Vietnam police dismantle World Cup 2026 betting ring, 11 arrested

The Criminal Police Department of Nghe An province announced the successful disruption of an online football betting network that operated during the opening six days of the 2026 FIFA World Cup (June 11‑17). The scheme, run through the website www.hira88.com, moved more than 5 billion Vietnamese đồng in wagers.

Investigators identified Lê Văn Hoàng (born 1995, temporarily residing in Trấn Biên, Đồng Nai) as the manager of the main account in Vietnam. Hoàng coordinated with overseas partners to establish a multi‑tier betting operation, creating numerous sub‑accounts across many provinces. Two lower‑level agents, Nguyễn Quốc Trường and Trần Hữu An, also from Đồng Nai, each handled nearly 1 billion đồng and participated directly in betting.

Between June 17 and June 25, police arrested 11 individuals on charges of organizing and participating in illegal gambling. The case remains under investigation.