The United States Government has seized hundreds of internet domains that were engaged in the unauthorized streaming of matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in violation of U.S. copyright law.
The Department of Justice said the approximately 400 sites affected used their domains for profit, to disrupt the international networks that profit from the global popularity of the football tournament.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the DoJ’s Criminal Division said the operation illustrates the U.S. respect for intellectual property rights and its responsibility as a host nation.
Duva added that the Criminal Division will continue to disrupt and, where appropriate, “seek to prosecute these sites and the subjects responsible for this criminal activity.”
Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf of ICE HSI Washington Field Office said streamers not only violate copyright laws but also expose viewers to potential threats that can compromise personal and financial data.
Weindorf noted that the website takedowns are a critical part of HSI’s strategy to uphold intellectual property laws, ”ensuring fans have a safe and authentic experience supporting their teams during the World Cup.”
Servers and domains linked to illegal streaming of World Cup games were targeted in Peru and Bulgaria. Additional ICHIP-supported disruptions took place in Croatia, Romania, Poland, and Colombia.
The World Cup Round of 32 is underway, with two spots claimed in the Round of 16. The Third-place match is slated for July 18 at Hard Rock Stadium, Florida, and the Final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey.
