Copenhagen Group flags seven World Cup betting irregularities and asks FIFA to explain Balogun market

FIFA says its own integrity review found no suspicious betting activity or match-fixing at the 2026 North American World Cup. The Copenhagen Group, an independent monitoring network, says it identified seven potential irregularities across all 104 matches — the kind of report payment and betting teams will want to read closely, because prediction markets and in-play events can turn into compliance questions fast.

1. The British outlet The Athletic reported on the 24th (Korea time) that an international advisory body had raised seven notifications over potential betting irregularities at the 2026 men's World Cup, saying the cases should be reviewed for possible match-fixing. The body in question was the Copenhagen Group, which carries out integrity monitoring to detect, sanction and prevent manipulation of sports matches.
2. The Copenhagen Group monitored all 104 World Cup matches. Its full report has not yet been released, but the Council of Europe summarized and announced the main conclusions.
3. Among the incidents cited was the red card shown to Temba Zwane in the opening match between South Africa and Mexico. Zwane was sent off in the 39th minute of the second half, shortly before the match ended.
4. The report also flagged a $4.8 million (about 7 billion won) position on Polymarket, the cryptocurrency-based prediction market, betting that Spain would not beat Cape Verde. That match ended 0-0.
5. Another irregularity concerned the Spain-Saudi Arabia match, where video assistant referee (VAR) review of Ferran Torres' disallowed goal took roughly 3 minutes 30 seconds. The Copenhagen Group also questioned a Polymarket market on U.S. forward Paularín Balogun: on the 2nd, the market asked whether he would play against Belgium, and on the same day Balogun was sent off in the round of 32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina. FIFA's disciplinary committee then confirmed on the 5th that his suspension had been deferred, making him eligible to play against Belgium.

According to the Copenhagen Group, similar prediction markets were not opened for the other 14 players who were sent off in the tournament, and none of those players had suspensions deferred. The group formally asked FIFA for a written explanation on the Balogun case. FIFA, meanwhile, said multiple independent expert groups had reviewed betting-monitoring reports and related materials and found no signs of suspicious betting activity or match-fixing in any match.