From World Cup odds to live streams, FIFA’s partnership with Stats Perform reveals how data, betting, and AI are reshaping modern soccer fandom.
FIFA doesn’t make many “first-ever” announcements these days. So when the world’s most powerful governing body of the world’s most popular sport names its first official distributor of betting data and streaming rights, it’s worth paying attention.
That partner is Stats Perform, and this deal signals where global soccer, sports betting, and AI-driven media are collectively all headed next. Under a landmark multi-year agreement, the British company will exclusively distribute official FIFA odds data and live betting streams across a massive slate of competitions. We’re talking about all 104 matches of the expanded FIFA World Cup 2026, the FIFA Women’s World Cup hosted by Brazil in 2027, multiple U-20 World Cups, futsal championships, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, and thousands of matches annually from FIFA Member Associations via FIFA+.
In short: if a meaningful FIFA match is being played over the next several years, Stats Perform will be the data and betting connect behind it. Why does that matter? Because in today’s sports ecosystem, data is distribution, which makes distribution leverage.
Stats Perform isn’t just collecting things like box scores, completed passes, and shots on goal. Its RunningBall operation promises to deliver ultra-fast, official betting data to licensed sportsbooks for everything from in-play odds modeling to settlement. Meanwhile, Opta — widely revered as the gold standard for soccer analytics — will exclusively supply official player stats, live scores, insights, and match trackers to sportsbooks worldwide. So whether you’re a casual footy fan or a decades-long enthusiast, expect to strengthen your connection to the sport when the competition kicks off in June.
This is the infrastructure layer of modern fandom. Whether fans realize it or not, the speed, accuracy, and depth of stats increasingly shape how games are watched, wagered on, and even digested. Stats Perform will also serve as an official distributor of live FIFA match streams to licensed betting operators in select territories, including exclusive distribution of World Cup 2026 and Women’s World Cup 2027 streams through its AI-enhanced Bet LiveStreams product. Consider this a gentle reminder that these platforms are no longer just transactional; they’re becoming full-fledged media networks, also delivering round-the-clock news and updates.
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FIFA, for its part, is threading a careful needle. By centralizing betting stats and streams with a single, trusted partner, it maintains greater control, consistency, and integrity across a rapidly expanding landscape. After all, Stats Perform isn’t exactly the first site you think of when looking to place wagers on matchday. As FIFA Chief Business Officer Romy Gai put it, the partnership is about creating “official products for the benefit of the game and its fans.” Fewer gray markets, better data, and hopefully, a cleaner ecosystem.
For Stats Perform, this deal cements its position as one of the most influential behind-the-scenes companies in global sports. CEO Carl Mergele called FIFA events “the pinnacle of the world’s biggest game,” and now those competitions sit squarely inside Stats Perform’s Opta, RunningBall, and Bet LiveStreams portfolio.
Zoom out, and the bigger story becomes clear. As sports betting continues to globalize and AI reshapes how fans engage in real time, the winners won’t just be leagues or sportsbooks; they’ll be the data companies powerful enough to keep up with them.
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