US DOJ seizes 400 domains streaming World Cup matches

Federal authorities have seized nearly 400 internet domains used to illegally stream live matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a major enforcement action aimed at disrupting international piracy networks. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the operation on June 26, describing it as one of the largest single crackdowns on sports piracy to date.

The coordinated effort, led by the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center under the banner of Operation Offsides, targeted websites that were broadcasting matches in real time without authorization. Officials said the domains were actively streaming games as they were being played, violating U.S. copyright laws. Investigators received direct assistance from FIFA, the tournament's governing body, and private media companies including NBCUniversal and Warner Bros., all of which hold exclusive broadcast rights.

Authorities emphasized that the piracy operations were sophisticated and profit-driven, not casual endeavors. The infrastructure behind the streams was traced to servers in multiple countries, with primary hubs identified in Peru and Bulgaria. Additional disruptions were carried out against operations in...