Eden Hazard joins Stake as global ambassador

Stake has appointed former Chelsea and Real Madrid winger Eden Hazard as a global ambassador ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

The online sportsbook and casino said Hazard will support fan engagement activity across the 2026 football season, with a focus on digital campaigns tied to the tournament this summer.

Hazard played 126 times for Belgium and captained the national side from 2015 to 2023. He was part of the Belgium team that finished third at the 2018 World Cup and won major honours at club level, including the Champions League, two Premier League titles, two La Liga titles and two Europa League titles. 

Stake said the appointment forms part of its preparations for the expanded World Cup, which will be staged across the USA, Canada and Mexico with 48 teams taking part. 

The operator also pointed to Hazard's online reach as part of the rationale for the deal. According to Stake, the former winger has more than 58 million followers across social media platforms, including more than 27 million on Instagram, 21 million on Facebook, 6.3 million on X and 3.75 million on Weibo.

Stake Chief Marketing Officer Akhil Sarin said: "Eden Hazard is a player who embodies creativity, flair and big-stage performance."

Sarin added: "He has performed at the very highest level of the game and understands exactly what it means to deliver when the world is watching."

Hazard said: "The World Cup remains the pinnacle of our sport. I can't wait to engage with fans in new and meaningful ways."

The deal adds Hazard to Stake's wider roster of sporting ambassadors as the operator increases its football-facing marketing around a major international event. 

The announcement also shows the continued use of former elite players in ambassador roles as betting operators seek broader audience reach during peak tournament periods. 

In past news, Stake expanded its casino content offering in Denmark through a deal with Amusnet Gaming. In that agreement, Stake Denmark added a range of Amusnet titles to its platform as the supplier sought further growth in the Nordics and other regulated markets.