Vietnamese authorities are facing renewed challenges in combating illegal sports streaming platforms. This is because unauthorized websites broadcasting 2026 FIFA World Cup matches continue to attract large audiences while promoting offshore gambling operators.
Despite years of enforcement actions targeting piracy networks, new clone websites have rapidly emerged during the tournament. They use high-profile football matches to generate traffic and direct users toward illegal betting services.
The trend highlights the growing connection between digital piracy and unlicensed gambling promotion, particularly during major international sporting events.
World Cup Matches Drive Traffic to Illegal Platforms
During a recent World Cup fixture between Scotland and Haiti, numerous unauthorized websites were found streaming the match. This occurred despite exclusive broadcasting rights being held by Vietnamese state broadcaster VTV.
Many of the platforms operated under different domain names. However, they incorporated the well-known “XoilacTV” brand, which has long been associated with illegal football streaming in Vietnam.
The websites replicated the appearance and functionality of previous piracy platforms. This allowed users to access live broadcasts with minimal barriers while generating significant traffic during major matches.
Gambling Advertising Fuels Piracy Ecosystem
Authorities and industry observers have noted that many of the streaming sites generate revenue through extensive promotion of illegal gambling operators.
Banner advertisements for offshore betting platforms frequently appear alongside live match broadcasts. As a result, pirated sports content is turned into a customer acquisition channel for unlicensed gambling services.
The combination of football content and betting promotions has created a profitable business model for operators. Consequently, networks can quickly recover and relaunch even after enforcement actions result in domain seizures or website blocks.
Industry experts say the popularity of football in Vietnam, particularly during global tournaments such as the World Cup, creates valuable advertising opportunities. Therefore, piracy operators continue to be attracted despite legal risks.
Clone Sites and Social Media Distribution Expanding
Authorities report that hundreds, and potentially thousands, of XoilacTV-style clone sites have emerged to replace platforms that have been blocked or shut down.
Operators are increasingly moving beyond traditional websites and utilizing social media platforms and encrypted messaging services to distribute unauthorized content.
Illegal streams have reportedly been identified through private Facebook groups, TikTok accounts, and Telegram channels. This makes enforcement more complex and enables operators to reach large audiences through multiple distribution channels.
Sophisticated Techniques Used to Avoid Detection
Piracy operators are also adopting more advanced methods to evade copyright enforcement systems.
According to industry reports, common tactics include mirroring video feeds, altering audio frequencies, and adding graphic overlays or animated elements. These are designed to bypass automated copyright detection technologies.
These techniques allow unauthorized streams to remain active for longer periods. This is especially true during live sporting events where rapid enforcement is critical.
Authorities Increase Intellectual Property Enforcement
Vietnam has continued to strengthen its broader campaign against intellectual property violations, including digital piracy and unauthorized content distribution.
By the end of last month, authorities had identified 2,036 suspected intellectual property infringement cases. Out of these, 1,616 resulted in administrative penalties totaling VND17.9 billion (US$679,700).
The total value of goods and services linked to infringement cases exceeded VND115.5 billion (US$4.4 million). Moreover, more than 1,600 organizations and individuals faced sanctions.
Thousands of Infringing Websites Blocked
As part of ongoing enforcement efforts, authorities blocked access to 1,073 websites accused of violating intellectual property rights.
The blocked domains included:
- 612 unauthorized television streaming platforms
- 263 illegal movie websites
- 177 pirated comic sites
- 21 e-commerce platforms linked to industrial property violations
In addition to administrative actions, investigators opened 44 criminal cases related to intellectual property offenses. This included seven copyright infringement cases and 37 industrial property violation cases.
Ongoing Challenge for Regulators
The continued growth of illegal World Cup streaming platforms demonstrates the challenges facing regulators. Piracy networks are becoming increasingly decentralized and technologically sophisticated.
By combining high-demand sports content with gambling promotion and leveraging social media distribution channels, operators have created resilient business models. These models can quickly adapt to enforcement actions.
As the World Cup progresses, Vietnamese authorities are expected to continue targeting both piracy networks and the illegal betting operators. These operators benefit from the substantial audiences generated by unauthorized sports broadcasts.
