H2 Gambling Capital Forecasts Record $60 Billion Handle for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Research firm H2 Gambling Capital has released projections showing legal sports betting handle worldwide could reach $60 billion during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and that figure represents a 71 percent jump from the 2022 tournament. The upcoming event, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, starts in the coming weeks and runs through July 19, which positions it as a significant moment for regulated wagering markets that have faced slower expansion in recent periods.

Those projections break down the expected activity by region, and the three North American host nations together account for nearly 10 percent of the global total, or $5.7 billion in combined handle. The United States leads that group with an anticipated $2.9 billion, which more than doubles the $1.3 billion soccer handle recorded during the June and July 2025 window according to the same data provider.

Global Scale and Growth Drivers

Legal betting platforms across multiple jurisdictions stand to process the bulk of that volume, and the report ties the increase to expanded access in established markets plus continued regulatory progress in newer ones. Observers note that major international tournaments often concentrate activity because fans follow matches closely over several weeks, which creates repeated opportunities for wagers on outcomes, player performances, and in-game developments.

Handle measures the total amount wagered before any payouts or adjustments, so the $60 billion figure reflects raw betting volume rather than operator revenue. Data indicates the 71 percent rise from 2022 stems from both higher participation rates and larger average bet sizes in regions where mobile betting has matured since the previous World Cup.

North American Contribution

Within the host countries the report assigns $5.7 billion to the combined United States, Canada, and Mexico markets. The United States portion reaches $2.9 billion, a level that surpasses the entire soccer handle seen in the prior summer window by a substantial margin. Researchers attribute part of that growth to broader state-level legalization that has taken hold since 2022, along with improved integration of soccer markets into mainstream betting apps.

Canada and Mexico contribute the remaining share of the regional total, though the report places the largest single-country figure with the United States. Those numbers arrive at a time when overall industry growth has moderated in some quarters, which makes the concentrated spike around the World Cup notable for operators and regulators alike.

Industry Context and Timing

The tournament timeline aligns with peak summer betting periods in the northern hemisphere, and the report suggests the event could offset softer performance in other sports categories during the same months. Legal operators in multiple states have already prepared specialized World Cup offerings, including same-game parlays and live betting features that allow adjustments after matches begin.

Figures from H2 Gambling Capital show the projected North American total exceeds previous benchmarks for soccer events held outside the region. The $2.9 billion United States estimate alone reflects more than a doubling of activity compared with the 2025 window, which indicates sustained momentum even as quarterly growth rates have flattened in some tracked markets.

Key Report Details

The analysis covers only legal, regulated channels and excludes any estimates for unregulated or offshore activity. That focus keeps the numbers aligned with official tax and compliance reporting structures in the jurisdictions examined. Experts tracking the sector point out that major events like the World Cup tend to draw both regular bettors and occasional participants who increase their activity during high-profile competitions.

Handle projections also incorporate assumptions about match schedules, time zones, and the number of participating teams from each region, all of which influence where wagering volume concentrates. The three host nations benefit from home-team interest plus easier access for fans attending matches in person.

Conclusion

H2 Gambling Capital's latest release supplies a clear benchmark for expected legal betting volume during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The $60 billion global figure, the $5.7 billion North American share, and the $2.9 billion United States total together illustrate how one tournament can generate concentrated activity across established and emerging markets. Those projections arrive as teh event approaches, and they provide operators, regulators, and analysts with a reference point for measuring actual results once matches conclude in July. H2 estimates record betting on FIFA World Cup 2026 supplies the underlying data referenced throughout the analysis.