Cybercriminals have created more than 4,300 fake FIFA World Cup domains since August 1, 2025. A new report by Check Point Research says the scheme is designed to defraud fans and exploit the growing excitement ahead of the 2026 tournament.
The malicious domains spoof FIFA’s official platforms, “World Cup,” and even host cities like Dallas, Miami, Toronto, and Mexico City. They target fans with phishing emails, ticket scams, counterfeit merchandise, and even botnet attacks.
“What we’re seeing is infrastructure being built, at scale, to exploit global interest before the World Cup even kicks off,” said Check Point’s Amit Weigman. “Threat actors are not waiting for 2026; they are matching their timeline to FIFA’s.”
Fraud Infrastructure Already in Place
Researchers found that these domains were registered in waves, often sharing the same DNS setups and clustered around registrars like GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Dynadot.
Some even reference FIFA 2030 and 2034, using a strategy called “domain aging” where scammers allow domains to mature to appear legitimate.
The activity is carefully timed with FIFA’s official ticketing calendar. With presale results announced on September 19 and purchase windows opening October 1, scammers are preparing to flood fans with fake ticket confirmations, spoofed queue portals, and fraudulent payment pages.
Ticketing Fraud in Focus
Check Point notes that the danger is greatest when fans expect emails from FIFA. Phishing campaigns are more convincing when timed with official ticket communications. Botnets are also being primed to disrupt ticketing queues, scoop up tickets in bulk, and exploit dynamic pricing systems.
The report flagged several red signals: more than 4,300 new FIFA-related domains in 60 days, activity spikes between August 8–12 and early September, bulk automation across select registrars, and multi-language targeting from English to Portuguese.
On Telegram and dark-web platforms, scammers are already advertising counterfeit jerseys, fake hospitality packages, and ready-made fraud kits branded with FIFA themes.
Growing Excitement for FIFA 2026
Meanwhile, FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that over 4.5 million fans have applied for tickets in the first sales window. He described the North American tournament as “the biggest, most inclusive, and most exciting event ever.”
The 2026 edition will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with matches played in 16 cities. It is expected to be the largest World Cup in history, featuring 48 national teams for the first time.
Fans are advised to buy tickets only from FIFA’s official website and to stay alert for phishing attempts. Cybersecurity experts also recommend verifying domains through trusted registrars and reporting suspicious links immediately.
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