The 2026 World Cup is at risk of becoming the most pirated sporting event in Mexican history, according to a report by El Financiero. Experts project an increase of up to 35 percent in the consumption of illegal streams, driven by a combination of high streaming service costs and the scattering of broadcasting rights across multiple platforms.
Radamés Camargo, director of analysis at The CIU, explained that market saturation has pushed consumers toward illegal alternatives. "The truth is that the World Cup will be the perfect breeding ground for the proliferation of pirate broadcasts," Camargo noted. Currently, Mexico ranks first in Latin America and fourth globally in digital piracy consumption.
Content fragmentation complicates legal access, forcing users to subscribe to multiple services just to follow the matches. "When one game is on an app, another is on cable, and yet another is on a premium streaming service, the consumer ends up seeking out illegal access," the analyst added.
Security Risks and Cyber Fraud
Beyond the economic impact on the industry, watching matches on unauthorized sites like Roja Directa, Pirlo TV, or Fútbol Libre poses a direct threat to personal data security. Félix Aguirre Gil, director of Host City Mexico City, warned that these platforms serve as gateways for fraud and the theft of banking information.
"There is a significant piracy problem in Mexico. One of the core issues is the danger posed to users, as these platforms can harvest personal information from thousands of people, including banking details," Aguirre Gil stated. He has called on the Federal Consumer Prosecutor's Office (Profeco) to launch preventative campaigns, noting that affected users have no recourse for refunds when dealing with nonexistent or fraudulent services.
In response to this outlook, the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) has announced containment measures. Vidal Llerenas Morales, the institute's director general, confirmed that operations against illicit streaming will be intensified. The strategy includes direct collaboration with internet service providers to block access to sites broadcasting matches without FIFA's authorization.
This rollout has already begun in cities like Guadalajara, where authorities are working to protect audiovisual rights and mitigate the negative impact of this practice. Camargo concluded that coordination between cybersecurity firms, authorities, and operators is the only way to prevent the 2026 World Cup from becoming a landmark moment in the history of regional piracy.
