US shuts down nearly 400 websites streaming 2026 FIFA World Cup illegally

US shuts down nearly 400 websites streaming 2026 FIFA World Cup illegally

The United States government has seized nearly 400 websites accused of illegally streaming matches from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in what authorities described as one of the largest international crackdowns on digital sports piracy.

The operation, codenamed Operation Offsides, was carried out by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in collaboration with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and international law enforcement partners to dismantle networks profiting from unauthorized broadcasts of the global football tournament.

According to a statement issued by the DOJ’s Office of Public Affairs, seizure warrants for the domains were filed at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia after investigators confirmed the websites were illegally transmitting live FIFA World Cup matches without authorization.

Authorities said HSI special agents verified that the domains were actively broadcasting World Cup games in real time, infringing U.S. copyright laws and depriving official broadcasters and rights holders of legitimate revenue.

The Justice Department disclosed that the websites were identified with intelligence and technical support from FIFA, beIN Media Group, NBCUniversal, the Motion Picture Association’s Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Warner Bros.

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Officials said the coordinated operation also targeted servers and digital infrastructure linked to piracy networks operating in Peru and Bulgaria, which investigators described as major hubs for illegal online streaming.

Additional enforcement actions, supported through the International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (ICHIP) Network, were carried out in Croatia, Romania, Poland and Colombia, underscoring the global nature of the piracy networks.

Commenting on the operation, Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the DOJ’s Criminal Division said the seizures demonstrate the U.S. government’s commitment to protecting intellectual property rights and safeguarding the integrity of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“We have seized hundreds of domains used to illegally stream World Cup matches for profit to disrupt the international networks that exploit the global popularity of the World Cup,” Duva said.

He added that, as one of the tournament’s host nations, the United States has a responsibility to protect FIFA’s commercial rights and pursue those responsible for online copyright infringement.

“The Criminal Division will continue to disrupt and, where appropriate, seek to prosecute these sites and the subjects responsible for this criminal activity,” he said.

Director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, Ivan J. Arvelo, said the success of Operation Offsides was made possible through close collaboration between law enforcement agencies and private-sector partners.

According to Arvelo, the operation disrupted major piracy networks while ensuring football fans could access World Cup coverage through legitimate and secure platforms.

HSI Washington Field Office Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf also warned that illegal streaming websites expose users to cybersecurity threats beyond copyright violations.

He said many unauthorized streaming platforms carry risks such as malware infections, phishing attacks and the theft of personal or financial information.

The DOJ noted that the investigation remains ongoing and indicated that additional enforcement actions and criminal prosecutions could follow as authorities continue tracking operators of illegal streaming platforms worldwide.

The crackdown comes as the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to attract record global audiences, with millions of fans following the tournament through licensed broadcasters and digital streaming services.

US shuts down nearly 400 websites streaming 2026 FIFA World Cup illegally