World Cup goals spree by star players proves costly for gambling companies

The 2026 World Cup is shaping up to be the biggest betting event of all time, with Macquarie forecasting global wagers above $50 billion, significantly exceeding the $35 billion of the 2022 edition. This surge is attributed to the expanded 48-nation, 104-match format, more regulated gambling markets, deeper product offerings, and the tournament being partly hosted in the key US market. Deutsche Bank projects a $3.3 billion handle in the US alone, nearly double this year's Super Bowl figures. Companies like DraftKings and FanDuel have reported 3x to 5x increases in handle and customer engagement compared to the 2022 World Cup, with Flutter Entertainment expecting 10 million customers and 100,000 bets per minute globally at peak times.

However, this record-breaking handle is also presenting significant liabilities for sportsbooks, particularly due to lopsided public betting on popular outcomes. A major financial risk identified by BetOnline for the Portugal vs. Croatia match is Cristiano Ronaldo to score anytime, noting that both casual fans and 'sharp money' have heavily backed this outcome. The 'Both Teams to Score' (BTTS) market is another substantial liability, especially given the historical goal-scoring patterns between these two nations, creating immense exposure for bookmakers.

Simultaneously, the US Men's National Team (USMNT) has become a "significant liability" for sportsbooks due to overwhelming patriotic betting. For instance, the USMNT's match against Bosnia and Herzegovina generated the highest soccer handle and most wagers ever for some books. Specific parlays combining a straight USA victory with "Both Teams to Score" and anytime goals from star players like Folarin Balogun or Christian Pulisic are creating "staggering" payout liabilities. While a USMNT victory implies substantial payouts, sportsbooks acknowledge that the excitement generated by the US team advancing, even if costly in the short term, sets up even larger betting volumes for subsequent matches, such as the anticipated USA vs. Belgium clash.