Council of Europe Chief Urges FIFA to Build 2030 World Cup Integrity Framework Amid Prediction Market Risks

According to Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset, on July 20, Berset called on FIFA to launch international dialogue on establishing a comprehensive integrity framework for the 2030 World Cup. In an official statement, Berset warned that player-action betting and prediction markets create significant fraud risks, declaring "the next crisis has already begun."

FIFA partnered with blockchain-backed ADI Predictstreet as its official prediction-market partner in April under a multi-year agreement. FIFA said the platform operates under a comprehensive integrity monitoring framework, including real-time monitoring of suspicious trading and information-sharing systems. However, Berset questioned whether existing safeguards are sufficient when markets allow traders to take positions on individual player actions that could influence match outcomes without changing final scores.