Justice Department seizes World Cup streaming domains
US authorities said more than 1,000 domains carried unauthorized live World Cup streams, citing copyright violations and consumer malware risks.
By Rafael Ortiz · Fintech Correspondent
· 3 min read
The US Justice Department said Monday it had seized more than 1,000 internet domains used to stream World Cup matches without authorization. The domains were taken in three separate actions during the global soccer tournament, following an investigation led by the Homeland Security Investigations Washington Field Office and the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center.
The department said the seized sites offered real-time streams of World Cup matches in violation of copyright law. The investigation was conducted with FIFA, the tournament’s governing body, and several broadcasting and entertainment organizations, according to the Justice Department’s announcement.
The enforcement campaign, called Operation Offsides, targets websites that distribute copyrighted sports programming without permission from rights holders. In such cases, authorities seek to disrupt access to domains alleged to be facilitating illegal streams, reducing the reach of sites that can draw audiences away from licensed broadcasters and official digital channels.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said the action reflected the administration’s focus on intellectual property protections and on the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He said Operation Offsides was part of the department’s continuing effort to protect copyright and to reduce consumer exposure to malicious software that can be embedded in illicit streaming services.
Matthew Millhollin, deputy executive associate director of HSI, said viewers who use unauthorized streaming sites may face security risks beyond copyright issues. He said operators of illegal platforms that stream copyrighted World Cup games could also try to place malware on devices or steal payment information.
The Justice Department did not identify the seized domains in the announcement, nor did it provide figures on traffic, advertising revenue or financial losses linked to the sites. Its statement focused on the number of domains seized, the timing of the three actions and the agencies involved in the investigation.
Rights enforcement and consumer risk
Live sports rights are a significant commercial asset for leagues, governing bodies and broadcasters because match broadcasts attract real-time audiences that are harder to replicate on demand. Unauthorized streaming can weaken the value of those rights by making live coverage available outside licensed distribution agreements.
Authorities also tied the enforcement action to cybersecurity concerns. The Justice Department and HSI said illicit streaming services can expose users to malware and payment-information theft, risks that sit alongside the copyright allegations against the domain operators.
The World Cup has also drawn scrutiny around technology failures during the tournament. PYMNTS reported earlier this month that a Coinbase artificial intelligence system told millions of users on July 5 that Norway had beaten Brazil 3-2 before the match had started. Norway later won the match by a 2-1 score, according to that report.
PYMNTS said sports prediction errors carry lower stakes than similar failures in financial services. Research from PYMNTS Intelligence found that 60% of financial services companies use AI for credit risk assessment and scoring, and that 85% plan to increase AI budgets over the next 12 months.
This story draws on original reporting from PYMNTS.
