US shuts down nearly 400 pirated World Cup websites

The US Department of Justice said it has shut down nearly 400 World Cup piracy domains to prevent profiteering from the tournament's popularity.

The US Department of Justice said on June 26 that the domains were identified with the support of world football's governing body (FIFA) and other entities, including NBC Universal and Warner Bros.

These sites illegally provided users with copyrighted content in the form of live streams of ongoing World Cup matches.

"These pirated sites not only violate copyright laws but also expose viewers to multiple potential threats, including malware attacks and insecure connections that can leak personal and financial data," said Eric Weindorf, special agent in charge of US Homeland Security Investigations.

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Matheus Cunha shoots to score the third goal for Brazil in their 3-0 win against Scotland in Group C of the 2026 World Cup at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida on June 24. Photo: AP

The US Department of Justice added that servers and domains related to the pirated broadcasting of the tournament's matches were detected and shut down in Peru and Bulgaria. Similar enforcement actions were also carried out simultaneously in Croatia, Romania, Poland, and Colombia.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 11 in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Matches are taking place in 16 cities across these three countries until July 19.

According to figures from FIFA, stadium attendance for the matches has set records. Meanwhile, research firm Nielsen pointed out that last week's matches were among the most-watched television programs, led by the US team's victory over Australia.