UN warns of growth of illegal betting market during 2026 World Cup

On August 26, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) warned of a likely increase in illegal betting during the 2026 World Cup, which will be held from June 11 to July 19 in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Ronan O'Laoire, head of the UNODC's programme on protecting sport from corruption and crime, said that while the tournament will bring economic growth and celebration, it will also be at risk from organised crime. He said that these are usually associated with manipulation of the outcome of the competition and illegal betting.

It is expected that during the tournament, the illegal betting market could grow to exceed the size and scope of the legal market. There are no specific figures for this forecast, but the UN cites past trends.