US Seizes Nearly 400 Websites That Were Illegally Streaming World Cup, DOJ Says [View all]

Source: US News & World Report/Reuters

June 26, 2026, at 6:45 p.m.


WASHINGTON, June 26 (Reuters) - The ⁠United ⁠States has seized nearly ⁠400 internet domains that were being used to ​illegally stream the World Cup, officials said on Friday, describing the ‌move as one meant ‌to disrupt international networks profiting from the popularity of ⁠the tournament.

The ⁠U.S. Justice Department said the domains were identified with ​the assistance of soccer governing body FIFA and others, including NBC Universal and Warner Brothers. The domains were used to illegally offer users copyright-protected ​content in the form of real-time streams of the World ⁠Cup ⁠matches as they were ⁠being ​played and first broadcast, the department said.

"These streamers not only violate copyright ​laws but also ⁠expose viewers to potential threats — including malware attacks and unsecure connections that can compromise personal and financial data," Eric Weindorf, a special agent in charge at Homeland Security Investigations, said ⁠in a statement.

Servers and domains linked to the unauthorized streaming of ⁠the tournament's matches were targeted in Peru and Bulgaria, the DOJ said, adding that additional disruptions took place in Croatia, Romania, Poland and Colombia.

Read more: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2026-06-26/us-seizes-nearly-400-websites-that-were-illegally-streaming-world-cup-doj-says