U.S. Shuts Down Nearly 400 Pirate Websites Streaming World Cup Matches

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the seized domains were used to illegally stream World Cup matches live without authorization from copyright holders. During the operation, authorities also disrupted related domains and servers in Peru and Bulgaria, while additional enforcement actions were carried out in Croatia, Romania, Poland, and Colombia.

“This operation demonstrates the Department’s commitment to protecting intellectual property rights and the United States’ responsibility as a host nation to safeguard the FIFA World Cup from criminal activity,” said A. Tycen Duva, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

The domain seizures were part of Operation Offsides, an international effort aimed at disrupting illegal World Cup streaming and combating copyright infringement.

The Department of Justice also noted that since 2020, its Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) has secured the convictions of more than 180 cybercriminals and intellectual property offenders, while recovering over $350 million for victims.

Officials emphasized that pirate streaming platforms pose risks not only to copyright owners but also to viewers.

“These streamers not only violate copyright laws, but also expose viewers to potential threats, including malware attacks and insecure connections that can compromise personal and financial information. Removing these websites is a key part of HSI’s intellectual property enforcement strategy, helping ensure fans can safely and legitimately support their teams during the FIFA World Cup,” said HSI Special Agent Erik Weindorf.

Ahead of the tournament, Bulgaria and Europol also carried out Operation KRATOS 2, dismantling nine organized crime groups and removing more than 27,000 illegal streaming URLs.

According to Europol, operators of illegal streaming services are increasingly relying on sophisticated technical infrastructure. They separate customer-facing websites from the servers hosting pirated content and distribute their infrastructure across multiple countries to make detection and takedowns more difficult.