{"id":72585,"date":"2025-12-09T11:05:50","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T11:05:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/?p=72585"},"modified":"2025-12-09T11:53:03","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T11:53:03","slug":"2026-world-cup-betting-under-the-spotlight-in-major-new-survey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/news\/2026-world-cup-betting-under-the-spotlight-in-major-new-survey\/","title":{"rendered":"World Cup 2026 Betting Under The Spotlight In Major New Survey"},"content":{"rendered":"

There will be some considerable shifts in fan betting behaviour for the FIFA World Cup 2026 according to research published by Spotlight Sports Group.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The global media and technology company, whose popular sports brands include the Racing Post, conducted a survey of 600 fans across the UK, US and Latin America to provide some insight into potential betting behaviour around football\u2019s global showpiece next summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goal was to cut through the noise,\u201d said Mark Langdon, Group Sports Director at Spotlight, speaking exclusively to SportsCasting Bets.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the build up to 2026 there has been a lot of commentary about potential negatives, whether that is the expanded format, political debate or logistical challenges.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to understand whether those narratives actually reflected how fans and bettors feel.\u201d<\/p>\n

How Will World Cup 2026 Be Different To Previous Tournaments?<\/h2>\n

Among the findings in Spotlight\u2019s 2026 World Cup Betting Outlook<\/a> is that 66% of those who plan to bet will be laying wagers on the World Cup for the first time, a figure which increases to 90% when looking at the US market alone.<\/p>\n

There will also be a surge in pre-match betting from UK fans, with 44% saying it\u2019s a format they will turn to as they adapt to the late night and extreme early morning kick-offs across the three host nations.<\/p>\n

The World Cup 2026 is being played across the United States, Canada and Mexico, which is a lot of ground for fans to cover over the 39 days of the tournament.<\/p>\n

\"Spotlight<\/p>\n

The US thrives on the mantra that \u201ceverything is bigger and better in America\u2019\u201d but whether that will ring true through the newly expanded World Cup remains to be seen.<\/p>\n

The 2026 edition will feature 48 national teams, 16 more than before, and as a result will see the total number of matches rise from 64 to 104.<\/p>\n

Due to the increased number of teams, an additional \u2018Round of 32\u2019 has been added to the knockout stage.<\/p>\n

There was some unexpected support for Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel after Pep Guardiola backed England to win the 2026 World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Manchester City’s Spanish boss said he felt like ‘part of the country’ as he is now enjoying his 10th season in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

Are Fans Positive About The Expanded World Cup?<\/h2>\n

It has already had a big thumbs up from the betting audience.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur biggest surprise was the sheer level of enthusiasm for the tournament,\u201d says Langdon.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn overwhelming 93% of fans feel positive about the expanded 48 team format, and 86% say they expect to stay engaged for the full 39 days.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor an event of this length, that level of commitment is remarkable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Results showed 70% of those surveyed planned to place a bet during the World Cup but only 7% felt confident in their own judgment.<\/p>\n

\"Spotlight<\/p>\n

That\u2019s as clear a sign as any that betting companies need to provide clear and concise guidance to potential bettors through their targeted content and promotions.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom a betting perspective, the most striking finding was the scale of first-time bettors entering the market,\u201d says Langdon.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo thirds of those who plan to bet on the World Cup will be doing so for the first time, and in the US that figure rises to 90%.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also saw that 19% of all respondents will be placing their first ever football bet.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have not seen a shift of this size before, and it signals a clear need for operators to prioritise simplicity, education and trusted insight.”<\/p>\n

Langdon stressed that the swell in first-time bettors added to a general lack of knowledge around the lesser footballing nations will see fans needing clear guidance.<\/p>\n

\u201cA huge number of people will arrive at this tournament without the base knowledge they would normally have for domestic football, so the operators who guide them best will be the ones who benefit most.\u201d<\/p>\n

Betting Companies Need To Keep Things Simple<\/h2>\n

Langdon also doesn\u2019t see the need for betting companies to go overboard with their promotional offers or worry about presenting new formats or complicated accumulators.<\/p>\n

Betting companies should stick to what they do best and ensure that winnings are paid promptly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI personally think there are enough markets already,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat any sportsbook needs to be able to do is offer a strong all-round solution that covers competitive prices, strong boosts and informational and neutral, trusted content that can guide bettors into understanding more about the smaller nations without overwhelming novices.<\/p>\n

\"Spotlight<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need to settle winners quickly and I still think more education is needed around how some of these player prop markets are settled.\u201d<\/p>\n

One player guaranteed to feature in a lot of pre-tournament propositions is Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.<\/p>\n

Last month, Haaland equalled Robert Lewandowski’s World Cup qualifying top scorer record<\/a> for a single campaign, rattling in 16 goals in eight games as Norway topped Group I.<\/p>\n

But beyond the big names, where will bettors turn?<\/p>\n

“According to the survey, bettors with low knowledge want one place where everything is explained clearly: expert previews, team and player stats, and guidance they can trust,” says Langdon.<\/p>\n

“That’s exactly what our World Cup Hub delivers.<\/p>\n

“We bring together the content bettors trust most: in-depth match previews, data-driven insights and straight-forward explanations designed for every experience level.<\/p>\n

“Whether someone is new to betting or wants a quick confidence boost, the hub gives them the clarity and reassurance they need to place a bet with certainty.”<\/p>\n

Key Findings From Spotlight\u2019s World Cup 2026 Betting Outlook<\/h2>\n

Spotlight Sports Group\u2019s betting outlook for the 2026 World Cup contains some vital insight for the gambling industry as it prepares for a surge in first-time bettors<\/a>.<\/p>\n