The US State Department is offering a $2 million grant in an effort to combat corruption in Mexican sports betting. The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the US Department of State recently announced the grant, with a deadline for submissions in October and plans to launch the project as early as December.
The grant is aimed at disrupting and reducing corruption in Mexican sports betting, with a specific focus on counteracting financial crime related to corruption in sports. The State Department is particularly concerned about the potential for exploitation by Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Mexico will co-host with the US and Canada.
The INL is looking for proposals that can help stem the flow of money laundering by TCOs out of Mexico, estimated to be between $18 billion and $44 billion per year. The grant will be used to support projects that build capacity for specialized prosecutors, state and federal financial intelligence units, regulators, and other stakeholders to combat corruption and financial crime in sports.
Specifically, the project aims to establish and upgrade investigative techniques and procedures related to sports corruption and money laundering. It may also include activities such as transnational sports corruption investigations, evidence collection and evaluation, bet monitoring and analysis, match fixing, theft of funds, and embezzlement.
In addition to enhancing investigative capabilities, the grant seeks to promote collaboration among various stakeholders, including specialized prosecutors’ offices, financial intelligence units, sports governing bodies, and US sports betting regulators. The INL also requires the winning applicants to develop an educational ad campaign targeted at the Mexican public to raise awareness of sports corruption, match fixing, and illegal sports betting, as well as provide information on reporting such crimes.
The INL emphasizes the need for robust, rigorous, and independent training for law enforcement in Mexico to effectively address sports and sports betting-related crime in preparation for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2026. The State Department is committed to supporting efforts to combat corruption and financial crime in Mexican sports betting, with the goal of promoting integrity and fairness in sports.