FIFA deepens World Cup ties with the gambling industry with a deal that also includes streaming games

FIFA on Monday deepened its commercial ties with the gambling industry in a four-year deal that will allow some gambling operators to livestream World Cup matches this year.

The deal with data provider Stats Perform – with brands including football statistics specialist Opta – runs until 2029 for most FIFA competitions “to distribute official betting data and live streams” to account holders.

“It also grants exclusive betting rights to thousands of matches per season in FIFA Member Association competitions powered by FIFA+,” the world football body said, without specifying the value of the deal.

The FIFA+ website – which features games from some FIFA and lower-ranked competitions, plus highlights from much of the World Cup archive – has now partnered with Saudi Arabia-backed streaming network DAZN.

FIFA’s commercial partnerships with the gambling industry are despite the code of ethics which formally prohibits players, officials and agents from participating «whether directly or indirectly, betting, gambling, lotteries or similar events or transactions connected with football matches or competitions.»

FIFA’s previous World Cup tie to gambling was a regional sponsorship deal in Europe for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

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Chicago-based Stats Perform said it will distribute FIFA betting data “to licensed sports betting operators for modeling, trading, settlement and in-play front-end use.”

Its Opta subsidiary will provide gambling industry customers with “official player stats, insights, live scores and match trackers.”

The Men’s World Cup starts on June 11 in Mexico City and will feature 48 teams playing 104 matches in the United States, Canada and Mexico through July 19.

Published on January 12, 2026