Most Bangkok residents expect Argentina to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup and predict that Lionel Messi will emerge as the tournament's top scorer, according to a recent survey by the Bansomdej Poll.
The survey, conducted by the Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University's polling centre between June 17 and 19 among 1,197 respondents in Bangkok, revealed that 29.9% believe Argentina will clinch the title. France followed as the second favourite at 19.2%, with England at 11.9%, Spain at 10.7% and Brazil at 7.2%.
As for the ‘Golden Boot’, legendary Argentinian forward Lionel Messi topped the predictions, with 28.4% expecting him to be the tournament's top scorer. France's Kylian Mbappé came second at 18.4%, followed by England's Harry Kane (13.7%), Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (12.4%), and Norway's Erling Haaland (5.6%).
The poll also highlighted significant social concerns, revealing that 73.7% of respondents have witnessed football gambling, with 60.9% considering it commonplace. Furthermore, 56.6% believe that the World Cup period acts as a major catalyst for increased betting activities.
Social media platforms were identified as the primary channels for gambling advertisements and invitations. Facebook led the list at 36%, followed by TikTok (20.9%), SMS messages (16.5%), X (formerly Twitter) at 7% and Line at 6.5%.
Regarding law enforcement, 42.9% of respondents expressed uncertainty about whether state officials were being strict enough in preventing illegal gambling. A resounding 74% urged the government to tighten its monitoring during the tournament, while 59% stated they would report any gambling activities they encountered to authorities.
On a brighter note, the 2026 World Cup has successfully boosted local sports enthusiasm, with 39.2% of respondents noting that the tournament has inspired them to play more football and exercise.
The ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, features an expanded format of 48 teams competing across 104 matches, culminating in the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.
