New report shows surge in World Cup-related domain registrations.
A recent analysis by WhoisXMLAPI reveals a rapid rise in domain name registrations tied to the FIFA World Cup. The research counts more than 17,000 domains that include keywords such as “worldcup”, “fifa”, “wc2026”, or “world-cup”, and highlights a particularly large spike of more than 10,000 registrations in the current month alone.
Contrary to what some might assume, these registrations are not being made by FIFA itself. Instead, the report finds that a very small group of actors is responsible for a large share of the activity: just ten email addresses account for over half of the newly registered domains. That concentration suggests coordinated or bulk registration behavior rather than isolated individual registrations.
Geography and registrar data point to heavy activity centered in China. Nearly 13,000 of the identified domains are in the .com.cn namespace, with another roughly 3,000 registered under .com. Close to half of the total are registered through the Chinese registrar Beijing Xinnet, underlining the role of a particular market and registrar in the surge.
The content and naming patterns of the domains also reveal clear commercial intent. The most common theme among the names is online betting and gambling, with examples such as fifa1.bet and betfifa5.com illustrating the trend. A second significant category consists of streaming- and live-score–oriented sites, using names like fifa2.live and fifa-live.cn. Both categories mirror predictable demand around a major sporting event: wagering and live viewing experiences attract large audiences, and opportunistic registrants appear to be positioning themselves to capture that traffic.
What does this mean for fans, brands and online safety?
For fans: be cautious about unfamiliar sites that appear to offer streaming, betting, or ticket sales. High volumes of new, similarly named domains are often used to host phishing pages, distribute malware, or run low-quality streaming services. Always verify the legitimacy of a service before providing personal information or making payments, and prefer established providers and official retailers.
For rights holders and event organizers: the pattern underscores the importance of proactive domain management and trademark protection. Bulk registrations by a few actors can quickly create a broad surface for misuse, from cybersquatting to counterfeit merchandise and fraud. Monitoring domain registrations for event-related keywords, registering defensive domains in key namespaces, and working with registrars and enforcement partners can help mitigate risk.
For registrars and regulators: the findings highlight how bulk, keyword-focused registration behavior can concentrate exposure in particular registries and at certain registrars. That concentration presents an opportunity for targeted policies and remedial measures, such as enhanced verification for bulk registrants or streamlined takedown processes when bad-faith registrations are identified.
Technical and consumer safeguards can help reduce harm. Domain-monitoring services, brand-protection tools, and threat intelligence feeds can alert organizations to suspicious registrations quickly. Consumers can protect themselves by checking for secure connections (HTTPS), confirming official social channels or app listings, and avoiding sites that ask for unnecessary personal or financial details.
Overall, the WhoisXMLAPI report paints a clear picture: major international events attract not only fans and legitimate businesses but also opportunistic domain registrants aiming to profit from the surge in interest. Awareness, vigilance and a mix of legal and technical defenses are the best ways to limit abuse and protect both consumers and brand owners as the World Cup approaches.