The matches of the 2026 World Cup finals were free of any suspicious activity, as the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) confirmed that no betting activity or indications of match-fixing were detected throughout the 104 matches of the tournament.

FIFA had formed an expanded working group concerned with integrity to protect its competitions from any legal or behavioral threats, as the team monitored betting markets and on-field activities in real time throughout all matches of the tournament.

The international federation adopted a central mechanism to collect betting monitoring reports and related information provided by team members, along with reports received through available reporting channels.

This data underwent precise analyses that were exchanged among partners according to approved operational procedures.

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FIFA explained that the collaborative nature of the team allowed for the assessment of alerts and potential manipulation indicators, and dealing with them in a coordinated and rapid manner, benefiting from the expertise of the participating international bodies each in their field of competence.

The joint working group included a wide network of international partners: football associations, security and law enforcement agencies including the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the US Department of Justice, and the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), as well as international organizations and councils.

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It also included the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Council of Europe, and the Copenhagen Group, competition and integrity protection bodies, the betting and data technology sector, as well as independent experts.

Liam Rich, Senior Manager of FIFA's Integrity department, said: 'The working group provided a robust framework for information sharing, assessing potential concerns, and coordinating timely responses. We thank all members for their commitment, and look forward to building on this cooperation in upcoming FIFA tournaments.'

Regarding next steps, FIFA affirmed its determination to continue working with team members to safeguard the integrity of upcoming competitions, foremost among them the FIFA youth competitions scheduled later this year and the Women's World Cup.

It also emphasized its continued development and enhancement of its integrity strategy in cooperation with national and continental associations to combat the phenomenon of match-fixing globally.