A European human rights body is publicly questioning the integrity of FIFA’s World Cup and urging FIFA to strengthen safeguards ahead of the 2030 tournament. In an open letter to FIFA, the Council of Europe argues that “the next crisis has already begun,” warning that “money and power” can undermine trust in football’s major competitions. Multiple outlets report the council’s secretary general points to specific concerns around FIFA decisions, including the suspension of a ban for U.S. forward Folarin Balogun while under pressure. The council also raises concerns about the role of sponsorship and commercialization, including references to prediction markets. Several reports also highlight broader issues the council says are affecting football, such as a rise in racist abuse. While the Council of Europe has a formal working agreement with FIFA, it uses the letter to demand a stronger integrity framework for the next World Cup cycle. Media accounts say the 2030 tournament will be held mostly in Spain and Portugal, and the council calls for dialogue and reforms before the event. The reports collectively frame the letter as a call for concrete steps to protect integrity, fairness, and human rights considerations in the lead-up to 2030.