The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off today in North America, with Mexico opening Group A against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca. For US traders, the tournament arrives as Polymarket goes live for American customers — its welcome bonus matches your first deposit up to $50 when you sign up with the referral code ACQUIRE05.
Polymarket’s pull during a tournament like this is the depth of its order books. From outright winners and group-stage progressions to player markets and increasingly granular in-play contracts, the platform’s liquidity sharpens around set-piece sporting moments. Now operating under CFTC oversight through QCX for US traders, it sits alongside the best prediction markets available stateside as the World Cup arrives on home soil.
🏆 FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 — OFFER LIVE
Updated: 11 June 2026 — World Cup kickoff day
Referral code
ACQUIRE05
Where to trade
Federally regulated via QCX and available to traders in most US states. Polymarket is currently restricted in Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Ohio — check Polymarket for your jurisdiction at sign-up.
Polymarket‘s welcome bonus is live for new US traders this week, arriving just as the 2026 World Cup prepares to kick off on home soil. New sign-ups who enter the referral code ACQUIRE05 and fund their account get a 100% match on that first deposit, up to $50.
The timing matters. Polymarket reopened to US traders this spring under CFTC oversight via QCX, ending a multi-year pause for American customers. With the World Cup arriving days after that relaunch, the offer effectively doubles the first cash on the books just as the tournament’s deepest markets — outright winner, Golden Boot, group-stage progressions — fill up with order flow.
Here is how the offer works, who can claim it, and what is moving on the platform right now.
Polymarket Referral Code 2026: The Offer at a Glance
Must be 18 years or older and have a legal, U.S. residential address within the applicable state, D.C., or U.S. territories. Not available in AZ, IL, MA, MD, MI, MT, NJ, NV and OH. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2573). Chat available at ncpgambling.org/chat
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Referral code | ACQUIRE05 |
| Welcome offer | 100% deposit match up to $50 |
| Maximum bonus | $50 in bonus credit |
| Product type | CFTC-regulated prediction market (via QCX) |
| Eligibility | 21+, legal US address (excluded states apply) |
| Squawka rating | 9.4 / 10 |
The structure is a classic deposit match. Fund the account for the first time with the referral code ACQUIRE05 in place and Polymarket matches that deposit 100% in bonus credit, up to a $50 cap. There is no convoluted rollover, no sportsbook-style site credit that pays out in restricted tokens — the matched balance lands on top of the cash deposit, ready to be deployed across the platform’s contracts.
For a full breakdown of the platform, the fees and the markets on offer, our Polymarket review covers the small print behind the welcome bonus.
How to Claim the Polymarket Welcome Offer
Must be 18 years or older and have a legal, U.S. residential address within the applicable state, D.C., or U.S. territories. Not available in AZ, IL, MA, MD, MI, MT, NJ, NV and OH. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2573). Chat available at ncpgambling.org/chat
Claiming the bonus is a five-step process, and the code has to go in at sign-up rather than later.
- Open a new account through the Polymarket sign-up page.
- Register with a valid US residential address and complete identity verification.
- Enter the referral code ACQUIRE05 when prompted during registration.
- Fund your account — Polymarket matches your first deposit 100%, up to $50 in bonus credit.
- The matched bonus balance lands alongside your cash deposit, ready to deploy across Polymarket markets.
Claim the Polymarket welcome offer with code ACQUIRE05
This week’s World Cup markets worth trading on Polymarket
| Date | Match | Squawka Pick |
|---|---|---|
| 11/06 | Mexico vs South Africa | Mexico to Win |
| 12/06 | Korea Republic vs Czechia | Draw |
| 13/06 | Brazil vs Morocco | Brazil or Draw |
Trade these markets on Polymarket →
Squawka’s editorial picks for this week’s World Cup fixtures. Trade the equivalent event contracts on Polymarket using your matched welcome bonus.
What Is Polymarket, and How Is It Different?
Polymarket is a prediction market exchange. Rather than placing a wager against a bookmaker’s line, traders buy and sell shares in the outcome of a future event at a price that reflects its implied probability. A contract trading at 58 cents implies roughly a 58% market belief in that outcome, with each correctly resolved share paying out at $1.
For US traders the regulatory framework is the part to understand. Polymarket’s American-facing book operates through QCX (Quantum Commodity Exchange), a CFTC-designated contract market, which is what allows it to host sports event contracts for US customers under federal oversight rather than state-by-state gaming licensing. If the model is new to you, our explainer on what Polymarket is and how it works covers the mechanics in detail, and our guide to the best prediction markets places it alongside the alternatives, including a sibling welcome offer in our Kalshi World Cup offer roundup.
One thing to be clear about: this is real capital at risk. The welcome bonus lowers the cost of getting set up, but contract prices can move against a position as easily as for it.
Who Can Use the Polymarket Referral Code?
The Polymarket welcome offer is open to new users aged 21 and over with a legal US residential address. The platform’s US-facing book operates under CFTC oversight via QCX rather than state gaming licensing, so it is available more broadly than most US sportsbooks — but a handful of states are currently excluded as the regulatory picture evolves. As of writing, sign-ups are not accepted from Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Ohio.
Before you fund the account, it is worth checking the current eligibility terms on the operator’s sign-up page so there are no surprises after registration.
What Polymarket Traders Are Backing Right Now
The bonus arrives at a busy moment on the exchange. Sports event contracts around the 2026 World Cup are drawing fresh volume, and we track the live picture for the tournament in our World Cup 2026 prediction market tracker, refreshed as the money moves.
Beyond the tournament, club-level futures have also pulled in serious interest. Our Polymarket Premier League winner tracker reads the title race through live exchange pricing — a useful look at how a prediction market behaves around a multi-month outcome before you commit your own stake.
With a home World Cup approaching and the welcome bonus live, the next few weeks are set to be among the most active the US prediction markets have ever seen.
Frequently asked questions
The current Polymarket referral code is ACQUIRE05. Enter it during sign-up to unlock a 100% deposit match welcome bonus, up to $50.
Yes for most states. Polymarket’s US-facing book operates under CFTC oversight through QCX, a federally designated contract market. Sign-ups are currently not accepted from Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Ohio.
Enter the referral code ACQUIRE05 at sign-up and fund your account. Polymarket matches that first deposit 100% in bonus credit, capped at $50.
The 100% match applies from the first dollar. Check the current terms on the sign-up page before funding, as the cap and any minimum can change.
A sportsbook offers fixed odds with a built-in margin. Polymarket is a prediction market exchange: you buy and sell shares in an outcome at a price that reflects its implied probability, trading against other users rather than the house.
21+. Polymarket’s US-facing book is operated under CFTC oversight through QCX and trading involves real financial risk. Offer terms accurate at the time of writing and may change. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER. Free, confidential support is available at ncpgambling.org.
*Using prediction market links on squawka.com may earn us a commission, at no additional cost to you. 21+ only. T&Cs apply. Please play responsibly.