Around 1,400 websites accused of illegally streaming 2026 FIFA World Cup matches have lost their advertising income as authorities intensify efforts to curb online piracy during the tournament.
The Athletic reported on Tuesday, “Nearly 1,400 illegal World Cup streaming sites have had their advertising revenue cut off as part of the wider fight against digital piracy”.
The campaign was led by the Trustworthy Accountability Group, an organisation backed by the global advertising industry to combat fraud and criminal activities in digital advertising.
The move comes shortly after the U.S. Department of Justice shut down nearly 400 websites linked to pirated World Cup broadcasts in an operation known as “Operation Offsides.”
Officials believe denying pirate platforms access to advertising revenue will weaken their operations and reduce the spread of illegal broadcasts as the tournament continues across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The popularity of unauthorised streams has grown as many football fans seek cheaper or free alternatives to licensed broadcasters, particularly where subscriptions are costly or viewing is restricted by location.
By targeting companies that place adverts on these websites, the latest initiative seeks to dismantle the financial system that keeps piracy networks running.
The action is part of broader efforts to protect intellectual property rights in sports broadcasting, with FIFA and its media partners continuing to battle illegal streaming that threatens the value of multi-billion-dollar television rights agreements.
The development has generated mixed reactions online.
One user, “The World Cup belongs to the world, all games should be universally available, FIFA must be dismantled and replaced with a body which prioritises sport over money,” #weirdfigs posted.
Another user, #Kingsmaniq, said, “This World Cup has been so strict with streaming and other things. Making it boring.”
Authorities are expected to keep tracking new piracy websites that may appear in place of those already targeted, while urging supporters to use legitimate viewing platforms to avoid security risks and possible legal consequences.
