FIFA has struck a four-year agreement 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
- FIFA signed a deal granting Stats Perform exclusive betting data and livestream rights for major tournaments
- The agreement covers the 2026 men’s World Cup and thousands of matches per season across member associations
- Stats Perform’s Opta brand will supply live scores, player stats, and match trackers to licensed sportsbooks
- Why it matters: FIFA’s expanded betting partnership contrasts with its own ethics code banning players, officials, and agents from gambling on soccer
The partnership, announced Monday, covers “most FIFA competitions” and gives Stats Perform rights to distribute official data to licensed sports-betting operators for modeling, trading, settlement, and in-play front-end use, according to the Chicago-based company.
Deal Scope and Exclusivity
Stats Perform will distribute livestreams only to account holders, while its Opta subsidiary will provide clients with official player statistics, insights, live scores, and match trackers. The agreement also grants exclusive betting rights to thousands of matches per season across FIFA Member Association competitions powered by FIFA+.
FIFA did not reveal the financial value of the contract. The soccer body said the arrangement runs through 2029, ensuring coverage of the expanded 48-team men’s World Cup that opens June 11 in Mexico City and runs through July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Ethics Code Contrasts
The deepening commercial ties come even though FIFA’s own code of ethics formally prohibits players, officials, and agents from taking part “either directly or indirectly, in betting, gambling, lotteries or similar events or transactions related to football matches or competitions.”
FIFA’s previous betting-related World Cup deal was limited to a regional sponsorship in Europe for the 2022 tournament in Qatar. The new global arrangement significantly broadens the federation’s footprint in the gambling sector.
FIFA+ and DAZN Integration
FIFA’s streaming platform FIFA+-which already shows games from select FIFA competitions, lower-ranked leagues, and World Cup highlights-has now teamed with Saudi Arabia-backed network DAZN. The integration is expected to enhance the reach of the livestreams offered to betting operators.
Stats Perform confirmed it will police distribution strictly, providing access only to licensed sportsbooks. The company emphasized that its data packages will support everything from pre-match odds creation to in-play betting markets.
Tournament Timeline
- June 11, 2026: Opening match in Mexico City
- 104 games across 16 cities in three countries
- July 19, 2026: Final scheduled
The quadrennial tournament will feature 48 national teams for the first time, up from the traditional 32, increasing inventory for both broadcasters and data partners.
Key Takeaways
- FIFA has doubled down on betting-industry revenue despite internal rules barring participants from wagering on matches.
- Stats Perform gains exclusive global rights to supply live data and video to sportsbooks, expanding FIFA’s commercial reach.
- Fans who bet through licensed operators will receive enhanced live coverage, while FIFA+ broadens its streaming footprint via the DAZN alliance.
