LICKS ATTORNEYS' COMPLIANCE BLOG

Antitrust and anti-corruption authorities are already monitoring the 2026 World Cup

Considering the financial scandals fueled by acts of corruption involving the most recent World Cup, which led to the arrest of leaders from several countries, North American antitrust and anti-corruption authorities turned their attention to the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in three countries: United States, Canada, and Mexico. Among the arrests made, one that stood out was that of José Maria Marín, former president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) between 2012 and 2015 who was also governor of the State of São Paulo between 1982 and 1983, after the death of governor Franco Montoro.

The matches will take place in 11 cities in the United States, in 3 cities in Mexico and in 2 cities in Canada:

The United States Department of Justice (US DOJ) announced on September 22, 2023, that they are already starting a round of negotiations with Mexico's Federal Economic Competition Commission (COFECE) and Canada's Competition Bureau, to establish an action plan that can deter, detect, and prosecute collusion schemes involving the supply of goods and services related to the 2026 World Cup.

This is how these three authorities hope to collectively educate and raise public awareness in order to prevent any anti-competitive conduct by any companies or individuals looking to capitalize on the economic opportunities arising from the matches, avoiding bidding fraud, acts of corruption or bribery, fixing illicit pricing, cartels etc…

American authorities have started to inform society that any report of illicit practices can be made directly to the Procurement Collusion Strike Force in the website "www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force” or to the Antitrust Division's Citizen Complaint Center by telephone at 1-888-647-3258.

Likewise, Canadian authorities at the Competition Bureau have already come forward to encourage the population to report any signs of illegality in the bids and agreements that will be made available for the World Cup. Reports must be sent through the reporting channels in their website, ensuring the anonymity of those who file a report.

An economic movement on the scale of billions of dollars is anticipated, particularly in the cities within the 3 countries that will host the 2026 World Cup matches.