The U.S. government is cracking down on illegal streams of World Cup matches.
The Department of Justice announced Friday that it seized nearly 400 websites involved in the unauthorized streaming of FIFA World Cup matches, in violation of U.S. copyright law.
The effort was meant to disrupt international networks profiting from the massive popularity of the World Cup, the department said. The initiative was dubbed Operation Offsides, a nod to the soccer rule responsible for some of the most controversial calls in this year’s tournament.
The operation is led by the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center in coordination with the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office in Washington, D.C., HSI attaché offices, and private-sector and law enforcement partners around the world.
“When you open your network to illegal streaming sites, you’re taking a significant risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) HSI Washington Field Office, in a press release. “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.”
The initiative also received support from international partners through the International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (ICHIP) Network of U.S. prosecutors. According to the DOJ, the seized domains were offering real-time streams of 2026 World Cup matches as they were being played and first broadcast without authorization.
Authorities targeted servers and domains linked to illegal streaming in Peru and Bulgaria, which the DOJ described as known centers of online piracy activity. Additional disruptions took place in Croatia, Romania, Poland, and Colombia.
The sites were found with assistance from FIFA, beIN Media Group, NBCUniversal, the UFC, and Warner Bros.
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,” a banner posted on the seized domains reads. “This action was taken to protect consumers and enforce intellectual property rights worldwide.”
The operation comes as the 2026 World Cup is in full swing. The global soccer tournament started on June 11 and is being co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The knockout stage began Sunday, and the final match is set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
U.S. fans can watch the tournament in English on Fox and FS1, with matches also streaming on Fox One. Spanish-language coverage is available through Telemundo, Universo, and Peacock. Alternatively, users can also use a VPN to catch games on international broadcasts.
