World Cup, FIFA, betting integrity experts
2 June 2026
Integrity concerns are growing before the World Cup as betting markets expand across global football. The Athletic reported that at least two tournament players have previously been flagged to national federations over suspected spot-fixing risks.
The concern centres on smaller in-game events, such as deliberate bookings, rather than match results. With prediction markets and global betting volumes rising, experts fear fixers may target players before and during the tournament itself.