The Greatest Football Tournament On Earth: The Odds Of Actually Being There

Coined, The Odds of Actually Being There, the statistical study combines the full cost of attending the game with ticket scarcity to calculate the likelihood of fans from each nation securing a seat in the stadium to view their first match from the tournament.

Stake, the world's largest online casino and sportsbook, has today published new odds-based research revealing the true likelihood of fans from qualified countries – outside the host nations – attending their first game of the 2026 global football tournament, as a result of soaring costs and limited ticket availability pushing the tournament out of reach for millions.

For many travelling supporters, the numbers are stretched. Brazilian and Egyptian fans are priced at 667.00, reflecting both population demand and rising costs, while supporters from DR Congo face the longest odds of any nation at 2501.00 ahead of their first global football tournament appearance.

The findings paint a sobering picture for the world’s football fans with even the European football powers not being immune. England sits at 51.00, France at 67.00 and Germany at 81.00 as high demand, dynamic ticket pricing and limited allocations reduce access despite higher average incomes.

Conversely, smaller or less centrally located nations offer comparatively shorter odds: Norway (5.00), Scotland (9.00), Switzerland (13.00) and - with the lowest odds and also attending their first global football tournament - Curacao (3.50) rank among the more likely fanbases to secure a place, driven by lower demand relative to ticket availability, country size and cost.

The odds were calculated through the full cost of attending each nation's first game, covering return flights, secondary market tickets, accommodation, transfers, visa costs and food. That total is then measured against average monthly salary and combined with the statistical scarcity of available tickets, expressed in the language Stake knows best: betting odds.

Stake Director, Jarrod Febbraio said: "We undertook this research because we wanted to put a real number on something our customers and communities have been saying for a while: The odds of them actually getting there and attending a match are out of reach and we know it’s all at stake for them. And – with our own twist on things – the odds speak for themselves.

“Football belongs to everyone and right now the odds suggest otherwise. Stake is built on innovation, world-class partnerships and a genuine connection with our global community. That's why we’re introducing a variety of community initiatives, so we can celebrate the global sport – together,” Jarrod concluded.

Stake is working with KICK, the world's fastest-growing live streaming platform, to host football Watch Parties across Latin America. Events will take place in Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Peru and Brazil – all markets where Stake holds licences and passion for the tournament runs deep.

The KICK x Stake Watch Parties will be hosted by the biggest KICK streamers in each country, broadcast live to a global audience. Celebratory guests will also be in attendance, as the brands look to connect millions of people together for one of sport’s biggest cultural moments.

This story has been created purely for entertainment purposes. The odds figures are not real wagering markets and cannot be bet on through Stake or any other platform.

Stake is dedicated to fostering responsible gambling practices to all customers on our platform and within our community. We are committed to ensuring that our customers are educated on our various responsible gambling tools available for use and empower individuals to make informed decisions about their gambling activities.

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