DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ:DKNG) is in focus Wednesday, a day after surging 11% on blockbuster Predictions platform metrics — even as the broader Nasdaq fell — with the FIFA World Cup kicking off tomorrow adding further fuel to the bull case.

Yesterday’s Catalyst

DraftKings filed an 8-K Tuesday disclosing preliminary May operating metrics for its Predictions platform — and the numbers turned heads. Annualized consumer volume for the Predictions product rose 24% month-over-month to $1.3 billion, while total annualized volume traded surged 34% month-over-month to $3.1 billion. The stock closed up 11.34% at $27.59 — its biggest single-day percentage gain in more than three and a half years — on volume of nearly 20 million shares, well above its three-month average of 12.6 million.

The World Cup Opportunity

Thursday’s FIFA World Cup kickoff couldn’t come at a better time. The 2026 tournament — the first hosted in the United States since 1994 — is the largest in history with 48 teams playing across 16 cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The U.S. Men’s National Team plays its first game Friday against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium. Deutsche Bank and others have flagged the World Cup as one of the biggest near-term catalysts for U.S. sports betting volumes in years. For DraftKings, which holds the number two or three revenue share position across most states, a sustained six-week tournament with games every day is a meaningful volume driver.

DraftKings Shares Rise

DKNG Price Action: At the time of publication, DraftKings shares are trading 1.01% higher at $27.87, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

Image via Shutterstock