2026 World Cup: Investigations begin into seven games over match-fixing

A gambling watchdog group, the independent Group of Copenhagen, is investigating up to seven matches from the recently concluded World Cup, over irregular betting activity.

One of such fixtures is the United States’ last-16 defeat to Belgium.

The Athletic reports that they cited a predictions market line titled: ‘Will Folarin Balogun play against Belgium’, as one potential issue.

That line opened on July 2 shortly after Balogun was given a controversial red card in USA’s Round-of-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Three days later, President Donald Trump urged FIFA to rescind Balogun’s red card and the governing body eventually suspended his one-game ban until after the tournament, thereby allowing him to play in the loss to Belgium.

According to  the Group of Copenhagen’s report, no other similar markets opened for the 14 other players who got a red card during the tournament.

Now the group is demanding an official explanation from FIFA on the Balogun case.

The organization reviewed all 104 matches from the tournament, which attracted more than $240 billion bets worldwide, according to the Group of Copenhagen.

Although its full report has not yet been published, a summary of its conclusions has been shared by the Council of Europe.

2026 World Cup: Investigations begin into seven games over match-fixing