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Prediction markets top $50 billion monthly volume in 2026 World Cup surge
Kalshi, Polymarket and Robinhood Rothera together logged a record month for World Cup-linked trading as prediction platforms draw new cohorts of bettors and expand beyond sports.
CoinDesk reports that prediction market platforms hit more than $50 billion in combined monthly volume in July, capping the first month of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The surge includes activity across Kalshi, Polymarket and Robinhood’s Rothera joint venture, which launched in June.
According to CoinDesk, Kalshi posted $31 billion in total notional trading volume in June, a more than 70% jump from May, with sports contracts accounting for about 85% of its trading. Kalshi also said its World Cup-specific volume reached $22.42 billion, and Dune analytics data cited by CoinDesk shows Kalshi’s World Cup markets generated $7.4 billion in June before group rounds were complete.
CoinDesk also highlights Polymarket’s record month, with its international exchange reaching $10.8 billion in monthly trading volume, and its regulated U.S. platform separately logging $3.5 billion, nearly double May’s total. Meanwhile, Rothera, processed $2 billion in its debut month and already accounts for 7% of the U.S. prediction market, according to Bank of America, as major firms build dedicated trading desks for the products.
Unlike traditional sportsbooks, CoinDesk notes that prediction markets can cover topics beyond sports, including political elections, economic data and reality TV. The outlet contrasts the figures with a projection for U.S. legal sportsbooks of $2.8 billion to $4.3 billion across 104 matches during the tournament.