Would you bet against your favorite MLS team if you could win big? It sounds like a moral dilemma, yet the numbers suggest otherwise: 84% of U.S. soccer fans say they would do it, yet 42% consider it outright betrayal. The numbers shift slightly, however, when it comes to our national team. Be honest—would you bet money on Team USA to lose in the upcoming World Cup?
Key findings:
- Nearly
1 in 3 MLS fans has bet against their favorite team—and
84% say they would.
- San Jose
Earthquakes fans are the most likely to “betray” their team, with 95% saying they would place the bet, while
Houston Dynamo fans are the least likely
at 67%.
- 55% of Austin FC fans already bet against their team
at least once, the highest score among all MLS fanbases.
- 1 in 4 fans has bet against the U.S. national soccer team, and 73% would do so.
- 49% consider betting against Team USA a betrayal, compared to 42% who say the same about betting against their MLS team.
Nearly 1 in 3 MLS fans has bet against their own team
Watching your favorite team lose? Pure heartbreak. A true fan always believes in their club. Or do they? That loyalty seems a lot more flexible once money gets involved. While 64% say they would feel uncomfortable betting against their favorite team — in other words, putting money on their MLS club to lose — and 42% even call it outright betrayal, a striking 84% admit they would still do it if there were money on the line. In fact, 28% say they’ve done it at least once. But loyalty has its price: on average, it takes a $148 payout to make MLS fans switch sides.
Earthquakes fans most likely to “betray” their team, Rapids fans most judgmental
While 55% of Austin FC fans admit to already having bet “against” their team at least once, San Jose Earthquakes fans lead in willingness to do it—with the highest percentage saying they would if money was on the line. Despite that striking 95%, more than half of Earthquakes fans (53%) still consider it a form of betrayal.
Colorado Rapids fans stand out on the other end of the spectrum. They score the lowest among all fanbases for actually having bet against their team—just 9%. And they’re the most judgmental about it too: 73% call it betrayal to bet against their squad, even with cash on offer.
Betting against MLS teams easier than betraying Team USA
Notably, the bar is higher when it comes to the national team. With the World Cup coming up — and on home soil, no less — fans are more hesitant to bet against Team USA than their MLS club: 84% would bet against an MLS team, compared with 73% for the national team. It also leaves 61% feeling conflicted. More see it as betrayal, too: 42% for MLS clubs versus 49% for Team USA. And it takes more to sway them: the average payout needed is $173.
Methodology
Sports betting website Betting.net commissioned a survey of 1,500 U.S. respondents who identified themselves as soccer fans and said they occasionally place bets, in February 2026. The survey examined the extent to which soccer fans would bet against their favorite team (i.e., wager on their favorite team losing) and whether this behavior differs between MLS clubs and the national team.
Respondents were asked about their favorite MLS team, whether they had ever bet against that team, and whether they would consider doing so. They were also asked whether betting against their team would create a conflicted feeling and whether they would view it as a betrayal of their club or country. Additionally, respondents were asked the minimum payout that would make them consider placing such a bet. Only U.S.-based MLS teams were included in the study. Of all respondents, 57% identified as male, 42% as female, and 1% as non-binary. The average age was 39.9 years.
