Coordinated actions by law enforcement agencies across multiple countries resulted in the blocking of hundreds of illegal streaming sites, including 14 in Argentina, 223 in Ecuador, 28 in Peru, 309 in Brazil, 256 in the Dominican Republic, and 1,140 in Colombia. Colombian authorities also conducted 13 nationwide search-and-seizure operations targeting the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit sports apparel, leading to 11 arrests and convictions.
The seized domains were used to illegally offer copyright-protected content to users, in the form of real-time streams of 2026 World Cup matches as they are being played and first broadcast, according to an affidavit filed in support of a seizure warrant which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Special agents of the US Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) confirmed that the seized domains were actively broadcasting World Cup matches without authorization. They were identified with assistance of FIFA, with further supporting information provided by beIN Media Group, NBC Universal, Motion Picture Association’s Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and Warner Brothers.
The seizures occurred over three separate law enforcement actions during the World Cup, beginning with nearly 400 sites seized by the end of June, and were based on investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington Field Office and the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center.
In addition to the U.S. actions, law enforcement authorities across the Western Hemisphere, in coordination with the Justice Department’s International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (ICHIP) program, carried out extensive enforcement actions as part of “Operation Red Card” to combat digital piracy and counterfeiting linked to the World Cup.
How the case unfolded
The ICHIP for Internet-Based Fraud and Public Health and ICHIP São Paulo coordinated efforts among Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru, including a two-day intergovernmental meeting in Bogotá, Colombia, from July 1 and 2, with the Colombian Attorney General’s Cybercrime Unit, Specialized Directorate Against Organized Crime, and HSI Attaché offices.
Building on a first phase on June 17 targeting counterfeit sports apparel in Colombia, authorities launched Phase II of Operation Red Card on July 10, executing simultaneous operations in Colombia including in Bogotá, Soacha, Maríalabaja, Manatí, and Sincerín.
An ICHIP-mentored cybercrime prosecutorial team from the Colombian Attorney General’s Office arrested four members of the cybercriminal group Los Ciberinfiltrados, which since 2024 had illegally accessed telecommunication systems and sold pirated streaming content, including World Cup matches, via fraudulent credentials, VPNs, interception of security codes, and manipulation of corporate system profiles.
In addition, ICHIP Bucharest coordinated efforts with Europol and foreign counterparts in Europe to combat illegal streaming activities in Europe during the World Cup.
About FIFA
FIFA is the international governing body of association football (soccer) and holds the exclusive rights to sanction and stage the FIFA World Cup 2026, which was hosted in multiple cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Why it matters
Effective law enforcement actions at this level require a labyrinth of coordination across many agencies.
The US Justice Department provides intellectual property and cybercrime technical assistance to foreign law enforcement, prosecutorial, and judicial partners in other countries through International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (ICHIP) programits ICHIP program.
The US DoJ Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
Further reading
United States seizes more than 1,000 Internet domains used to illegally stream World Cup 2026 matches. Press release. July 20, 2026. US Department of Justice
