The US Justice Department’s latest crackdown on online piracy has resulted in the seizure of nearly 400 web domains used for illegally streaming matches at the FIFA World Cup. These websites, which had been providing unauthorized real-time streams of the tournament, have been shut down by law enforcement authorities as part of a coordinated global effort to protect consumers and enforce intellectual property rights worldwide.
The operation, dubbed “Operation Offsides,” was led by the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center in partnership with international law enforcement agencies and private sector partners. The seized domains were identified using leads provided by US authorities, with assistance from 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 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. Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf of ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington Field Office warned that “these streamers are often linked to organized crime groups, who use the proceeds from these illicit activities to fund other nefarious activities.”
The seizure of these domains comes just a month after the FBI warned of fake websites impersonating FIFA ahead of the 2026 World Cup. These scams aimed to sell fake tickets and hospitality packages, steal personal and financial information, and push other scams and fraud attempts related to the event.
This latest crackdown is part of an ongoing effort to disrupt major sports piracy rings that have been linked to platforms like PirloTV. Last week, ACE, UEFA, UC3, and Mexican authorities shut down 44 domains as part of a major takedown operation against PirloTV. These domains generated over 950 million visits every year, including around 230 million from Mexico alone.
PirloTV aggregates and embeds links to unauthorized live sports streams, primarily soccer, and has been notorious for aggressively migrating to new domains following takedown actions by authorities. The platform primarily targeted viewers throughout Latin America, with particularly strong audiences in Mexico and Colombia, while also attracting significant traffic from markets such as Spain and the United States.
The World Cup 2026 matches have become a prime target for these pirate platforms due to the complexity of accessing legitimate streaming services on mobile devices. Fragmented broadcasting rights and platform-specific access restrictions complicate legal access to the content, making it an attractive target for pirates.
In light of this latest crackdown, we urge readers to exercise caution when searching for online streams of the FIFA World Cup. Always verify the authenticity of the website or service before accessing the stream, and be aware that pirated streams often come with hidden risks such as malware attacks and unsecure connections. Stay vigilant and test every layer of your security defenses before attackers do – it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Source: Bleeping Computer — 2026-06-29