With the FIFA World Cup 2026™ in full swing, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Indianapolis were on the job before some teams even arrived for their matches.
Officers conducted Operation Winner’s Circle from June 1–5, seizing 18 shipments of counterfeit FIFA World Cup 2026™ jerseys, shirts, beanies, and other merchandise. In total, officers intercepted 1,578 items that, if genuine, would have had a combined Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $134,594.
CBP organized Operation Winner’s Circle using intelligence gathering and analysis of past trends before major events. The operation focused on recipients who accept shipments of goods that violate intellectual property rights of companies owning trademarks and copyrights associated with the FIFA World Cup 2026™ and related merchandise. Similar operations across the country have resulted in the seizure of thousands of items infringing on intellectual property rights.
The seized shipments included 530 FIFA World Cup 2026™ jerseys, 380 beanies, 349 Puma, Adidas, and Nike shirts associated with the tournament, and 319 other FIFA World Cup 2026™ related items. Most shipments originated from Hong Kong and were destined for locations both within and outside the United States.
“Sports fans often pay big money for sports memorabilia,” said Indianapolis Port Director, Brett Mueller. “Counterfeit sports memorabilia de-funds our sports organizations, funds criminal networks, and scams the fans. Officers in Indianapolis work hard each day to protect our domestic businesses and American consumers.”
The rapid growth of e-commerce enables consumers to easily purchase millions of products online, but this access also gives counterfeit and pirated goods more ways to enter the U.S. economy. Counterfeit commodities fund smugglers and organized crime. Consumers often believe they are buying genuine products but soon realize the items are substandard.
In addition to sports-related merchandise, commonly counterfeited items include fake medications, perfumes, cosmetics, children’s toys and costumes, fashion, jewelry, luxury products, and unsafe electronics and automotive parts, which can pose serious health and safety risks to American consumers due to inferior or harmful materials.
CBP reminds consumers to shop from reputable online sources. E-commerce sales have contributed to large volumes of low-value, small packages being imported into the United States. Over 90% of all counterfeit seizures occur in the international mail and express environments, which are channels for small, e-commerce packages destined for the U.S. Many of these shipments contain counterfeit goods that pose the same health, safety, and economic security risks as large, containerized shipments.
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