On July 19, 2026, the Council of Europe (Co E) questioned the integrity of the World Cup and urged FIFA to strengthen the framework for the 2030 edition, which will largely be played in Spain and Portugal.

The letter, sent to FIFA’s formal partner,ীৱ highlighted the case of Folarin Balogun. FIFA had suspended a ban on the U.S. forward after pressure from former President Donald Trump. The decision, made under political influence, raised doubts about the impartiality of disciplinary rulings.

In April, FIFA signed a prediction‑market sponsorship with ADI Predictstreet for a reported $150 million. The deal, coupled with other gambling partnerships, opened the door to insider trading, a concern echoed by the Co E and UEFA, which called the ruling a “red line” in rule‑of‑law and transparency.

Berset concluded that the next crisis is already underway, with money and power at its core. He called for a working dialogue “to build the integrity framework of the 2030 World Cup before it is played.”