US justice department seizes 400 domains for illegal FIFA World Cup streaming

At a glance:

• US Justice Department seized nearly 400 domains used for illegal FIFA World Cup streaming
• Operation targeted servers in Peru, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Poland, and Colombia
• Seizures part of broader anti-piracy efforts including recent PirloTV takedown

The US Justice Department's Criminal Division has taken down nearly 400 web domains that were facilitating illegal streams of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking a significant escalation in global anti-piracy enforcement efforts. These websites were distributing unauthorized real-time matches in direct violation of US copyright law, potentially exposing millions of viewers to security risks including malware and financial data theft.

The coordinated operation spanned multiple continents, with authorities targeting infrastructure across Peru and Bulgaria, along with additional servers in Croatia, Romania, Poland, and Colombia. The seizure notices displayed on formerly active domains now bear stark warnings: "This website has been seized by law enforcement authorities as part of Operation Offsides, a coordinated global effort led by the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center with international law enforcement and private sector partners."

This action represents the latest front in an ongoing battle against sports piracy that has intensified in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup. The FBI had previously warned in May about fake websites impersonating FIFA to sell fraudulent tickets and hospitality packages, steal personal information, and orchestrate various scams tied to the tournament.

Private sector partnerships proved crucial to the operation's success. Law enforcement identified the seized domains with assistance from major industry players including FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), beIN Media Group, NBCUniversal, the Motion Picture Association's Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and Warner Bros. These organizations provided critical leads and expertise in tracking down the illegal streaming operations.

Security implications extend beyond mere copyright infringement. Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf of ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington Field Office emphasized the broader dangers, noting that these unauthorized 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."

The crackdown follows last week's parallel action by ACE, UEFA, UC3, and Mexican authorities who shut down 44 domains linked to the notorious PirloTV streaming platform. That network generated over 950 million visits annually, including approximately 230 million from Mexico alone. PirloTV specializes in aggregating and embedding links to unauthorized live sports streams, predominantly soccer content, and has gained notoriety for rapidly migrating to new domains following law enforcement takedowns.

The platform primarily targeted Latin American audiences, with particular strength in Mexico and Colombia, while also drawing significant traffic from Spain and the United States. This geographic focus reflects the broader challenge of content access restrictions and fragmented broadcasting rights that make legal viewing options complicated or unavailable in certain markets. PirloTV's mobile-first approach demonstrates how piracy operations adapt to modern consumption patterns, allowing World Cup 2026 matches to be watched on smartphones despite platform-specific access limitations.

These enforcement actions signal that authorities are increasingly treating sports piracy as both a copyright violation and a cybersecurity threat. The multi-jurisdictional nature of the recent seizures — involving coordination between the US, Peru, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Poland, and Colombia — illustrates the global scale of the problem and the growing sophistication of international cooperation in combating digital piracy networks.

The timing of these operations suggests preparation for the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. As the tournament approaches, similar enforcement actions are likely to continue, particularly targeting operations that profit from unauthorized distribution while potentially compromising viewer security through malware-laden streams and insecure connection protocols.