Nearly 1,400 illegal websites streaming unauthorised 2026 FIFA World Cup matches have lost access to advertising revenue in the latest crackdown on digital piracy, as authorities and industry groups intensify efforts to disrupt illegal broadcasts.
The Athletic on Tuesday reported, “Nearly 1,400 illegal World Cup streaming sites have had their advertising revenue cut off as part of the wider fight against digital piracy”.
This latest blow to pirate operators was orchestrated by the Trustworthy Accountability Group, a non-profit established by the global advertising industry to combat ad-related crime.
The action comes just days after the U.S. Department of Justice seized nearly 400 sites streaming pirated World Cup content under “Operation Offsides.”
According to The Athletic, the move aims to starve these illicit platforms of crucial revenue streams, making it harder for them to sustain operations during the ongoing 2026 FIFA tournament hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
