The 2026 World Cup is drawing massive handle across American sportsbooks. Recent data from BetMGM reveals where the public is placing its money for soccer’s biggest tournament.
Bettors are heavily backing established European powerhouses and elite goalscorers. Here is a breakdown of the current consensus selections.
World Cup Public Betting For Tournament Winner
Spain currently leads the public betting ticket count for the outright winner market. La Roja sits at +450 odds and commands 17.2% of all tournament winner bets.
Furthermore, big-money bettors are favoring Spain over the rest of the field. The team has drawn a substantial 25.4% of the total betting handle.
France is right behind Spain with +500 odds to lift the trophy. The French squad has secured 16% of total tickets and 22% of the money.
Meanwhile, the United States Men’s National Team is pulling in some patriotic longshot handle. At +5000 odds, the USA holds 5.5% of bets and 3.2% of the financial handle.
| Team | Current Odds | % of Bets | % of Money |
| Spain | +450 | 17.2% | 25.4% |
| France | +500 | 16.0% | 22.0% |
| England | +700 | 11.9% | 9.5% |
| Portugal | +800 | 10.6% | 10.8% |
| Brazil | +900 | 8.4% | 10.1% |
World Cup Public Betting For Matchday 1
The public is showing immense confidence in regional favorites for the opening matches. Bettors are heavily targeting heavy favorites in both Group A and Group B action.
The United States vs Paraguay matchup features a massive betting consensus. The USMNT sits at -102 moneyline odds to win the game.
The public has flooded the book with 90% of all match tickets on America. Additionally, that lopsided support accounts for 82% of the overall moneyline handle.
Mexico is also seeing dominant public backing for its opener against South Africa. El Tri represents 72% of the bet count and a staggering 95% of the cash.
Canada is another heavily backed North American squad at -120 odds against Bosnia. The Canadians have captured 83% of the betting tickets for their Matchday 1 clash.
| Matchup | Favorite Odds | % of Bets on Favorite | % of Money on Favorite |
| USA vs Paraguay | USA (-102) | 90% | 82% |
| Mexico vs S. Africa | Mexico (-225) | 72% | 95% |
| Canada vs Bosnia | Canada (-120) | 83% | 71% |
World Cup Public Betting For Golden Boot Winner
Kylian Mbappe is the clear public consensus to win the Golden Boot award. The French superstar is currently the betting favorite at +550 odds.
Mbappe accounts for 18.6% of individual tickets in the Golden Boot market. Even more impressive, he has attracted 34.6% of the total money wagered.
England striker Harry Kane follows in popularity at +650 odds. Kane has picked up 12.4% of public tickets and 21.9% of the money.
| Player | Current Odds | % of Bets | % of Money |
| Kylian Mbappe | +550 | 18.6% | 34.6% |
| Harry Kane | +650 | 12.4% | 21.9% |
| Lamine Yamal | +2000 | 12.1% | 8.8% |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | +1600 | 5.4% | 4.6% |
| Lionel Messi | +2000 | 4.8% | 2.5% |
Young Spanish sensation Lamine Yamal is also generating significant buzz at +2000 odds. Yamal has drawn 12.1% of the betting tickets from eager fans.
Interestingly, legendary figures Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are seeing lower handles. Both aging superstars sit with minimal public tracking compared to the younger favorites.
