Overview

• The UN Office on Drugs and Crime launched a two-day session in Mexico on 26–27 August with the IOC and FIFA to strengthen safeguards ahead of the North American tournament.
• About 65 representatives from Canada, the United States and Mexico are reviewing legal tools and coordination practices across security, justice, anti-corruption, sports, education and legislative bodies.
• UNODC program lead Ronan O’Laoire said the likelihood of match-fixing at the 2026 World Cup is very low but the potential damage would be enormous, warranting proactive mitigation.
• Authorities anticipate growth in both legal and illicit wagering before the event, noting illegal markets are hard to quantify and citing an estimated $35 million legally wagered globally during Qatar 2022.
• Participants framed the World Cup as a chance to bolster Mexican legal frameworks, with experts urging reforms and noting a pending proposal to criminalize sports corruption with prison terms and fines.