US shuts down nearly 400 pirate World Cup streaming websites
The US Department of Justice has seized nearly 400 domains illegally streaming FIFA World Cup 2026 matches in a crackdown on copyright law violations.
Image by Erman Gunes | Shutterstock
- The Justice Department seized nearly 400 domains used to illegally stream FIFA World Cup 2026 matches for profit.
- The crackdown targeted international piracy networks and disrupted domains and servers in several countries, including Peru, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Poland, and Colombia.
- Officials said the operation protects intellectual property rights and supports the US role as a host nation for the World Cup.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
The US Department of Justice has seized nearly 400 domains illegally streaming FIFA World Cup 2026 matches in a crackdown on copyright law violations.
Officials said the operation aimed to disrupt international networks that illegally stream World Cup matches for profit.
The domains were used to actively stream copyright-protected matches during live broadcasts without authorization. Domains and servers connected to the activity were disrupted in Peru and Bulgaria, with action also taken in Croatia, Romania, Poland, and Colombia.
“This operation illustrates the Department’s respect for intellectual property rights and the responsibility of the United States as a host nation to protect the FIFA World Cup from criminals,” Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said.
The seizure was part of Operation Offsides, an international operation that focuses on disrupting illegal World Cup streaming and copyright infringement.
The Justice Department's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS), which investigates cybercrime and intellectual property crime, said it has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals and IP criminals and recovered over $350 million in victim funds since 2020.
According to HSI Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf, accessing illegal streaming sites poses significant cybersecurity risks for users.
“These streamers not only violate copyright laws but also expose viewers to potential threats — including malware attacks and unsecure connections that can compromise personal and financial data. These website takedowns are a critical part of HSI’s strategy to uphold intellectual property laws, ensuring fans have a safe and authentic experience supporting their teams during the World Cup,” Weindorf said.
Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Bulgaria and Europol carried out Operation KRATOS 2, dismantling nine organized crime groups and taking down over 27,000 illegal streaming URLs.
According to Europol, the groups behind illegal streaming services “increasingly rely on complex technical infrastructure, separating customer-facing websites from the servers hosting the illegal content and distributing these services across several countries to avoid detection”.
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