FIFA investigates up to seven 2026 World Cup matches over suspicious betting
FIFA’s 2026 World Cup is under scrutiny after the independent Group of Copenhagen flagged up to seven matches for irregular betting patterns, including the United States’ last‑16 loss to Belgium. The watchdog highlighted a betting market that asked whether Folarin Balogun would play against Belgium, a market that opened shortly after the United States’ controversial red‑card decision against Bosnia‑Herzegovina. Three days later, former US President Donald Trump urged FIFA to overturn the red card, and FIFA subsequently suspended Balogun’s one‑match ban, allowing him to feature in the loss to Belgium. The group reviewed all 104 tournament games, which attracted over $240 billion in global bets, and has asked FIFA for an official explanation on the Balogun case. Although the full report remains unpublished, a summary shared by the Council of Europe confirms the investigation is ongoing. Football fans should monitor FIFA’s response and consider the reliability of betting markets when placing wagers on future internationals.