FIFA has wrapped up its most extensive anti-doping testing operation to date, conducting 1,933 tests before and during the FIFA World Cup 2026, in a programme designed to protect the integrity of football at its highest level.

A testing operation built around prevention

The bulk of the testing took place before a ball was kicked. In the six months leading up to the tournament, FIFA administered 1,250 out-of-competition tests, working alongside 14 National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) and confederations across the globe. More than 1,000 blood samples were collected during this pre-tournament phase alongside those urine samples, signalling a deliberate shift towards early detection.

Once the FIFA World Cup 2026 was underway, FIFA conducted 416 in-competition tests following matches and a further 267 out-of-competition tests. During the tournament itself, 237 blood samples and 683 urine samples were gathered, bringing the total sample count to more than 3,100 across both phases.

Athlete passport management and intelligent follow-up

Every sample collected was reviewed by the Athlete Passport Management unit, an independent panel of experts tasked with identifying potential deviations that could indicate the use of performance-enhancing drugs or methods. The unit continuously initiated follow-up measures — including targeted analyses, additional sampling, and targeted testing — wherever warranted.

All anti-doping activities were conducted in accordance with FIFA's Anti-Doping Regulations and the World Anti-Doping Code, the global framework that governs clean sport.

Partnership at the heart of delivery

The programme was executed in close coordination with USADA, Sport Integrity Canada, and MEX-NADO, as well as FIFA's international network of Doping Control Officers — a tri-national collaboration reflecting the competition's spread across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Carlos Lopez, FIFA's Senior Anti-Doping Manager, said: