Kalshi Gained 3 Million New Users Thanks to the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup became Kalshi's largest audience acquisition campaign. During the tournament, 3 million new users registered on the prediction markets platform.
By the end of June, the service's daily audience had grown by 36%. Trading activity also rose sharply: trading volume on the 2026 World Cup winner market exceeded $1.2 billion. For Kalshi, this is a new record among all individual markets ever launched on the platform.
The growth was not accidental. The company invested heavily in promotion during the tournament, releasing commercials with Luka Modrić and José Mourinho. Kalshi also partnered with Argentina's national team and gained notable stadium presence through its partnership with ADI Predictstreet, FIFA's official prediction markets sponsor.
The platform now faces a more difficult challenge: keeping users after the tournament ends. Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour acknowledged that trading volume fell on days without matches.
That is why the company is looking to shift the new audience's attention to other major events. Football gave Kalshi a powerful influx of users, but further growth will depend on whether the platform can offer them enough interesting markets outside the World Cup calendar.
Ryan Mitchell is the esports manager at CasinosInCanada who covers competitive gaming events, esports tournaments, and industry trends.
