The U.S. Department of Justice has seized nearly 400 websites that were illegally streaming live matches from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The domains were offering unauthorized real-time broadcasts of World Cup games, violating U.S. copyright laws and international intellectual property regulations.
The large-scale enforcement operation was carried out with the support of international law enforcement agencies through the International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (ICHIP) Network. Authorities targeted servers and domains located in Peru, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Poland, and Colombia as part of the coordinated crackdown.
Visitors trying to access the seized websites now see a notice stating that the domains have been confiscated during “Operation Offsides,” a global initiative led by the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center alongside international law enforcement agencies and private industry partners. The notice says the action was taken to protect consumers and enforce intellectual property rights worldwide.
Investigators traced the illegal streaming platforms using intelligence provided by FIFA, beIN Media Group, NBCUniversal, the Motion Picture Association’s Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and Warner Bros., helping authorities identify and shut down the networks behind the piracy operation.
According to Eric Weindorf, Special Agent in Charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations’ Washington Field Office, illegal streaming websites do more than break copyright laws. He warned that many of these platforms expose users to malware, insecure connections, and other cyber threats that can put personal and financial information at risk.
The announcement follows an FBI warning issued in May about fake FIFA-related websites created ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Those fraudulent sites attempted to trick fans into buying fake match tickets and hospitality packages while stealing sensitive personal and payment information.
The latest crackdown also comes shortly after ACE, UEFA, UC3, and Mexican authorities dismantled 44 domains connected to the notorious PirloTV sports piracy network. Those websites reportedly attracted more than 950 million visits every year, including around 230 million visitors from Mexico alone.
PirloTV has long been known for collecting and embedding unauthorized live sports streams, particularly football matches. The platform frequently shifts to new domain names after previous takedowns, making it difficult for authorities to keep it offline permanently.
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Officials say the illegal streaming service mainly targeted viewers across Latin America, especially in Mexico and Colombia, while also drawing significant traffic from Spain and the United States. Many fans reportedly turned to PirloTV to watch World Cup matches because official broadcasts were limited by regional licensing restrictions and fragmented streaming rights.
US Seizes Nearly 400 Illegal World Cup Streaming Websites
