US Department of Justice Seizes Over 1,000 Domains Illegally Streaming FIFA World Cup 2026 Matches

On July 20, 2026, the United States Department of Justice disclosed the seizure of over 1,000 internet domains used to illegally stream live matches from the FIFA World Cup Finals, violating US copyright law. These seizures were executed through three separate enforcement actions during the tournament, including nearly 400 domains seized by the end of June. The investigations were led by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington Field Office and the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center).

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division emphasized the administration’s commitment to intellectual property rights enforcement and the success of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. “Operation Offsides is part of the Department’s ongoing effort to protect copyright while reducing the risk to American consumers from the malicious software embedded in many illicit streaming services,” Duva stated.

Director Ivan J. Arvelo of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center highlighted the broader impact of unauthorized broadcasts, noting, “The unauthorized broadcast of World Cup matches violates intellectual property rights and fuels criminal organizations. Through Operation Offsides and strong partnerships with law enforcement and the private sector, we identified and seized hundreds of domains, disrupting those who steal and distribute copyrighted content.”

HSI Deputy Executive Associate Director Matthew Millhollin warned consumers about the risks of illicit streaming platforms, which often embed malware or steal payment information. “Protect your online presence and enjoy the finals with official streaming partners,” he advised.

The seizures were supported by an affidavit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, which detailed that the domains were actively broadcasting real-time streams of World Cup matches without authorization. The identification of these domains was facilitated by FIFA, the exclusive rights holder for the World Cup, with additional support from beIN Media Group, NBC Universal, the Motion Picture Association’s Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and Warner Brothers.

FIFA, as the international governing body of association football, holds exclusive rights to sanction and stage the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is hosted across multiple cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Complementing the US enforcement actions, law enforcement agencies across the Western Hemisphere coordinated under the Justice Department’s International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (ICHIP) program to combat digital piracy and counterfeiting linked to the World Cup. This multinational initiative, dubbed Operation Red Card, involved countries including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru.

A two-day intergovernmental meeting in Bogotá, Colombia, from July 1 to 2, brought together the Colombian Attorney General’s Cybercrime Unit, Specialized Directorate Against Organized Crime, and HSI Attaché offices to coordinate these efforts. The operation resulted in the blocking of hundreds of illegal streaming sites: 14 in Argentina, 223 in Ecuador, 28 in Peru, 309 in Brazil, 256 in the Dominican Republic, and 1,140 in Colombia.

Colombian authorities also conducted 13 nationwide search-and-seizure operations targeting counterfeit sports apparel manufacturing and distribution, leading to 11 arrests and convictions. Building on a prior phase targeting counterfeit apparel on June 17, Phase II of Operation Red Card commenced on July 10 with simultaneous operations in multiple Colombian cities, including Bogotá, Soacha, Maríalabaja, Manatí, and Sincerín.

An ICHIP-mentored cybercrime prosecutorial team from the Colombian Attorney General’s Office arrested four members of the cybercriminal group Los Ciberinfiltrados. Since 2024, this group had illegally accessed telecommunication systems and sold pirated streaming content, including World Cup matches, through fraudulent credentials, VPNs, interception of security codes, and manipulation of corporate system profiles.