2026 World Cup betting survey: 66% of Brazilians plan to wager, with Pix set to be the top payment method

A Paysafe survey says the 2026 FIFA World Cup should drive a wave of first-time and returning bettors across the host markets and beyond. For high-risk operators, the part that matters is not just demand: it is which payment methods people trust enough to fund and cash out.

1. According to Paysafe’s All the Ways Players Pay: World Cup 2026, 19% of global consumers interested in following the tournament plan to place their first online bet during the event. The report also says brand reputation and flexible, reliable payments will be central to converting and retaining both new and experienced bettors.
2. The tournament’s return to North America for the first time since 1994 is creating strong betting appetite in the host countries — the United States, Mexico, and Canada — as well as in Europe and Latin America. Paysafe says 60% of global fans plan to bet. In U.S. states where sports betting is legal, 62% intend to wager and 29% will do so for the first time. In Mexico, 68% plan to bet, including 26% first-timers. In Ontario, 46% of residents expect to bet, with 9% new bettors.
3. Interest is also high in recently regulated markets such as Brazil and Peru, and in mature European jurisdictions such as Italy and the United Kingdom. In Brazil, 66% plan to bet on the six-week tournament, and the Banco Central’s instant payment system Pix is expected to be the main choice for bettors. Peru stands out even more sharply at 85%, while Italy is at 64% and the United Kingdom at 60%.
4. On paper, brand trust leads the purchase decision for a World Cup sportsbook at 38%, but fast payments come close at 33%, ahead of odds, promotions, user experience, and the sports offering. In Peru, quick withdrawals matter even more: 38% rank fast cash-out above brand reputation, which is 34% there.
5. Payment method choice is doing a lot of the heavy lifting. Globally, 24% of bettors prioritize fast deposits and 22% want their preferred payment methods available. Debit cards remain the global favorite at 39%, with even stronger use in markets that restrict credit cards, such as the United Kingdom at 53% and Massachusetts in the U.S. at 56%. Alternative payment methods are still important: 27% prefer bank payments or bank transfers, 25% prefer digital wallets, and eCash sits at 17%.

For PSPs and sportsbook operators, the message is straightforward: if you want World Cup traffic, you need a payment stack that matches local habits. In Brazil that means Pix; in the U.S. and Mexico, it means knowing which funding and withdrawal rails are acceptable in each regulated state or province. The tournament may be six weeks long, but payment preference is what decides whether the first bet becomes a repeat customer.