The Pre-Game Is The Whole Game

Mega sporting events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games rank among the world's premiere commercial and cultural stages – offering entertainment, national pride, and business opportunities for companies, host countries, and participants. But their scale, global visibility, and prestige can present legal risks when those events are not carefully managed. The significant commercial activity that these events generate often involve government stakeholders, international sporting organizations, extensive third-party networks, and high-profile hospitality opportunities – creating heightened exposure to bribery, fraud, money laundering, and other forms of corruption. This alert, the first of a broader series examining the legal and compliance risks associated with major sporting events, focuses on anti-corruption risk and the impacts of US Department of Justice's (DOJ) evolving enforcement priorities.