With the largest World Cup in history about to kick off, fans across the United States will be turning to the best prediction markets for World Cup 2026 to trade on all the exciting tournament action. The rise in popularity of prediction markets since the last World Cup provides fans with an entirely new layer while taking in all 104 games this Summer.
These World Cup prediction markets let users participate in peer-to-peer trading where they trade against others on the market, rather than playing against the house like they would have to on traditional sportsbooks. This means better odds that actually reflect what the public sees as the probable outcome, rather than odds based on what is most profitable for a sportsbook. Not only are the odds friendlier, but the fees on prediction markets are less than the heavy house margin, or “vig,” that sportsbook operators claim on every bet.
While online sports betting is only legal in about half the states nationwide, prediction markets are available in over 40 states, including most of the states hosting World Cup games. This means fans attending a game in a city without legalized sports betting, such as Los Angeles or Dallas, can trade on these soccer prediction markets while watching their favorite teams live.
The Best World Cup 2026 Prediction Markets
With prediction markets being so popular right now, it can be difficult to choose which one best fits a user’s preferences. Among the top options right now are Polymarket, Kalshi, FanDuel Predicts, OG.com, and Crypto.com. Below is a breakdown of the best World Cup 2026 prediction markets, along with each of their pros and cons.
Polymarket
Polymarket is one of the most recognizable names in the prediction market space, both in the United States and around the world. With its massive reach, Polymarket has positioned itself as the global liquidity king. The large market volume means users should have no issues making large purchases or selling their position early to actualize gains during a game.
A prime example of the sheer volume on some markets is the prediction market on Polymarket for the winner of the World Cup. Before the tournament has even begun, there is already over $1.5 billion in market volume for this prop. Users will have no issue making early position moves with the amount of liquidity in this market.
It is important for traders in the US to understand that the US Polymarket app operates separately from the international version due to US laws and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) regulations. This means that US customers do not have access to the full liquidity in various markets and may have to work with smaller market volumes when placing trades.
One of Polymarket’s biggest selling points can also be a reason some users choose to avoid using the app, and that is the fact that it uses a crypto-native structure for deposits and withdrawals. Users must use a crypto-wallet funded with USDC to make deposits, and for withdrawals, they have to take out their funds as USDC and then convert them to cash before being able to deposit them into a bank account. While some prefer using decentralized currency and the security it can provide, the added steps may be a turn-off for other users. Read a detailed Polymarket review to learn about the leading global prediction market platform.
Another major selling point for Polymarket is that they offer one of the most generous sign-up bonuses. New users can unlock a welcome offer to deposit $20 and get a $50 bonus after activating the Polymarket promo code MILE at registration.
Kalshi
Kalshi is the best CFTC-regulated option for US traders. Thanks to its CFTC regulation, Kalshi is available to users in over 40 states, including several that are hosting World Cup games. Traders should note that although the state they are in may allow trading on Kalshi, they may have certain categories restricted, like soccer prediction markets, among other Sports markets.
Unlike Polymarket, users do not need to go through the hassle of converting money into cryptocurrency, as they can deposit and withdraw money through a debit card or ACH banking. Removing the hurdle of converting money to the blockchain can make the transition to prediction markets less intimidating for new traders.
While users do not have to directly deal with the intricacies of cryptocurrency, Kalshi has partnered with Coinbase to add the highest level of protection to users’ funds. This partnership ensures all funds are held in a secure and regulated wallet as USDC, providing price stability and the ability to offer instant settlement on winning contracts that can be deposited into users’ bank accounts as real-world cash.
Further helping newcomers get to trading World Cup futures faster, the Kalshi app has a clean mobile UI, meaning less time fiddling around looking for a market and more time analyzing which position to take. Between a responsive scroll bar and an in-depth search bar that auto-populates suggestions as the user types, it is easy to quickly move between the expansive collection of prediction markets offered on Kalshi.
Among the many categories traders can select from is a deep offering of World Cup prediction markets. Users can trade on individual games, group winners, and World Cup Futures, along with group props and overall World Cup props. These markets range in liquidity from several thousand dollars to tens of millions of dollars, so users looking to make larger purchases will want to look at market volume before claiming their stake. Read our detailed Kalshi review to learn everything you need to know about one of the top trading apps available in the US.
Claim the Kalshi promo code MILE to get a $10 sign up bonus after making $10 in trades in categories like soccer prediction markets.
FanDuel Predicts
While many traders may be debating between Polymarket vs Kalshi as their prediction market of choice for the World Cup, a new major player has entered the fold, FanDuel Predicts. The latest offering from the FanDuel Group had a soft launch on December 22, 2025, in select states and has since expanded its availability nationwide.
FanDuel Predicts brings immediate name recognition to the prediction market space, backed by the strength of the FanDuel name from their popular FanDuel Sportsbook, FanDuel Casino, and FanDuel Daily Fantasy apps. Those familiar with the brand will find the app very familiar, as it carries the same clean UI as FanDuel Group’s other offerings.
Not only does FanDuel Predicts UI make it a welcoming experience for new users, but it also removes the struggle of understanding prediction market pricing. The app allows users to select how they want a contract’s price displayed, with options including: potential return ratio, traditional odds, dollar pricing, and market probability.
The biggest con for those hoping to trade World Cup futures on FanDuel Predicts is that while FanDuel Predicts is legal in over 40 states, it cannot offer prediction markets on sports in states where FanDuel Sportsbook is already licensed to operate sportsbooks. Fortunately, this limitation does not mean that users in these states are out of luck on getting in on World Cup action; they will just need to switch over to the FanDuel Sportsbook app to bet on the games.
Those in states with full market access can use the FanDuel Predicts promo code at registration to unlock a welcome offer to make any trade and get a $25 bonus (iOS) (Android) to help them get started trading on soccer prediction markets.
OG.com
OG.com is the best prediction market for those transitioning from a traditional sportsbook user. Once the user makes it to the sports prediction market tab, they will feel right at home as the app feels and looks very similar to many legal online sportsbooks. Contract pricing is displayed as odds found on sportbooks, unlike many other prediction market platforms that display pricing in cents or market probability.
One of the major selling points for OG.com is the ability to build parlays. With this being the largest World Cup ever, traders have never had more options to build their parlays with 48 teams represented in OG.com’s soccer prediction markets.
While OG.com may not be the biggest name on the scene, it is backed by Crypto.com and is registered with the CFTC, so users can feel safe in using the app. Adding another layer of convenience and comfort to using the app is that it offers the most options for users to make deposits. Traders can fund their accounts using ACH banking, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and Venmo.
The main drawback to OG.com is that it does not publicly display market volume for any of its prediction markets. This means users could be entering a market with limited liquidity, meaning they may not be able to sell their position early or purchase larger stakes in their position.
New users can claim the OG.com promo code to unlock up to a $100 bonus, one of the strongest offers among prediction market platforms.
Crypto.com
Crypto.com is the clear choice for those who already use the platform as their preferred cryptocurrency exchange platform. Existing users can easily switch from their cryptocurrency tabs right into the Crypto.com Prediction Markets tab and begin exploring the best prediction markets for World Cup 2026.
As the parent company behind OG.com, users can largely expect a similar experience on both apps. However, Crypto.com stays truer to the roots of prediction markets and is not a sportsbook-centric platform. Users can expect to see market prices displayed as dollar pricing with the implied win probabilities alongside it.
Traders on Crypto.com will find soccer prediction markets for all 48 teams in the World Cup, along with a variety of futures markets. While it does not have the market option depth of Kalshi or Polymarket, most users will have no trouble finding World Cup markets that spark their interest.
The main con for Crypto.com is that it requires users to be savvy in cryptocurrency to get started. Once a new customer has figured out the intricacies of funding their account with cryptocurrency, it should be smooth sailing.
Users can feel safe using Crypto.com to trade World Cup futures as the platform is regulated by the CFTC and follows strict KYC standards to ensure fair markets for all of its customers.
New users can unlock a $50 Bonus in CRO when they sign up for Crypto.com with the links on this page.
Popular World Cup 2026 Trading Types
The FIFA World Cup, being the biggest it has ever been, means there is incredible depth in the prediction markets surrounding it. Users can trade on everything from the outright winner to live trading on individual games, and even buy positions on player props throughout the tournament. With so many prediction market platforms available across the US, if a trader can’t find the specific market they want on one app, they can easily find it on one of the many listed above, and claim a new user sign-up bonus at registration to fund that trade.
Outright Winner
This is by far the most popular World Cup prediction market across the board, with over $1.5 billion globally on Polymarket and over $118 million nationally on Kalshi. Currently, Spain and France are in a tie with both carrying a 16%-17% implied win probability on most platforms. Lagging slightly behind the leaders are England at 11%, Portugal at 10%, and Argentina at 9%.
Users who claim their stake in their favorite team early can potentially lock in early gains as these percentages, and therefore contract costs, are likely to rise as more teams get eliminated from the tournament. Users can wait for the team they backed to advance a round or two and sell their position before the market resolves to solidify their potential payout.
Group Stage & Advancement Markets
With the addition of 12 more teams to the field, there is more volatility than ever before in predicting group stage winners and qualifiers. This added level of excitement has traders flocking to claim their stake in which countries will advance from the opening round of the World Cup.
The market volume on the group stage prediction markets varies from group to group, with the market for the Group C winner drastically outpacing the others on Kalshi. Users should consider how much of a stake they would want to buy in a market with lower liquidity like the market for Group G Qualifiers, as it’s low liquidity levels could make it difficult to sell their position early.
Over on Polymarket, traders can skip hunting for what group a specific country is in and pick one from the full list of teams to advance to the next round. The benefit here is that they can see every team and what their implied win probability is, and easily compare it to several other teams before locking in their position on these World Cup prediction markets.
Individual Match Outcomes & Live Trading
The best prediction markets for World Cup 2026 might not be the big market volume futures, but the near-endless possibilities presented by having 104 individual matches to trade on. This record-breaking number of games in a World Cup will keep traders locked in for 39 straight days.
Adding even more excitement to trading on so many individual match outcomes is the fact that these prediction market platforms allow users to trade while the event is live. This means traders with a stake in a game can sell their position early if their team goes up to capture those gains before the end of the match. Users can also buy into a position once the game has started if they believe an upset is brewing and they want to capitalize on it.
Player Props
For fans who are bigger fans of individual players than they are supporters of a national team, there are plenty of player props to be found in the different prediction markets. Traders can buy event contracts on major individual awards, like who will win the Golden Boot or who will be the tournament MVP.
For those who are fans of the legends of the sport, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have several prediction markets targeting their performances, with one on Kalshi pegging the two against each other to see who will have more World Cup goal contributions.
Users can also trade on whether or not a specific player on a team will score a goal during the course of the World Cup, as well as who will lead their team in goals scored throughout the tournament. The liquidity in these markets can be low in the days leading up to the start of the game, but as it approaches, traders can expect interest in these more niche markets to explode.
More Niche World Cup Markets
While not a traditional player prop, it is a prop market with solid market volume, and users on Kalshi can also predict who will perform at the FIFA World Cup final halftime show. Justin Bieber currently has a strong lead at 71%, with Tyla and Coldplay trailing behind at 51% and 42% respectively.
Prediction Markets vs. Traditional Sportsbooks
The most notable edge prediction markets have over traditional sportsbooks is that, since they are regulated by the CFTC and act as a class of financial derivatives, they are available to varying degrees in most states across the country, unlike sportsbooks, which can only operate in states that have legalized sports betting. While some states restrict access to sports prediction markets, those states typically already have legal sportsbooks operating within them.
While sportsbooks have users bet against their bookmakers’ set line, prediction markets use a peer-to-peer structure where traders buy and sell contracts against each other, with each position bought impacting the market price. Prediction markets give the power to the traders and let them determine the price of the event contracts, increasing transparency and trust in the platform.
The higher the win probability for an event contract, the more expensive that contract becomes. In the example below, the US is the favored team with a 50% win probability; therefore, users would have to pay $0.50 per contract on the US to win, while contracts on Paraguay, with just a 23% win probability, only cost $0.23. If the US were to win, the traders on the winning side would have a dollar per contract added to their account, returning their initial $0.50 stake and netting them an additional $0.50 in gains. Meanwhile, those on the losing side would have $0 returned to their accounts.
Much like a sportsbook, the best prediction markets for World Cup 2026 allow users to buy and sell, or “cash out,” their positions live during a game to capitalize on momentum shifts. If Paraguay were to score early, traders could actualize their gains on Paraguay and sell their contracts while confidence in the team is on the rise.
Another selling point for prediction markets is that they feature lower fees on transactions than a traditional sportsbook. Sportsbooks will bake their fees into the odds, often called “the vig,” and users never really know how much they are paying the house on any given bet. With prediction markets, there are no hidden fees hiding in the “odds.” Each platform has a different way of collecting a fee when a trader buys a contract; however, they are very open about either what percentage they charge or what equation they use when calculating their fee. Regardless of how they determine their fees, prediction markets typically offer smaller fees than sportsbooks.
The one area where sportsbooks may have the advantage over prediction markets is when it comes to more niche markets, where traders may struggle to find enough liquidity to buy their stake at a worthwhile price or to sell their contracts during a live match. Since those using sportsbooks are never playing directly against a peer, they do not have to worry if enough other people have bet on an event to be able to cash out early or get a worthwhile line.
While some prediction markets, like FanDuel Predicts and OG.com, may be skinned like a sportsbook, there are some very clear distinctions between the two. Prediction markets may have some quirks, but for a large swath of the population, they are likely the more accessible option for those looking to trade on World Cup futures.
Essential Tips for Trading the World Cup
The 2026 World Cup presents fans with the opportunity to take advantage of two new, unique things for this iteration of the tournament. The first is the expansion from 32 teams up to 48, meaning fans get an extra 40 games to enjoy. The second, which greatly benefits from the expansion, is the advent of prediction markets. For the first time ever, fans can trade on World Cup prediction markets and predict team outcomes, along with player props.
Whether a seasoned trader or someone entirely new to prediction markets, below are essential tips for trading on the World Cup.
- Liquidity Matters: Users trading on soccer prediction markets should stick to higher-volume matches so they can easily exit a position. If a team goes up early, in order to capitalize on that momentum, there needs to be enough liquidity in the market for users to sell their position, which may not always be possible in the more niche markets.
- The 48-Team Format Factor: Going from 32 to 48 teams means that brackets just got a little more complex, and the chances of an upset happening grew exponentially. With eight 3rd-place teams advancing to the knockout round, the bar for advancing should be much easier for some teams to stay in the mix longer and cause some chaos.
- Know the Rules: Prediction markets do not always resolve the same way as a traditional online sportsbook. Users should always check the terms of the contract to see if it will settle after the standard 90 minutes of play, or if it includes extra time and/or shootouts.
Deciding on the Best Prediction Markets for World Cup 2026
With so many great options available for users around the country to trade on prediction markets, it can be difficult to pick the one that is just right for each player’s unique preferences. Below, we have broken down which platform is best suited for each user based on their needs.
Polymarket
Polymarket is best for those who are familiar with cryptocurrency, as the only way to make deposits and withdrawals is by using USDC cryptocurrency through the Polygon blockchain. While this extra step may be off-putting to some users, others find it a valuable layer of extra security. Those looking to buy large positions on World Cup prediction markets will also be drawn to Polymarket as it is the global liquidity leader. While the available liquidity in the US is more limited than its global market, it still holds a massive market volume compared to other platforms.
Kalshi
Kalshi is one of the most accessible prediction markets, with coverage in over 40 states and no waitlist to get through. Not only does it follow the highest standards in compliance with the CFTC, but it also has one of the deepest collections of prediction markets. Users can find everything from individual matches to World Cup futures to player props on Kalshi’s soccer prediction markets.
FanDuel Predicts
FanDuel Predicts (iOS) (Android) is a great choice for those who are familiar with other FanDuel Group apps, as it will look and feel very similar. The incredibly user-friendly app lets traders pick how they want prices displayed, with the ability to select between potential return ratio, traditional odds, dollar pricing, and market probability. There is also an added layer of trust with FanDuel Predicts, as it comes from one of the most recognizable names in the iGaming space, the FanDuel Group.
OG
OG is the perfect app for those trying out a prediction market for the first time and coming from a sportsbook background. The OG.com app looks very similar to an online sportsbook, down to displaying market prices as traditional odds. Carrying on the sportsbook feeling, the app allows users to build their own parlays on prediction markets.
Crypto.com
Crypto.com is another leading choice for the crypto-native users who want to trade on World Cup futures. Those who already have an account with Crypto.com can seamlessly switch from their wallet right into a prediction markets tab with the touch of a button.