The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be unlike any tournament before it. Returning to North America for the first time since 1994, the event arrives at a moment when regulated online sports betting is widely available across the U.S., Canada (Ontario), and Mexico, reshaping how fans engage with the sport.
Paysafe’s All the Ways Players Pay: World Cup 2026 Edition provides a deep look at how global audiences plan to watch, travel, bet, and pay during the tournament.
Where and How Fans Plan to Experience the World Cup
Fans will experience the World Cup in a number of ways, spanning live attendance, at-home viewing, travel, and digital engagement. Paysafe’s research, which surveyed 3,850 consumers across North America, Europe, and Latin America, points to record excitement and strong multi-channel participation during the tournament.
Travel remains a priority for many supporters, and payments are playing an increasingly important role in planning. Credit cards continue to dominate World Cup‑related travel spending, with 70% of fans expecting to use them. However, demand for alternatives is rising, including digital wallets at 31% and eCash at 22%. These preferences underscore growing expectations for flexibility and familiarity across every stage of the fan journey.
Betting Will Surge, Especially Among First-Time Bettors
Online betting activity during the 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to reach unprecedented levels, driven by broader regulation and increasing fan familiarity with digital wagering. Globally, 60% of fans plan to bet online during the tournament, signaling a major spike in activity across both established and emerging markets.
Crucially, this growth will be fueled by new audiences. Nearly 19% of respondents expect to place their first-ever online sports bet, creating a significant acquisition opportunity for sportsbooks. In the U.S., 62% of fans in regulated states plan to wager, including 29% who are first-time bettors. Canada follows, with 46% of Ontario fans intending to bet, though first-timers remain lower at 9%. Mexico leads North America, with 68% planning to wager and 26% doing so for the first time.
Interest is even stronger in markets such as Brazil (66%) and Peru (85%). Momentum during live matches also plays a role, with 37% of fans planning to increase betting while watching.
Winning The Payments Game: What Bettors Expect
Payments will be a decisive factor in sportsbook success during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, often outweighing traditional brand considerations. While brand trust remains important for 38% of bettors, instant payouts rank nearly as high at 33% and often become the deciding factor when choosing where to wager. In Peru, priorities shift even further toward speed, with quick cashouts cited by 38% of bettors, compared with 34% who prioritize brand reputation. Rapid deposits at 24% and access to preferred payment methods at 22% also play a meaningful role in sportsbook selection.
Payment satisfaction is also critical. When payouts are instant, 84% of bettors report higher satisfaction, yet 44% have abandoned bets because their preferred payment option was unavailable. Most telling, 88% say they would switch sportsbooks after just one poor payment experience.
Key Takeaways for Operators and Marketers
The findings from Paysafe’s All the Ways Players Pay: World Cup 2026 Edition make one thing clear. The tournament will drive unprecedented betting and digital engagement, but success will hinge on operators’ ability to meet evolving customer expectations for payments, access, and experience. For sportsbooks, affiliates, and marketers, the World Cup is both a growth opportunity and a stress test for acquisition, conversion, and retention strategies.
Takeaways:
- Betting demand will reach all-time highs, fueled by a significant wave of first-time online bettors across multiple regions.
- Payment experience is now a primary competitive differentiator, with instant, flexible, and localized payments playing a central role in customer loyalty.
- Local payment methods matter more than ever, particularly in Latin America, where preferences can outweigh brand recognition.
- Digital engagement across the fan journey is expanding, from travel and betting to in‑game and downloadable content spending, increasing the need for frictionless payment flows.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is not just a major sporting event. It is a defining moment in payments for the global betting ecosystem. Operators that prioritize fast payouts, seamless deposits, and trusted local payment options will be best positioned to capture attention, loyalty, and long-term value as fan activity spikes worldwide.
