$6 million in counterfeit FIFA World Cup merchandise seized in Houston area
HOUSTON - U.S. Customs and Border officials (CBP) reportedly found millions of dollars worth of counterfeit FIFA World Cup 2026 merchandise in Houston.
Fake FIFA products found in Houston
What we know:
CBP officials say their Houston/Galveston Trade Enforcement officers seized over $6 million worth of products for "Intellectual Property Rights violations, including trademarks owned by FIFA."
Officers reported the following items:
- 12,000 Adidas soccer jerseys
- 4,5000 Adidas FIFA Soccer balls
- 4,4000 pairs of athletic shoes
- 69 FIFA packages with 2,200 counterfeit Apple watches and earbuds with FIFA logo
- Toys
- Perfumes
CBP says that they use "intelligence gathering" and analyze previous trends for major events like the FIFA World Cup. Their goal is to target those who receive shipments of counterfeit goods.
According to CBP, most shipments come from China and are sent for sale in and outside the US.
What we don't know:
Other details about these items are not available.
The Source: US Customs and Border Protection