became the betting favorite for the MLS Cup at +400 odds. Reigning champions Inter Miami CF, led by Lionel Messi, sit at +450, tied with Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Colorado’s regulated sports betting market reported $60.2 million in World Cup handle — a 250% increase over the $17.5 million generated by the November 2022 tournament.

According to BetMGM, the 2026 World Cup nearly matched Major League Baseball’s summer betting handle despite MLB playing five times as many games. Hard Rock Bet said the tournament generated three times the handle and twice the number of individual bettors as the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Photo: Cuban Boy / Wikimedia Commons, CC0
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