DOJ Seizes Hundreds of Internet Domains Used to Illegally Stream World Cup Soccer Matches

The U.S. Department of Justice has seized nearly 400 internet domains involved in the unauthorized real-time streaming of FIFA World Cup matches. This enforcement action, part of a broader initiative called Operation Offsides, aims to protect the intellectual property rights of official broadcasters and the international governing body of soccer. For the streaming and media sector, this crackdown highlights the intensifying legal battle against digital piracy during high-profile global sporting events.

The Department of Justice announced the seizure of nearly 400 domains engaged in the unauthorized streaming of FIFA World Cup matches in violation of U.S. copyright law. According to an affidavit filed June 26 in the Eastern District of Virginia, these seized domains were used to illegally offer real-time streams of 2026 World Cup matches as they were being first broadcast. The operation relied on identification assistance from FIFA and supporting information from industry giants including beIN Media Group, NBC Universal, the Motion Picture Association’s Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), the UFC, and Warner Bros.

This enforcement action is part of Operation Offsides, a global initiative led by the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The operation involved international coordination through the International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (ICHIP) Network, targeting servers and domains in known piracy hubs such as Peru and Bulgaria, with additional disruptions in Croatia, Romania, Poland, and Colombia. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva stated that the Criminal Division intends to continue disrupting and prosecuting the subjects responsible for these sites to uphold the United States' responsibility as a host nation for the 2026 tournament.

Beyond the legal implications for broadcasters, authorities highlighted the cybersecurity risks posed to consumers who use these unauthorized platforms. Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf of HSI Washington warned that these sites often expose viewers to malware and unsecure connections that can compromise personal and financial data. The persistent nature of this issue is reflected in historical data from the 2018 World Cup, where the firm Irdeto detected more than 5,000 unique illegal streams. As legitimate services like Fox Corp.’s Tubi launch dedicated 2026 FIFA World Cup hubs, these DOJ seizures represent a critical effort to protect the multi-billion dollar streaming and media rights associated with global sports.