US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced on 14 August 2026 that its World Cup operation produced 2,246 seizures of counterfeit goods, with 476,903 items worth an estimated USD 33.1 million at the genuine goods’ suggested retail price. These CBP counterfeit seizures around the World Cup are a reminder for European and Latin American brands selling into the US: border officers act most effectively on trademarks that are registered with the USPTO and recorded with CBP.
Key takeaways
- Figures are as of 20 July 2026 and cover all US ports of entry, according to CBP’s release of 14 August 2026.
- The largest cases involved Mexico national team jerseys, FIFA mascot toys and Adidas jerseys.
- CBP credits targeting, intelligence sharing and close coordination with trademark rights holders.
- CBP’s legal basis for detaining counterfeits rests on marks registered with the USPTO and recorded with CBP.
What CBP seized during the World Cup
CBP’s Office of Field Operations (OFO) focused on high-risk shipments, with targeted examinations of cargo containers, express consignments and commercial imports. The release highlights three cases:
| Seizure | Quantity | Estimated MSRP |
|---|---|---|
| Counterfeit Mexico soccer jerseys, lacking proper licensing | Over 18,000 | Over USD 2.7 million |
| Counterfeit FIFA mascot toys, confirmed as non-genuine by trademark holders | Nearly 68,000 | Over USD 2.3 million |
| Counterfeit Adidas soccer jerseys, after examination and trademark verification | Over 13,000 | Over USD 1.8 million |
CBP describes the total as a record number of counterfeit and infringing goods related to the tournament. Its Executive Assistant Commissioner for field operations linked the operation to economic security and to cutting off proceeds for criminal organisations. Note the valuation method: MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) is what the goods would sell for if genuine, not what the counterfeiters charged.
Why the rights holder’s role matters at the US border
The mascot toys were “confirmed as non-genuine by trademark holders”. That is the practical point for any brand. Under 19 CFR Part 133, CBP can detain goods suspected of bearing a counterfeit version of a mark that is registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and recorded with CBP (section 133.21). Once goods are detained, CBP may share images, samples and limited import data with the owner of the recorded mark so it can help determine authenticity.
Recordation is done through CBP’s e-Recordation programme. According to CBP’s guidance, it requires a valid registration on the USPTO Principal Register and costs USD 190 per class of goods. CBP also accepts product identification training from rights holders and takes reports of suspect shipments through its e-Allegations portal.
The wider trend: more counterfeits arriving by container
CBP’s IPR seizure statistics for fiscal year 2025 report 78.4 million items seized with an MSRP of about USD 7.4 billion. CBP notes that 62% of seizures in that year took place in commercial vessel cargo, a shift it attributes to the suspension of the de minimis exemption for low-value shipments, first for China and Hong Kong in May 2025 and then for all countries in August 2025. Big events concentrate the risk, but counterfeit flows are now larger and more containerised all year round.
What this means for your business
For a European or Latin American brand exporting to the US, the lessons are about preparation, not the tournament itself:
- Register your key marks in the US. A Madrid Protocol designation or a direct USPTO filing both work; foreign-domiciled applicants must appoint a US attorney.
- Record the registrations with CBP, class by class, for the goods most exposed to copying.
- Give officers something to work with: a product identification guide, authorised manufacturers and licensees, and a contact who answers quickly when CBP sends photos.
- Align the US with your other borders. The same brand should hold an EU customs application for action and equivalent tools in Mexico and Brazil.
| Border | Main tool for rights holders |
|---|---|
| United States | CBP e-Recordation of USPTO registrations (19 CFR Part 133) |
| European Union | Application for action under Regulation (EU) No 608/2013, granted for up to one year at a time |
| Mexico | IMPI order suspending the free circulation of infringing goods (LFPPI, Article 344, VI) |
| Brazil | Customs seizure of goods with counterfeit marks, ex officio or on request (Law 9,279/1996, Article 198) |
If you need these border tools set up across several markets, our IP enforcement and anti-counterfeiting team can coordinate them as one programme.
Where brands get border enforcement wrong
- Selling in the US without a US registration. An EU or Mexican mark gives CBP nothing to record.
- Recording only some classes. CBP recordation is per class; a gap in apparel or toys is a gap at the border.
- Not answering CBP. When officers send images, a slow reply weakens the case.
- Treating each border separately. Different advisers in each country usually mean different gaps.
Frequently asked questions
How many counterfeit World Cup goods did CBP seize?
CBP reported 2,246 seizures and 476,903 counterfeit items as of 20 July 2026, with an estimated value of USD 33.1 million at the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the genuine products. The figures were published on 14 August 2026 and cover all US ports of entry.
Can CBP stop counterfeits of a mark that is only registered in Europe?
CBP’s counterfeit detention rules in 19 CFR Part 133 are built on marks registered with the USPTO and recorded with CBP. A European or Latin American registration alone does not give CBP a recorded right to enforce, so brands selling into the US should obtain a US registration first.
How much does CBP recordation cost?
CBP’s e-Recordation fee for trademarks is USD 190 per international class of goods, and renewal costs USD 80 per class. The recordation stays in force with the underlying USPTO registration if renewed with it. These are official fees; professional fees for preparing the application are separate.
Can IP Global Guard help my brand with US border protection?
Yes, as an extension of your European and Latin American portfolio. We prepare the US filing strategy through the Madrid System or a direct USPTO application, coordinate US correspondents for filing and CBP recordation, and align it with your EU, Mexican and Brazilian customs tools from a single point of contact.
How IP Global Guard helps you protect your brand at the border
Counterfeiters follow demand, and demand peaks around big events. IP Global Guard, the IP services line of META Channel Corporation Limited, coordinates trademark registration and enforcement across more than 25 jurisdictions in Europe, Latin America and Africa, and extends that work to the US for corridor clients through the Madrid System and coordinated local correspondents.
Send us the marks you sell in the US, the classes that matter and where your goods are made. We will check your US coverage and set out the steps to get CBP and your other borders working for you. Talk to our enforcement team.
This article is general information, not legal advice, and reflects the situation at its publication date.
Sources
- CBP, CBP OFO concludes FIFA World Cup 2026 enforcement, protects US consumers (14 August 2026)
- KBTX, Feds seize $33M in fake FIFA World Cup goods at borders (15 August 2026)
- CBP, Intellectual Property Rights Seizure Statistics, Fiscal Year 2025 (May 2026)
- eCFR, 19 CFR Part 133, Trademarks, trade names and copyrights
- CBP, Help CBP protect intellectual property rights (e-Recordation guidance)
- Regulation (EU) No 608/2013 on customs enforcement of IP rights, Article 11 (12 June 2013)
- Chamber of Deputies (Mexico), LFPPI (last amended 3 April 2026)
- Presidency of Brazil, Law 9,279 of 14 May 1996
