Council of Europe faults FIFA over betting and World Cup integrity
Why it matters: The rights body urged FIFA to build a tougher integrity framework before the 2030 tournament in Spain and Portugal.
The Council of Europe publicly challenged FIFA on Sunday, arguing the 2026 World Cup exposed risks to the tournament’s integrity through political pressure and expanded betting markets. In an open letter issued before the final in East Rutherford, Secretary General Alain Berset said FIFA had created “an open door to fraud” by partnering with prediction market sponsor ADI Predictstreet and other gambling interests. He also pointed to FIFA’s reversal of Folarin Balogun’s one-game suspension after a call from U.S. President Donald Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Berset said those episodes cast doubt on rule enforcement and urged FIFA to start work immediately on a stronger integrity framework before the 2030 World Cup, to be staged mostly in Spain and Portugal.