Relatório da Sportradar aponta que Copa do Mundo movimentará US$ 50 bilhões em apostas

A Sportradar report has projected that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will generate approximately US$50 billion in global betting handle, reflecting the tournament's anticipated scale and the expanding reach of regulated and unregulated sports betting markets worldwide. The forecast underscores the World Cup's status as one of the highest-value sporting events for the betting industry and highlights the substantial economic opportunity the tournament represents for operators, platforms, and jurisdictions with legal betting frameworks.

The 2026 World Cup will feature an expanded format, with 48 national teams competing across 104 matches—a significant increase from the traditional 32-team, 64-match structure. This expansion is expected to extend the tournament's duration and create additional betting opportunities across group stages, knockout rounds, and final matches. The larger participant pool and increased match volume should drive higher aggregate wagering compared to previous tournaments, as more matches provide more betting windows and attract diverse betting audiences across multiple time zones and regions.

Latin America is positioned to play a particularly significant role in the 2026 betting landscape, as the tournament will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The region's growing regulated betting markets, combined with substantial informal and unregulated betting activity, suggest that Latin American bettors will represent a meaningful portion of the global handle. Sportradar's projection reflects expectations that regulated markets in the region will mature and capture increasing market share, while also acknowledging the continued presence of unregulated betting channels.

For the iGaming industry, the Sportradar forecast carries important strategic implications. Operators are likely to invest heavily in World Cup-specific offerings, including enhanced odds, live betting markets, and promotional campaigns designed to capture market share during the tournament. Jurisdictions considering or expanding regulated betting frameworks may view the World Cup as a catalyst for market development and revenue generation. Regulators will need to balance market growth opportunities with consumer protection and integrity safeguards. The US$50 billion projection demonstrates the World Cup's enduring appeal as a betting event and the substantial commercial incentives driving operator competition and market expansion.