World Cup survey: 72% of U.S. soccer fans would bet against Team USA

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David Genge Published 15/05/2026 Add betting.net™ as a preferred source.

Would you bet against Team USA in the upcoming World Cup if money were on the line? It may sound like a dilemma, but the numbers tell a different story: 72% of U.S. soccer fans say they would. That’s according to a survey conducted by betting.net™ ahead of the FIFA World Cup among 1,500 soccer fans across the United States.

Key findings:

Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. soccer fans have previously bet against the national team.
72% say they would do so for guaranteed money.
In North Carolina, that share rises to 87%—the highest in the country.
49% of U.S. soccer fans consider betting against the national team a form of betrayal.

Nearly 1 in 4 soccer fans have bet against their national team

A true soccer fan believes in their national team. Or do they? That loyalty seems a lot more flexible once money gets involved. While 72% say they would bet against their national team, 61% admit they would feel conflicted doing so, and 49% of U.S. soccer fans even call it betrayal. Still, 24% have done so at least once. On average, it takes a $173 payout to make fans switch sides.

North Carolina fans most likely to "betray" Team USA

Across soccer fans nationwide, North Carolina leads the country, with 87% saying they would bet on the national team losing. Kansas follows closely at 86%, with Indiana next at 83%, where a clear majority of fans also say they would have no problem betting against Team USA.

At the other end of the spectrum, Connecticut records the lowest share nationally at 50%. New Jersey fans are also among the least willing to bet against their national team, with 55% saying they would do so. That is slightly lower than Louisiana, where the figure stands at 56%.

Methodology

Sports betting website betting.net™ commissioned a survey of 1,500 U.S. respondents who identified themselves as soccer fans in February 2026. The survey examined the extent to which soccer fans would bet against the U.S. national team (i.e., wager on Team USA losing) and whether this behavior creates conflict or is perceived as betrayal. Respondents were asked whether they had ever done so, and the minimum payout required to consider placing such a bet. Of all respondents, 57% identified as male, 42% as female, and 1% as non-binary. The average age was 39.9 years.