Investing.com - Macquarie expects the 2026 FIFA World Cup to generate approximately $50 billion in global wagers and deliver a 2% to 5% uplift to operator EBITDA in 2027, with Flutter Entertainment (NYSE: FLUT), SG&H Capital (SGHC), and Rush Street Interactive (NYSE: RSI) positioned to benefit most from the tournament.

The World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico in June and July 2026, will feature 48 teams and more than 100 matches across six weeks. The expanded format includes roughly 60% more matches than the 2022 tournament, combined with strong representation from key betting markets in Europe, Latin America, Africa, and North America.

Macquarie estimates global wagers on the 2022 World Cup exceeded $35 billion, or $0.5 billion per match. The firm projects the 2026 tournament could surpass $50 billion in total wagers at a similar per-match rate, with potential upside from parlays and player props.

The tournament will take place in a more developed U.S. sports betting market, with approximately 65% of the population having legal access compared to 40% in 2022. SGHC derived 88% of its global revenue in 2025 from countries participating in the tournament.

Macquarie views operators with strong international soccer exposure and integrated sportsbook and iGaming platforms as best positioned to convert elevated engagement into earnings. The firm highlighted FLUT's 35% exposure to Europe and RSI's 20% exposure to Latin America, along with SRAD and GENI as beneficiaries.