US Seizes over 1,000 Websites in FIFA World Cup Piracy Crackdown
Federal authorities said the crackdown included three enforcement waves and arrests of four alleged cybercriminals tied to illegal World Cup streams.
- On Monday, the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed that federal authorities seized more than 1,000 internet domains used to broadcast 2026 FIFA World Cup matches without authorization under Operation Offsides.
- The seizures unfolded in three separate waves across the tournament, beginning June 26 when federal agents shut down nearly 400 domains, with two additional enforcement rounds pushing the total past 1,000 by Monday.
- Coordinated through the Justice Department's International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property program, Operation Red Card blocked sites across Latin America, including 1,140 in Colombia, 309 in Brazil, and 256 in the Dominican Republic.
- Authorities arrested four members of cybercriminal group Los Ciberinfiltrados, while officials warned that illegal streaming platforms often embed malware to steal payment information and compromise consumer security.
- Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva stated the effort confirms the administration's commitment to protecting intellectual property rights and reducing risks to American consumers from malicious software embedded in illicit streaming services.
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30 Articles
An operation coordinated by the United States Department of Justice resulted in the blockade of 309 Brazilian sites that illegally broadcast World Cup matches in 2026. The action was part of an international offensive against digital piracy and reached more than 2,000 domains in different countries. In Brazil, the official broadcasting rights of the World Cup belonged to Globo, SBT and CazéTV.
"They may also be planning to insert malware or steal your payment information," the warning reads.
The World Football Championship of 2026 came to an end, but also a whole galaxy of illegal platforms. Following the tournament, more than a thousand streaming sites were seized or blocked in...
In a large-scale, internationally coordinated operation, nearly three thousand websites and domains that were illegally broadcasting matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 have been blocked or seized. Law enforcement agencies in North and South America joined forces to put a stop to the large-scale streaming of the tournament.
More than half of these domains belonged to Colombia
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