FIFA will remove all gambling-related sponsorship and advertising from stadiums hosting the 2026 World Cup, reinforcing its Clean Venue policy across the tournament.
All branding from companies not officially affiliated with FIFA will be stripped from venues, including partnerships held by stadium operators with betting groups such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Caesars Entertainment.
The policy will also result in temporary venue rebranding across the majority of host locations. Stadiums including Hard Rock Stadium and AT&T Stadium will operate under neutral naming conventions during the tournament, in line with FIFA’s commercial rules. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is expected to retain its name due to technical constraints around signage removal.
The move reflects FIFA’s long-standing approach to centralised commercial control, ensuring exclusive visibility for official tournament partners while eliminating competing sponsorship exposure within matchday environments.
Restrictions extend beyond stadium naming and signage. FIFA has reiterated its prohibition on gambling-related branding across officiating areas, including referee kits and video review zones.
Despite the removal of onsite visibility for betting operators, the commercial significance of the tournament for the sector remains substantial. Industry estimates suggest that between $3bn and $4bn will be wagered globally during the World Cup.
The decision underlines the continued tension between major sporting bodies’ commercial strategies and the expanding role of regulated betting operators within global sports ecosystems.
