Match-Fixing Allegations at 2026 World Cup
Questions have emerged over the integrity of several matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the Copenhagen Group raised concerns about possible match-fixing during the tournament.
According to a report by SCORENigeria, the organization has reportedly identified seven incidents from the competition, which was jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico and won by Spain.
It has submitted its concerns to FIFA for further consideration.
Among the incidents highlighted is the red card shown to South African midfielder Themba Zwane.
The group also pointed to unusually high betting activity surrounding Spain’s draw against Cape Verde.
Another case under scrutiny involves Ferran Torres’ disallowed goal against Saudi Arabia, with the Copenhagen Group questioning the lengthy VAR review that preceded the decision.
The organization also expressed concern over betting markets linked to Folarin Balogun’s potential participation in a match.
According to the group, wagers were reportedly accepted before there was any public discussion about the possible overturning of his red card.
Despite the allegations, FIFA has maintained that its integrity monitoring found no evidence of wrongdoing during the tournament.
In an earlier statement, the governing body said its Integrity Task Force monitored betting markets and on-field events throughout all 104 World Cup matches in real time and concluded its work without detecting any irregularities related to match-fixing.