A recent decision by FIFA to allow betting companies to livestream future World Cup matches has triggered political alarm in the United Kingdom.
The controversy stems from FIFA’s expanded global agreement with data supplier Stats Perform, which grants exclusive rights to distribute official betting data and livestream feeds for major tournaments, including the 2026 and 2027 World Cups.
The issue was brought to the forefront during a session of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). MPs expressed concern that licensing World Cup streams to bookmakers could undermine national broadcasting rules and efforts to reduce gambling-related harm.
Conflict with Protected Broadcasting Rights
The primary tension lies with the UK’s “listed events” regime, often called the “Crown Jewels” of sport. Under the Broadcasting Act 1996, World Cup matches are protected as Group A events, ensuring they remain free-to-air for the public.
Critics argue that placing live feeds behind the “walled gardens” of betting accounts, where users must often deposit funds to watch, contradicts the spirit of these protections. Furthermore, there are fears that this monetization strategy puts FIFA in conflict with its own Code of Ethics, which strictly separates football officials and participants from betting activities.
Minister Calls for Review
The partnership creates a complex regulatory challenge involving both broadcasting law and gambling policy. Creative Industries Minister Ian Murray acknowledged the gravity of the situation, suggesting that a broader review involving the Sports Minister would be required to formulate a government position.
FIFA has defended the move as a strategy to reach newly regulated markets like the US and Latin America, however, with the 2026 World Cup approaching, the governing body faces mounting pressure to clarify how these streams will be geoblocked or restricted in markets with stringent public broadcasting laws like the UK, France, and Germany.
