For many, the World Cup is the biggest sporting event on the planet, surpassing the Olympics. This is due to the passion that football inspires in many countries around the world.
In terms of audience, visibility, and financial activity, this statement is even more true. However, when it comes to sports betting, this is the competition that attracts the largest number of bettors worldwide.
According to a survey by the British multinational bank Barclays, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar generated US$35 billion (approximately R$190 billion) in sports betting.
The amount was 65% higher than that recorded at the World Cup in Russia in 2018. This suggests that projections for 2026 will be even higher, according to market analysts.
According to figures from Betlaw, a firm specializing in the management of the betting industry, 10% of that amount (R$ 19 billion) is expected to circulate in Brazil. Currently, the betting market in the country ranks fifth in the world in revenue, behind only the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, and Italy.
It is worth noting that this is the first time the country has been included in Regulus Partners’ list of largest markets. That’s because 2025 was the first year the sector was regulated in Brazil.
What are Brazilian betting sites expecting for the 2026 World Cup?
Therefore, the regulated betting landscape in Brazil sees a favorable outlook for the market during the competition. The FIFA World Cup will take place between June 11 and July 19, 2026, in three host countries: Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
According to Marco Túlio, CEO of Ana Gaming, the group that manages the 7K, Casino, and Vera brands, the World Cup is a special moment for sports across the globe.
“This is a time when even those who aren’t that interested in sports start watching, cheering, and having fun with their family and friends,” he said.
He added: “To heighten the excitement and make the entertainment even more intense, it’s natural that fans around the world place more bets during the competition, generating more activity than at other times.”
According to Pietro Cardia Lorenzoni, legal director of ANJL (National Association of Games and Lotteries) and partner at Betlaw, we are witnessing a significant evolution of the sector in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
All of this is due to the United States Supreme Court’s permission to adopt sports betting in 2018. “I believe the global scenario will also be strongly impacted by the regulation of the market in Brazil,” Lorenzoni predicted.