World Cup Exposes Growing Global Prediction Market Rift (1)

This year’s World Cup is the first since prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket exploded to popularity as a new way to bet on sports.

Fans in the US are free to collectively wager billions of dollars on the tournament, but a growing number of other countries are making it harder to access the platforms offering those bets. Whether fans can bet on how many goals Kylian Mbappe scores or who wins the tournament may depend on where they live. In some cases, fans may not be able to bet at all.

Brazil’s forward Vinicius Junior scores his team’s first goal during the 2026 World Cup Group C match against Morocco at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on June 13.

Photographer: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images

The World Cup could generate roughly $3 ...