FIFA has named ADI Predictstreet as its official prediction market partner for the 2026 World Cup, marking the governing body’s first formal move into the growing event contracts space.
The multi-year agreement designates Predictstreet as the “Official Prediction Market Partner” for the tournament, which will be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico beginning June 11.
FIFA said in its official announcement that the partnership will allow fans to “participate in dynamic prediction-based experiences” tied to matches and tournament outcomes, positioning the platform as a new layer of engagement around the event.
“FIFA is committed to continually enhancing the fan experience and embracing innovation that brings supporters closer to the game,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a press release. “By partnering with FIFA, ADI Predictstreet will be introducing an exciting new way for fans around the world to engage with football, using insight and interaction to deepen their connection with our competitions.”
Major sporting events have become a focal point for prediction market activity. Contracts tied to events like the Super Bowl and NCAA March Madness have generated some of the highest trading volumes on platforms including Kalshi and Polymarket, with the latter operating its main platform internationally outside of U.S. regulatory oversight. In the United States, sports-related event contracts have become a growing focus for regulators and lawmakers, as officials debate whether the markets should be restricted or prohibited.
The FIFA prediction market partnership sidesteps the US regulatory debates but raises questions of its own around who regulates its new exchange partner, and in what countries will futbol fans be able to legally participate on ADI Predictstreet.
FIFA and ADI outline World Cup prediction platform
FIFA’s announcement and a separate release from ADI Chain outline a platform designed to integrate prediction markets directly into the World Cup experience, allowing fans to forecast match results, tournament statistics, standout players, and key in-game moments using official data provided by the governing body.
The platform is expected to be integrated into FIFA’s existing digital ecosystem, with ADI Predictstreet serving as the presenting partner for FIFA’s free-to-play bracket challenge and extending into other fan engagement products.
ADI Predictstreet is developed by ADI Chain, a Dubai-based blockchain infrastructure project focused on stablecoins and real-world assets. The company describes ADI Chain as an institutional layer-2 network in the Middle East and North Africa region, including settlement infrastructure tied to a dirham-backed stablecoin initiative involving Abu Dhabi entities International Holding Company and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
In its announcement, ADI said Predictstreet is its first consumer-facing product. The company said the platform will eventually expand beyond soccer to include markets related to politics, pop culture, economics, and technology.
Launch timeline set, but jurisdictional availability remains unclear
ADI’s announcement emphasizes a compliance-focused approach, stating that Predictstreet is being designed to operate within applicable regulatory frameworks and incorporate safeguards around user eligibility, monitoring, and market integrity. FIFA similarly said the platform will fall within its existing integrity systems, including oversight mechanisms intended to detect suspicious activity.
However, neither announcement specifies where the platform will be available or how it will be structured in major markets, including the United States, where event contracts are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and platforms generally must be approved by the agency or operate through a regulated entity.
According to reporting from Yogonet, Predict Street Ltd, an entity tied to the platform, has been licensed in Gibraltar as a betting intermediary, marking the first time the jurisdiction has approved a prediction market operator under its gambling framework.
Terms of use published on Predictstreet’s website indicate that access may be restricted based on jurisdiction and that services may not be available in all regions.
The platform’s website has an “early access” sign-up and lists an April 9 launch date, accompanied by a public countdown clock, but does not currently provide access to live markets or trading functionality.
Iran World Cup venue tensions surface ahead of 2026 tournament
ADI Predictstreet’s launch comes amid early tensions surrounding Iran’s role in the 2026 World Cup.
In mid-March, Iran’s football federation began pushing for its World Cup matches to be moved out of the United States, citing safety concerns after the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes on the country in late February. Officials warned the team could refuse to play in the US if matches were not relocated, with discussions focused on potentially shifting games to Mexico.
By the end of March, FIFA publicly affirmed that the tournament would proceed as planned. FIFA’s Infantino said Iran will play its matches in the United States as scheduled, and subsequent talks between FIFA and Iranian officials were described as making “genuine progress,” with the governing body offering support for the team’s preparation and signaling a continued focus on sticking to the existing schedule, according to the AP.
Iran’s group-stage matches are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles, with its opening match set for June 15.
Some markets tied to Iran’s World Cup participation have emerged on Kalshi and Polymarket. In Kalshi’s “Iran to compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup?” market, “Yes” was trading at 63% as of the afternoon of April 6. At the same time, Polymarket traders gave the likelihood of Iran being “removed” from the World Cup by April 30 (defined as Iran being “officially disqualified, banned, withdrawn, or otherwise confirmed not to participate”) just a 13% chance.
World Cup trading already underway across prediction markets
Trading on the 2026 World Cup has already begun across prediction market platforms. According to DeFi Rate’s World Cup odds tracker, Spain is currently favored to win the tournament.
Beyond outright tournament winners, traders can also take positions on group stage outcomes, with contracts pricing which teams will win each group or advance to the knockout stage. There are also markets tied to teams reaching the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final, as well as player props, including availability markets, like whether Lionel Messi will appear in the tournament.
With the tournament set to kick off in June, the early activity shows the World Cup could emerge as a major trading event. Platforms will be watching closely to see whether these markets follow the trajectory of major U.S. sporting events like the Super Bowl and NCAA tournament.
