"South Korea Will Beat South Africa" — $46 Million Bet on the Line as Polymarket Prediction Market Sees Heavy Wagering on South Korea

[Financial News] Ahead of the World Cup group-stage match between South Korea and South Africa, set for 10 a.m. on the 25th at Monterrey Stadium in Nuevo León, Mexico, betting money has been flowing into the South Korea win side at a faster pace on the global blockchain-based prediction market. As kickoff approaches, investors are sharply increasing their stakes.
According to the crypto prediction platform Polymarket on the 25th, the cumulative trading volume for the South Korea-South Africa match had surpassed $3.03 million, or about 4.64 billion won.
In the win probability, which reflects the overall flow of investment funds, South Korea led with 61%, well above the majority mark. By contrast, the draw prediction stood at 24%, while South Africa's win chance was just 16%.
As time passed, bettors around the world appeared to grow more confident in South Korea's chances and kept pouring in money.
Analysts say the strong tilt reflects the objective gap in team strength. South Korea is ranked 25th in the FIFA rankings, far ahead of South Africa at 60th.
South Korea also has more World Cup appearances, with 12 to South Africa's four. Its best finish is a semifinal run in 2002, while South Africa has only reached the group stage.
Meanwhile, blockchain prediction markets are enjoying a boom during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Major platforms such as Polymarket have opened dedicated World Cup sections to facilitate trading on the champion, top scorer, and individual match results. For major games, millions of dollars are flowing in, and analysts say the markets are serving as an early indicator of the odds.

sms@fnnews.com Sung Min-seo Reporter