FIFA Shuts Down Over 1,000 Illegal World Cup Streaming Sites, Including Huri Batas TV
The article reports on FIFA’s large-scale anti-piracy campaign during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which resulted in the shutdown or seizure of more than 1,000 illegal streaming websites and links worldwide. Among the most prominent platforms affected was Huri Batas TV, a popular unauthorized streaming service in Nepal. The operation was carried out in cooperation with official broadcasters, national regulators and international law enforcement agencies to protect broadcasting rights throughout the tournament.
In Nepal, the official World Cup broadcasting rights were held by Spro Media Pvt. Ltd., which sublicensed television rights to Himalayan Sports and digital streaming rights to DishHome’s OTT platform, Dgo. As unauthorized streams rapidly appeared after the tournament began, authorities intensified efforts to identify and remove infringing platforms distributing copyrighted matches without permission.
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology instructed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) to block illegal streaming services. According to the NTA, more than 45 unauthorized platforms were blocked within Nepal, including Huri Batas TV, which aggregated broadcasts from multiple television channels and redistributed FIFA World Cup matches without authorization.
The broader international enforcement effort extended well beyond Nepal. In the United States, the Department of Justice announced the seizure of more than 1,000 domains through Operation Offsides, supported by Homeland Security Investigations, FIFA, the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), beIN Media Group, NBCUniversal, Warner Bros., UFC and other rights holders. The operation also involved partners across dozens of countries to identify and disrupt piracy infrastructure during the tournament.
Authorities emphasized that illegal streaming websites pose risks beyond copyright infringement. Many are associated with malware, phishing campaigns, malicious advertising and theft of personal or financial information. Officials urged fans to use only licensed broadcasters and streaming services to avoid both legal and cybersecurity risks.
The article concludes that anti-piracy efforts will continue throughout major sporting events, with FIFA, broadcasters and regulators increasingly relying on coordinated international enforcement to limit unauthorized streaming. While domain seizures significantly disrupt illegal services, authorities acknowledge that some operators may attempt to return using new domains, requiring ongoing monitoring and enforcement.
