CBP Houston Seizes Over $6 Million in Counterfeit FIFA World Cup 2026 Merchandise at Seaport

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from the Area Port of Houston/Galveston Trade Enforcement Team announced a significant seizure of counterfeit merchandise related to the FIFA World Cup 2026. The confiscated goods include athletic wear, soccer balls, toys, sunglass cases, counterfeit Apple products, and perfumes, all infringing on intellectual property rights, particularly trademarks owned by FIFA.

The total domestic value of the seized counterfeit merchandise exceeds $6 million. Specifically, CBP officers intercepted approximately 12,000 Adidas soccer jerseys, 4,500 Adidas FIFA soccer balls, nearly 4,400 pairs of athletic shoes, and 69 packages containing over 2,200 counterfeit Apple watches and earbuds bearing the FIFA trademark logo. Additionally, a variety of toys and perfumes were seized during the enforcement action.

This operation reflects CBP’s ongoing efforts to protect American consumers and businesses from the risks posed by counterfeit goods. The agency routinely employs intelligence gathering and trend analysis ahead of major events such as the Super Bowl and the FIFA World Cup to identify and intercept shipments violating intellectual property rights.

The recent enforcement focused on recipients who accept shipments infringing on trademarks and copyrights associated with FIFA World Cup 2026™ and related merchandise. Similar nationwide operations have led to the seizure of thousands of counterfeit items, demonstrating a coordinated approach to intellectual property enforcement.

Most of the intercepted shipments originated from China and were destined for locations both within the United States and abroad. This highlights the global nature of counterfeit goods trafficking and the challenges faced by enforcement agencies.

Thomas Mahn, CBP Area Port Director, emphasized the agency’s dedication to protecting consumers from low-quality and potentially hazardous counterfeit products. He stated, “CBP takes very seriously our role in protecting American consumers from low quality and potentially dangerous counterfeit items. With the extraordinary growth in e-commerce, consumers should always be mindful of where they are buying their products.”

Mahn further warned about the deceptive tactics used by criminal networks to scam sports fans and damage legitimate businesses. “Unfortunately, these criminal networks are very deceptive in scamming sports fans and harming American consumers and businesses. CBP works tirelessly every day to protect the public, our local economy, and those who play by the rules.”

This seizure at the Houston/Galveston port underscores the critical role of CBP in enforcing intellectual property rights and safeguarding the integrity of major international sporting events like the FIFA World Cup 2026. The agency’s proactive measures aim to disrupt counterfeit supply chains and protect both consumers and trademark owners from infringement and fraud.