Paul Portanier

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to planning the World Cup; it can take host nations decades to be fully ready to host sport’s biggest event. One of the more modern considerations is whether the stadiums are digitally equipped to handle the influx of data from the projected record 3.5 million attendees. During the final group stage, there will be no less than 24 matches scheduled to take place simultaneously.

By the end of 2025, platforms like Kalshi had helped drive more than $40 billion in prediction market trading volume. This is a staggering figure for an industry that mainstream audiences barely knew about just a few years ago. What started as a clever way to “trade on the future” turned into a full-blown internet phenomenon. People weren’t just betting on elections and interest rates anymore. They started trading on things like snowfall in New York City and celebrity relationships.