9,741 fraudulent domains warn of the rise in cybercrime at the 2026 World Cup
The World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada recorded 9,741 fraudulent domains in the weeks leading up to the tournament, a figure that almost quadruples the peak detected in Qatar 2022.
The 2026 World Cup, which will be held in Estados Unidos, México y Canadá, has come under scrutiny because of the increase in cybercrime linked to the event. In the weeks leading up to the tournament, 9,741 fraudulent domains were detected, a figure that is almost four times the peak recorded in Qatar 2022.
The warning confirms that as interest in the World Cup grows, so does the digital scam business around the tournament. The data serves as a reminder for fans who are already beginning to plan trips, purchases and access related to the competition organized by FIFA.
A World Cup spread across three countries and with heavy digital demand
The 2026 edition will be the first to be co-hosted by Estados Unidos, México y Canadá. That logistical rollout, combined with the massive interest generated by the new format, multiplies the circulation of information about venues, stadiums, fixture, groups, ticket sales and official schedule updates.
In that context, the proliferation of fake websites becomes a real risk for supporters looking to buy tickets, book accommodation or follow tournament news. The scale of the phenomenon was measured in the weeks leading up to the World Cup, when those 9,741 fraudulent domains appeared.
What fans need to keep in mind
With the tournament already at the center of attention, the practical recommendation for the public is to be extremely careful when looking for official information about the World Cup. In an event of this scale, the demand to know the fixture, groups and ticket availability opens the door to sites that try to copy the visual identity, names or formats of legitimate channels.
To avoid problems, the information trail should always go through the official announcements from FIFA and the authorized channels for each stage of the organization. That applies both to ticket purchases and to any procedure linked to the competition schedule.
The scale of a World Cup that is also played online
The World Cup in Estados Unidos, México y Canadá exposes a trend that goes beyond the ball: the bigger the event, the more interest grows from those trying to take advantage of the general anticipation. The 9,741 fraudulent domains detected before kickoff are a warning sign for a tournament that, because of its reach and format, will be followed from all over the planet.
With 48 selecciones, three host countries and global demand for tickets and information, the organization of the World Cup is also being played in the digital arena. And on that front, prevention stands as the first line of defense for fans already starting to plan for 2026.
