Altenar has released its report titled World Cup 2026: How Bettors Really Bet, analyzing betting patterns for the upcoming World Cup, which will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The report is based on data from the company's sportsbook platform, focusing on its operator clients. Here are the key insights highlighted by iGN:
Key Metrics:
- €11.93 ($13.9) - average bet
- €255.44 ($297) - betting volume per user
- 68.75% to 31.25% - turnover distribution between singles and accumulators
- 39.6% - share of singles through the Bet Builder (compared to 20.28% at Euro 2024)
Turnover Concentration:
- 30 out of 104 matches generated about half of the tournament's turnover
- €3–5 ($3.5–5.8) - average bet in group matches vs. €10–13 ($11.6–15.1) in quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals
- 3.25% of turnover came from the final match between Spain and Argentina, the highest of the tournament
- The most popular match by number of bets was the final 116 match between Argentina and Cabo Verde, which did not make the top 5 in turnover
Champion Bets (turnover share from the start to the final):
- Portugal: 30.8% to 15.4%, leader before the tournament
- France: 24.1% to 31.7%, leader at the finish
- Spain: 14.7% to 13.5%, future champion was only third
- Argentina: 4% to 12.7%
- Brazil: 7% to 3.7%
Top Scorer Bets (turnover share from June 27 to the final):
- Kylian Mbappé: 18.7% to 24.3%, Golden Boot winner with 10 goals
- Lionel Messi: 4.7% to 16.5%
- Harry Kane: 13.8% to 8.7%
- Cristiano Ronaldo: 10.7% to 4.8%
Turnover vs. Number of Bets by Teams:
- France accounted for 31.71% of outright turnover with 16.72% of the number of bets
- Brazil, on the other hand, had 9.38% of bets with only 3.71% of turnover
- The average bet on France was 4–5 times higher than the average on Brazil
According to Altenar's client relations director, the data illustrates how bettor behavior evolved throughout the tournament, from the rising popularity of the Bet Builder to significant increases in betting amounts around crucial matches.
The 1x2 and totals markets accounted for about 45% of outright turnover excluding Bet Builder, while the turnover in the Player Specials market reached 400% of the Euro 2024 level. The largest matches by turnover did not coincide with the largest by the number of bets. Turnover concentrated in the playoffs, while the number of bets was higher in early-stage matches featuring teams with broad fan bases.