Less than a month before the 2026 World Cup, whose opening ceremony is scheduled for June 11, in Mexico City, Brazilians are already anticipating the financial impacts of the tournament on their own pockets.
In this edition of the World Cup, one element should gain even more weight among spending on stickers, team shirts and get-togethers: online sports betting, or bets.
According to a study by Creditas in partnership with Opinion Box, 56% of respondents consider making this type of bet or participating in pools during the competition. The percentage rises to 69% among young people who did not experience the last title and to 79% among people in debt.
The research, entitled “Finance Scoreboard: how football affects Brazilians’ pockets and debt”, interviewed 561 men and women aged 18 and over across the country, who currently work and have a family income between R$1,600 and more than R$24,000.
According to the survey, although fun and entertainment are the main motivation for 54% of potential bettors, a significant part of those interviewed also associate the practice with the possibility of obtaining extra income to cover the month’s expenses (31%) or pay off debts (15%).
“The research shows the space that football occupies in Brazilian lives and demonstrates that the sport is a national passion, but it also highlights the fragility that the topic of personal finances still represents for a large part of the population”, says Guilherme Casagrande, financial educator at Creditas.
Another highlight of the study is the effect of the World Cup on consumption: 74% said they intend to spend during this period and 80% admitted that they can consume without planning.
Financial decisions are linked to the team’s performance: 47% say they could increase spending if Brazil advances in the competition. Furthermore, 14% admit that they would go into debt to experience the tournament.
This type of behavior can worsen the debt of Brazilian families, which went from 80.4% in March to a new record of 80.9% in April, according to a survey by the CNC (National Confederation of Commerce in Goods, Services and Tourism).
For Casagrande, financial education is the main way to make Brazilians better plan their expenses during the World Cup — and beyond. “We need to bring people closer to their money and find ways to make everyday conversations about finance simpler and more interesting.”
The Cause of the Year ‘Financial Education Transforms’ has the support of IBS (Instituto Brasil Solidário).
