United States Seizes More Than 1,000 Domains Streaming World Cup 2026 Matches
Do Son 
At a glance
| Actor / group | Piracy site operators. Four alleged members of “Los Ciberinfiltrados” arrested in Colombia |
| Activity type | Illegal streaming of World Cup 2026 matches and counterfeit sports apparel |
| Targets / victims | Broadcasters and rights holders. Fans lured to unauthorized streams |
| Scale | More than 1,000 US domains seized. Thousands more sites blocked across Latin America |
| Law-enforcement status | Active. Seizures, arrests, and convictions reported |
| Source | U.S. Department of Justice press release |
TL;DR
The U.S. Department of Justice seized more than 1,000 internet domains tied to illegal World Cup streaming. The action is part of Operation Offsides. Partner countries in Latin America and Europe blocked thousands more sites and made arrests.
What happened
U.S. authorities took down over 1,000 domains that streamed World Cup 2026 matches without permission. The seizures fall under Operation Offsides, led by the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center.
The campaign reached well beyond U.S. borders. Partner agencies blocked hundreds of illegal streaming sites across the region. The reported tallies include 1,140 in Colombia, 309 in Brazil, 256 in the Dominican Republic, 223 in Ecuador, 28 in Peru, and 14 in Argentina.
A wider crackdown
Colombian authorities also ran 13 nationwide search-and-seizure operations against counterfeit sports apparel. Those actions led to 11 arrests and convictions. Meanwhile, ICHIP Bucharest coordinated with Europol to fight illegal streaming in Europe during the tournament.
Who is behind it
In Colombia, prosecutors arrested four members of a group called “Los Ciberinfiltrados.” The DOJ says the group, since 2024, “illegally accessed telecommunication systems and sold pirated streaming content, including World Cup matches.” Authorities describe methods such as fraudulent credentials, VPNs, interception of security codes, and manipulation of corporate system profiles.
These individuals are charged, not convicted. Guilt has not been proven for the recent arrests. Attribution here rests on official law-enforcement statements from named agencies.
Impact and scale
The numbers point to a large, coordinated effort. According to the DOJ, the goal is “disrupting illegal World Cup streaming and protecting intellectual property rights.” The department notes that, since 2020, its computer crime section has secured over 180 convictions. It also cites court orders returning more than $350 million in victim funds.
What comes next and how fans stay safe
Expect more streaming domain seizures as the tournament continues. Pirate sites often reappear under new names, so enforcement will likely stay active. Fans should stick to licensed broadcasters and official apps. Free “full match” streams frequently hide malware, scams, and data theft. When a stream looks too good to be true, it usually is.
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