Peru’s passion for football will drive growth in the digital betting space as the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches. Global payments company Paysafe published a report titled All the Ways Players Pay: World Cup 2026. It says 85% of Peruvian football fans plan to bet online during the tournament. This makes Peru the market with the highest betting intention among all countries analyzed.
Specifically in markets that are witnessing high growth in digital payments and regulated betting ecosystems, the research underlines how the excitement around the World Cup increasingly goes together with online services.
On behalf of Paysafe, Sapio Research surveyed 3,850 legal-age consumers interested in following the 2026 World Cup. The sample is broadly representative, covering jurisdictions including the U.S. (Florida, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania), Mexico, Canada (Ontario), Brazil, Bulgaria, Ecuador, France, Germany, Italy, Peru, and Spain.
The research confirms strong global enthusiasm for online betting with the World Cup returning to North America for the first time since 1994. All in all, 60% of football fans globally said they intend to bet on the tournament.
While host countries tend to show lower interest, 62% of fans in the United States plan to bet. Of these, 29% will be betting for the first time. However, Peru stands out even when compared to larger or more mature markets. While the province of Ontario in Canada comes in at 46%, Mexico is posed for 68% participation.
Peru ranks first in the percentage of citizens intending to bet. It is ahead of Brazil (66%), Italy (64%), and the United Kingdom (60%). The report links this growth to the rapid adoption of digital payment solutions in previously regulated markets. Digital wallets such as PagoEfectivo have expanded in Peru.
