More than 27,000 illegal streaming URLs have been shut down in a massive international anti-piracy operation just days before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off, according to Dexetro.
The seven-month investigation, dubbed Operation Kratos 2, was co-led by Europol and Bulgarian authorities and targeted illegal IPTV providers and streaming platforms distributing copyrighted sports, TV and movie content.
The crackdown resulted in 29 arrests, 148 searches and the identification of 86 suspects across 13 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Spain and Italy.
Investigators also dismantled nine organized crime groups linked to piracy networks. Europol said authorities identified over 18,000 IP addresses, 4,370 piracy-related domains and nearly 400,000 additional URLs flagged for removal.
UEFA backed the operation, saying illegal streaming threatens the revenue that helps sustain football. Officials also warned users that pirate streaming services can expose them to malware, spyware and data theft.
The timing is significant, with global demand for World Cup streams expected to surge when the tournament begins on June 11 in Mexico City.
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