Port director states that counterfeiters use major sporting events to “flood the market with knockoffs and cheap imitations.”
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized shipments of counterfeit FIFA World Cup 2026 merchandise in Cincinnati and Miami while the tournament is held in North America. The focus on protection Intellectual Property Rights infringements of apparel, footwear, and other fan gear has been part of an operation called “Protect the Pitch.”
The agency said the thousands of items seized in Cincinnati originated in Mexico and Colombia, including jerseys, shirts, shorts, shoes, hats, and jewelry, and would have been worth an estimated $ 266,566 if they had been authentic. The CBP also seized 8,400 fake soccer jerseys at Miami International Airport that originated in China. The estimated retail value of that seizure was $840,000.
Cincinnati Port Director Eric Zizelman said, “It happens around all the major sporting events, whether it be the Super Bowl, World Series, or in this case, the World Cup. Counterfeiters use these events to flood the market with knockoffs and cheap imitations just to make a buck while businesses and the American consumer pay the price.”
He added that the counterfeit items pose a threat to health, safety, and economic security.
During the initial week of the World Cup, the agency reported seizing roughly $23 million in counterfeit souvenirs and paraphernalia.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Commission Rodney Scott as he heads U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
- For Secretary Mullin as he manages the Department of Homeland Security and its many agencies.
- For CBP agents conducting operations at the nation’s ports of entry.
Sources: Daily Wire, Customs and Border Protection
