Council of Europe presses FIFA to rebuild integrity framework after 2026 World Cup controversies

In an open letter released hours before the 2026 World Cup final, Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset called on FIFA to begin immediate work on a strengthened integrity framework for the 2030 tournament, citing political interference, the expansion of betting markets, and racism as issues that had undermined confidence in the sport.

Balogun suspension controversy

Berset’s intervention centred on FIFA’s mid-tournament decision to lift a mandatory one-game ban on United States forward Folarin Balogun, a move that followed reports that U.S. President Donald Trump had personally contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino about the case. “When the rules bend under pressure, every result is open to doubt,” Berset wrote, adding that “political influence has also moved onto the field.” The suspension was lifted before the U.S. faced Belgium in the quarter-finals, a match Belgium won 4-1. FIFA has not publicly explained the reasoning of its disciplinary judge from the United Arab Emirates, and European soccer body UEFA said the ruling “crossed a red line.” A complaint has since been filed with the International Olympic Committee by the human rights group FairSquare, alleging that political neutrality rules may have been breached.

Prediction market partnership draws fire

Berset also questioned FIFA’s decision to sign a reported $150 million sponsorship deal with ADI Predictstreet as its first official prediction market partner, a company created just one week before the agreement was announced. He warned that betting on granular in-game actions — “moments a single player can produce without changing the score” — created an “open door to fraud.” FIFA has stated that safeguards would be implemented to protect transparency and participants, but Berset countered that “this World Cup has opened the door wider.” The Council of Europe previously helped develop international conventions against match-fixing, which remain among the few binding legal frameworks in the area.

Berset proposes 'third half' dialogue for 2030

Berset described the integrity challenges as a crisis with “two names: money and power,” and proposed what he called a “third half” — a structured working dialogue beginning immediately after the final whistle to establish integrity measures before the 2030 World Cup, which will be played mostly in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with three opening matches in South America. “The next crisis has already begun,” he wrote. “A working dialogue that starts tonight, to build the integrity framework of the 2030 World Cup before it is played.” The Council of Europe, which counts 46 member nations including several non-EU states, has a formal working agreement with FIFA signed in 2018. Earlier this year, FIFA extended its integrity partnership with Sportradar through 2031, expanding monitoring and AI-driven risk assessment across its competitions and member associations.