Authorities in the United States and South America have taken down or blocked nearly 3,000 websites accused of illegally streaming matches from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The United States Department of Justice says more than 1,000 domains were shut down in the US, while similar actions were carried out in Colombia and other South American countries under operations tagged “Offsides” and “Red Card.”
The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center says the illegal broadcasts violated copyright laws and supported criminal networks.
Officials warned that unauthorised streaming of major sporting events continues to cause billions of dollars in losses for broadcasters and rights holders.
The crackdown was supported by FIFA and several media organisations, with enforcement agencies also targeting counterfeit World Cup merchandise.
In Colombia, several arrests were made, including members of an alleged cybercrime group accused of illegally distributing match access.
FIFA earns a significant portion of its revenue from the sale of broadcasting rights, as millions of fans worldwide tune in to watch the tournament.
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