FIFA has deepened its commercial ties to the betting industry with a four-year deal that will let some gambling operators livestream World Cup games this year.
The deal with data provider Stats Perform, with brands including soccer statistics specialist Opta, runs through 2029 for most FIFA competitions. It also grants exclusive betting rights to thousands of matches per season across FIFA Member Association competitions powered by FIFA+, the soccer body said, without stating the value of the deal.
The FIFA+ website, which shows games from some FIFA competitions and lower-ranked leagues plus highlights from much of the World Cup archive, has teamed with Saudi Arabia-backed streaming network DAZN.
FIFA’s commercial partnerships with the gambling industry are despite its code of ethics formally prohibiting players, officials and agents from taking part in either directly or indirectly, betting, gambling, lotteries or similar events or transactions related to football matches or competitions.
Chicago-based Stats Perform said it will distribute FIFA betting data to licensed sports betting operators for modelling, trading, settlement and in-play front-end use. Its Opta subsidiary will supply gambling industry clients with official player statistics, insights, live scores and match trackers.
The men’s World Cup starts on June 11th in Mexico City and will see 48 teams play 104 games across the US, Canada and Mexico through to July 19th.
