US and South American Authorities Shut Down Nearly 3,000 Websites for Illegal World Cup Streaming

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that nearly 3,000 websites have been blocked or seized for illegally streaming World Cup matches. More than 1,000 domains were shut down in the United States alone during the tournament, with a comparable number blocked in Colombia.

These enforcement actions were conducted under two coordinated investigations named "operation offsides" and "operation red card," involving agencies across the Americas. The efforts were largely overseen by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which includes the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (NIPRCC).

Ivan J. Arvelo, director of the NIPRCC, emphasized that unauthorized broadcasting of World Cup matches infringes on intellectual property rights and "fuels criminal organizations." The DOJ had previously taken down 400 webpages for illegal streaming at the end of last month, with hundreds more removed or blocked since then.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva stated, "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."

Illegal streaming of sports events often occurs through websites created specifically for such occasions. Broadcasters and companies estimate that piracy costs them billions of dollars annually. Football, due to its global appeal, is pirated on an "industrial scale," according to analysts.

The rising costs of broadcasting rights have led to higher prices for fans, especially those subscribing to multiple services to watch their favorite teams. This economic pressure has driven some viewers to seek illegal streams of major games.

Charles Rivkin, chairman of the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), which combats digital piracy and supported the enforcement operations, remarked that the World Cup is the "kind of global live event that piracy networks move quickly to exploit."

The crackdown received backing from FIFA, the tournament organizer, as well as media companies including beIN Media Group, NBC Universal, Ultimate Fighting Championship, and Warner Brothers. FIFA's revenue heavily relies on the sale of broadcasting rights to global media networks.

Requests for comment from FIFA and the other media entities were not immediately returned.

In Colombia, the Attorney General's Office reported several arrests linked to the operations. Four individuals identified as members of the cybercriminal group "Los Ciberinfiltrados" were detained for allegedly obtaining and distributing unauthorized access to World Cup games.

Additionally, authorities took down 830 websites across Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic. Colombian police also conducted nationwide search-and-seizure operations targeting counterfeit sports apparel.

These coordinated actions highlight the ongoing international commitment to protecting intellectual property rights and combating digital piracy related to major sporting events.