Global sport is in the spotlight after FIFA reported a record $9b in revenue from the expanded 2026 World Cup, and that kind of money can quickly reshape expectations for companies tied to broadcasting, media, sponsorship, and live events. For investors, the question is how to separate genuine opportunity from hype as more capital and attention flows toward sports and media stocks. This article looks at 3 stocks exposed to this World Cup news, all potentially positioned on the positive side of the story, and explains what this could mean for their business models and risk profiles.

Sportradar Group (SRAD)

Overview: Sportradar Group is a Switzerland based sports data and technology company that collects real time information from global competitions and turns it into odds, streaming, and analytics products used by betting operators, media groups, and sports organizations.

Operations: Sportradar generates its revenue primarily from data processing services, reporting €1.33b from this segment.

Market Cap: US$4.48b

Sportradar Group operates at the intersection of World Cup engagement and the growing need for reliable sports data, supplying betting markets, prediction platforms, and media outlets that rely on major tournaments. The stock trades below one estimate of fair value, yet the P/E multiple is high and funding is entirely reliant on external borrowing, so the market appears to be weighing execution risk. In addition, a securities lawsuit and ongoing spending on technology and rights deals raise questions about margin resilience and regulatory risk that investors may wish to assess carefully, particularly in the context of major global events such as the 2026 World Cup.

Sportradar Group’s high P/E and reliance on external funding suggest the market may be missing a key angle on quality versus risk. Before deciding where you stand, review the DCF valuation analysis for Sportradar Group to see what the current pricing might be overlooking.

Rush Street Interactive (RSI)

Overview: Rush Street Interactive operates online casino and sports betting platforms across the United States, Canada, and Latin America, offering real money betting and social gaming under its BetRivers, PlaySugarHouse, and RushBet brands. It gives users access to digital versions of traditional casino experiences such as table games, slots, and poker, alongside extensive online and retail sportsbooks.

Operations: Rush Street Interactive generates about US$1.24b in revenue from online gaming and retail sports betting, with around US$1.04b coming from the United States and Canada and roughly US$205m from Latin America, including Mexico.

Market Cap: US$7.56b

Rush Street Interactive sits in the sweet spot of the World Cup theme because its business depends on live sport driving engagement. Management has already highlighted past World Cup and Copa América tournaments as powerful moments for user acquisition in Colombia and wider Latin America. At the same time, analysts expect strong revenue and earnings growth, but the stock trades on a very high P/E multiple and the capital structure relies on external borrowing rather than customer deposits. As a result, expectations are already demanding and funding risk is higher. For investors, the real question is whether the World Cup and index inclusion can support those growth assumptions without regulatory shifts in markets like Colombia and Mexico squeezing margins.

Rush Street Interactive’s high P/E and external funding leave a big question hanging over how much optimism is already in the price. Get the full context with the analyst forecasts for Rush Street Interactive before the next World Cup catalyst is fully priced in.

Super Group (SGHC) (SGHC)

Overview: Super Group (SGHC) runs online sports betting and casino platforms through its Betway and Spin brands, letting customers place sports wagers and play digital casino games across Africa, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, and South/Latin America.

Operations: Super Group (SGHC) reports US$442m of revenue from Europe, with a further US$1.88b recorded as a segment adjustment item.

Market Cap: US$7.48b

Super Group (SGHC) is tightly wired into the World Cup story, with management highlighting that around 40% of its operating countries are tournament participants and that football already accounts for a large share of betting activity, creating a funnel into its higher margin online casino business. The company is leaning into this cycle with technology upgrades, AI driven pricing, and cross sell strategies that management says direct 60% to 70% of new sports bettors into casino. This sits against a backdrop of heavy regulation, sizable external funding and meaningful insider selling, so the key question is whether the current price reflects that trade off.

Super Group (SGHC) looks like it could be turning World Cup traffic into a long term casino funnel, but the real story sits inside the analysis report for Super Group (SGHC), where one key assumption changes everything

The three stocks in this article are just a starting point. The full Sports and Media Sector screener uncovers 22 more companies in sports and media with equally compelling, but very different, narratives. Use Simply Wall St to identify, filter, and analyze the exact catalysts and storylines that matter to you so you can focus on the highest conviction opportunities in this sector.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.