During the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Group of Copenhagen coordinated an integrity monitoring operation covering every match of the tournament. Established under the Council of Europe's Macolin Convention, this international network brings together national platforms dedicated to combating the manipulation of sports competitions.

The operation mobilised 14 of these national platforms from a network of more than 45 members spanning every continent, to identify and assess risks that could affect the competition. It was carried out in coordination with the FIFA Task Force, of which both the Council of Europe and the Group of Copenhagen are members.

Coordinated International Monitoring

The 2026 edition was the first FIFA World Cup to feature 48 teams and 104 matches. This expanded format required enhanced monitoring arrangements to address the increased risks of competition manipulation.

The participating national platforms conducted independent, risk-based monitoring. Their work focused on betting markets, odds movements and the delisting of betting offers, drawing on open-source intelligence (OSINT) and social media intelligence (SOCMINT). The operation also enabled the monitoring of individuals previously suspected of involvement in sports manipulation.

This public authority-led approach is one of the key principles of the Macolin Convention, the only legally binding international instrument dedicated to combating the manipulation of sports competitions.

Tangible Results

Throughout the tournament:

• 104 matches were monitored;
• 15 matches were placed under enhanced monitoring, particularly during the final round of the group stage;
• 7 Yellow Notices were issued;
• 12 major controversies were assessed from an integrity risk perspective.

For the first time, the Group of Copenhagen also conducted continuous monitoring of prediction markets. These markets present new integrity challenges, allowing users to wager on a wide range of events, often anonymously and using payment methods that are difficult to trace. Monitoring these markets during a major international sporting event represents a significant first.

International and Independent Cooperation

This operation demonstrates the importance of a coordinated and independent approach to protecting the integrity of major sporting competitions.

Through this cooperation, national platforms share intelligence, coordinate their actions and strengthen their collective capacity to detect and respond to integrity threats. Together, they help preserve trust in football.