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As the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws near, the love affair of Peru with football is very much expected to extend deep into the digital betting space. According to a report titled All the Ways Players Pay: World Cup 2026, published by global payments company Paysafe, 85% of Peruvian football fans intend to bet online during the tournament, positioning Peru as the market with the highest betting intention among all countries analyzed.
The research underlines how the excitement around the World Cup increasingly goes together with online services, particularly in markets that are witnessing high growth in digital payments and regulated betting ecosystems.
Scope and Methodology of the Study
Sapio Research researched on behalf of Paysafe and canvassed the opinion of 3,850 consumers of legal age who showed some interest in following the 2026 World Cup. The sample is quite representative, covering a wide range of jurisdictions: from the United States-Florida, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, to Mexico, Canada-Ontario, and also Brazil, Bulgaria, Ecuador, France, Germany, Italy, Peru, and Spain.
With the World Cup returning to North America for the first time since 1994, the research confirms strong global enthusiasm for online betting. Overall, 60% of football fans worldwide said they intend to bet on the tournament.
Peru Outpaces Established Markets
This is while host countries tend to show a robust interest, 62% of fans in the U.S. plan to bet, with 29% doing so for the first time, but Peru stands out even when compared to larger or more mature markets. Mexico is poised for 68% participation, while the province of Ontario in Canada comes in at 46%.
In fact, Peru is in first place regarding the percentage of citizens’ intention to bet, above Brazil with 66%, Italy with 64%, and the United Kingdom with 60%. The report correlates this growth with the rapid adoption of digital payment solutions in recently regulated markets, where digital wallets like PagoEfectivo extended in Peru.
Payments as a Key Competitive Factor
Beyond betting intent, the report highlights the important role of payments in player acquisition and retention. When it comes to selecting an online sportsbook for the World Cup, brand trust is of utmost importance at 38%, fast payouts at 33% take a close second, both surpassing odds, promotions, user experience, or the breadth of betting markets.
Zak Cutler, President of Global Gaming at Paysafe, commented: “As the regulated online betting space continues to expand into new markets throughout North America and Latin America, the 2026 World Cup will be the biggest to date for online sportsbooks, offering an unparalleled opportunity to both acquire new players and bolster existing ones. Our latest research suggests that the best way to facilitate player acquisition and retention will be through cashier experiences, as payments will be more critical than ever throughout this tournament—and beyond.”
Local and Flexible Payment Preferences
The study also reveals that payment preferences are evolving. While 24% of the world’s bettors name speed of deposit as the main priority, and 22% access to preferred payment methods, local solutions start to play a more relevant role. About 19% of users prefer market-specific payment options; this trend is especially pronounced in Brazil, where the instant payment system Pix is favored by 48% of the players.
In Peru, digital wallets are gaining traction alongside other markets to ensure seamless, secure, and flexible payment experiences throughout the World Cup.
Source: Business Empresarial
