FIFA has signed a four-year partnership with data provider Stats Perform that will allow select gambling operators to livestream World Cup matches and receive official betting data through 2029.
At a Glance
- Stats Perform gains exclusive betting rights and livestream access for FIFA competitions
- The deal covers the 2026 men’s World Cup and runs through 2029
- FIFA’s ethics code bans players and officials from betting on matches
- Stats Perform will distribute data to licensed sports betting operators
The agreement, announced Monday, covers “most FIFA competitions” and grants Stats Perform brands-including soccer statistics specialist Opta-the right to distribute official betting data and livestreams to account holders.
“It also grants exclusive betting rights to thousands of matches per season across FIFA Member Association competitions powered by FIFA+,” FIFA said in a statement. The organization did not disclose the financial value of the deal.
Expanded Access for Betting Industry
Stats Perform, headquartered in Chicago, will supply licensed sports betting operators with:
- Official player statistics
- Live scores
- Match trackers
- Insights for modeling and trading
The company’s Opta subsidiary will handle the distribution of soccer statistics to gambling industry clients for “modeling, trading, settlement and in-play front-end use.”
FIFA’s Betting History
FIFA’s previous involvement with gambling sponsorship was a regional sponsor deal in Europe for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The new agreement represents a deeper integration with the betting industry.
The FIFA+ streaming platform has also partnered with Saudi Arabia-backed network DAZN to expand its reach. FIFA+ currently shows:
- Games from select FIFA competitions
- Matches from lower-ranked leagues
- Highlights from the World Cup archive
Ethics Code Conflict
The partnership exists alongside FIFA’s own ethics regulations. The organization’s code of ethics formally prohibits players, officials and agents from participating in “either directly or indirectly, betting, gambling, lotteries or similar events or transactions related to football matches or competitions.”
Despite these restrictions on individuals within the sport, FIFA has chosen to expand its commercial relationships with the betting industry at an organizational level.
2026 World Cup Timeline
The men’s World Cup begins June 11 in Mexico City. The tournament features:
- 48 teams (expanded from 32)
- 104 games total
- Host cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico
- Finals concluding July 19
This expanded format creates more matches and potentially more betting opportunities, making the Stats Perform partnership particularly valuable for data distribution.
Key Takeaways
- FIFA has committed to a long-term betting industry partnership despite ethical concerns
- Stats Perform gains exclusive rights to distribute betting data and livestreams
- The deal covers multiple FIFA competitions beyond just the World Cup
- FIFA’s ethics code applies to individuals but not the organization itself
- The 2026 World Cup’s expanded format aligns with increased betting data needs
