U.S. Seizes Nearly 400 Domains for Illegal FIFA World Cup Streaming

U.S. authorities have seized nearly 400 internet domains accused of illegally streaming 2026 FIFA World Cup matches. This action formed part of a larger international operation involving collaboration with FIFA, NBCUniversal, and Warner Bros. Discovery. The domains were identified through a joint investigation that targeted unauthorized streaming activities.

The crackdown focused on servers located in Peru and Bulgaria. Coordination with law enforcement also took place in Croatia, Romania, Poland, and Colombia. Officials carried out the seizures citing copyright violations along with the resulting loss of revenue for the industry.

Cybersecurity risks to users of these platforms were another factor mentioned in connection with the operation. These risks include the potential for malware infections and the theft of personal information from individuals accessing the illegal streams.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The event is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19. The international effort underscores the challenges of protecting broadcast rights in the digital age for such large-scale sporting events.