While The World Watched Soccer, The DOJ Was Building A Case

The Justice Department announced Monday that it seized more than 1,000 internet domains used to illegally stream matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The crackdown, dubbed “Operation Offsides,” ran throughout the month-long tournament and resulted in the seizure of more than 1,000 websites and the blocking of nearly 2,000 domains, according to the DOJ. Investigators said they received more than 3,000 leads. 

“The sustained effort to seize more than a thousand domains dedicated to illegally streaming the World Cup confirms the administration’s commitment to intellectual property rights and to the success of the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Criminal Division said in the release.

Homeland Security Investigations Deputy Executive Associate Director Matthew Millhollin warned that many illegal streaming sites also expose users to malware and payment theft. 

“Criminals operating these unauthorized platforms are already willing to break the law when they stream copyrighted World Cup games, they might also be planning to inject malware or steal your payment information,” Millhollin said. “Protect your online presence and enjoy the finals with official streaming partners.”

The DOJ said the seized domains were “illegally offering users copyright-protected content in the form of real-time streams”. FIFA, beIN Media Group, NBC Universal, the Motion Picture Association’s Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment, Ultimate Fighting Championship, and Warner Brothers helped investigators identify the sites. The DOJ replaced and seized websites with a federal seizure notice. 

U.S. Department of Justice

The operation expanded on an enforcement action announced last month that resulted in the seizure of nearly 400 domains.

Separately, the DOJ said its International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property program participated in “Operation Red Card,” an international effort targeting digital piracy and counterfeiting linked to the World Cup in Colombia.