Vietnam uncovers 10,500+ illegal streaming URLs during FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage

A joint monitoring effort by VTV and Phan Law Vietnam identified 10,536 infringing URLs covering FIFA World Cup 2026 matches. The URLs belong to 1,158 distinct domains, including 9,267 website links, 1,269 social‑media links and 41 illegal apps. By the end of the 72‑match group stage, 8,522 of these URLs had been taken down, while thousands remain under review.

Authorities note that many illegal sites are short‑lived, quickly replacing seized domains and often redirecting users to gambling or other illicit services. Lawyers from Phan Law warn that the piracy network exploits fan demand for free streams to generate advertising revenue, facilitate betting, and harvest user data. The crackdown highlights the scale of online copyright violations tied to a major international sporting event in Vietnam.