Football betting stocks and the 2026 World Cup opportunity

Analysts see Flutter Entertainment’s FanDuel as a likely winner when 2026’s FIFA World Cup arrives. Investment firm Wedbush gave the company a positive outlook with a price target suggesting nearly a third more value for shareholders who act before the tournament. The push comes as FanDuel tries to win back customers after a rough year; shares have dropped almost half so far in 2024. The company has set aside three hundred million dollars to expand its prediction market service, a platform where bettors forecast game outcomes. With the World Cup still two years away, this big spending now looks like a bold bet on future demand.FanDuel Predicts has struggled to stand out among the dozens of new sports betting apps in the U. S. Analysts say the platform needs a major event to prove its worth, and the 2026 tournament could be that moment. U. S. football seasons on the calendar will also matter, since football gambling drives most of the revenue in American sportsbooks. If FanDuel can keep users engaged through smart promotions and better features, the company may start closing the gap with rivals. Bigger spending on promotions is already appearing. After earlier criticism for slow responses to customer loss, FanDuel has rolled out stronger offers to lure bettors back. These moves align with what many Wall Street watchers expect—a steady recovery through the rest of 2024. Out of twenty-five analysts following the stock, nearly eighty percent recommend buying, a sign that confidence is slowly coming back.