Authorities in the United States and several South American countries have shut down or blocked nearly 3,000 websites accused of illegally streaming FIFA World Cup matches in one of the biggest anti-piracy operations linked to a global sporting event.
The coordinated enforcement effort, led by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), targeted websites accused of violating intellectual property rights by providing unauthorised access to World Cup broadcasts.
The crackdown was carried out under two international investigations, Operation Offsides and Operation Red Card.
According to the DOJ, more than 1,000 domains were seized or blocked in the United States, while Colombia shut down a similar number of websites.
Authorities in Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and the Dominican Republic also participated in the operation, taking down an additional 830 websites linked to illegal streaming.
The DOJ had announced the closure of about 400 websites late last month, but the latest operation significantly expanded the enforcement campaign.
“The sustained effort to seize more than a thousand domains dedicated to illegally streaming the World Cup confirms the administration’s commitment to intellectual property rights and to the success of the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva.
The operation was largely coordinated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through its National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (NIPRCC).
NIPRCC Director Ivan J. Arvelo said illegal streaming of World Cup matches not only infringes on intellectual property rights but also supports organised criminal networks.
“Unauthorised broadcasting of World Cup matches violates intellectual property rights and fuels criminal organizations,” he said.
The enforcement action extended beyond illegal streaming.
In Colombia, authorities arrested four suspected members of a cybercrime group known as Los Ciberinfiltrados, accusing them of illegally obtaining and distributing access to World Cup broadcasts.
Police also carried out nationwide raids targeting counterfeit sports merchandise.
According to the DOJ, 11 people in Colombia have been arrested and convicted for manufacturing and distributing fake sporting goods.
Sports piracy has become a growing concern for broadcasters and rights holders, who estimate that illegal streaming costs the industry billions of dollars annually.
Football, in particular, is considered one of the world’s most pirated sports because of its global popularity.
Industry analysts say the rising cost of broadcasting rights has driven up subscription prices, prompting some fans to turn to illegal streaming platforms to watch major tournaments.
The anti-piracy campaign received support from several organisations, including FIFA, beIN Media Group, NBCUniversal, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Warner Bros., and the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE).
ACE Chairman Charles Rivkin said piracy networks move quickly to exploit major global sporting events.
“The World Cup is exactly the kind of global live event that piracy networks move quickly to exploit,” he said.
Broadcasting rights remain one of FIFA’s largest sources of revenue, making the protection of official broadcasts a key priority for the governing body and its media partners.
The latest enforcement operation underscores growing international cooperation to combat digital piracy and protect the commercial value of live sports broadcasting.
