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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is fast approaching, and while fans across Africa are dusting off their supporters' jerseys and planning their viewing schedules, a team that outright does not play by the rules is already on the field. Cybercriminals are capitalising on the massive global hype around the FIFA World Cup to launch a sophisticated wave of digital attacks designed to intercept your hard-earned money before the first ball is even kicked in North America.
According to the latest intelligence from Check Point Research, the sheer scale of this threat is unprecedented, fueled by a dangerous combination of high fan anticipation and the rapid evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The numbers emerging from the build-up to this tournament are staggering. In April 2026 alone, researchers identified 9,741 new domain registrations containing "FIFA" or "World Cup" keywords. This represents a volume more than five times the peak seen during the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Since February 2026, these registration volumes have quadrupled in just two months. This isn't just a coincidence; it is a calculated, AI-assisted preparation phase by threat actors.
"We are seeing a level of industrial-scale preparation that we haven't encountered in previous sporting cycles," says Kingsley Oseghale, Country Manager: West Africa at Check Point Software. "Cybercriminals are using AI tools and automation to spin up scam infrastructure at a speed that was impossible four years ago. For every legitimate site you visit, there are dozens of malicious mirrors waiting to trap the unprepared."
While the threat is global, the three host nations of the United States, Canada and Mexico are currently in the crosshairs. All three countries recorded a spike in weekly cyber-attacks per organization in April 2026 compared to both the previous month and the previous year.
Mexico: Recorded the highest volume with a weekly average of 3,548 attacks per organisation, a 5% increase month-over-month.
Canada: Saw a weekly average of 1,649 attacks, marking a significant 18% increase year-over-year.
United States: Organisations faced 1,497 attacks weekly, reflecting an 8% rise from March 2026.
Perhaps more concerning for Africans planning to travel to the games is the targeting of specific industries. Sectors most exposed to World Cup traffic, such as Media, Hospitality, Travel, and Transportation, have seen attack surges ranging from 30% to 48% year-on-year across the host countries.
The primary goal of these attackers is simple. They want to steal your money and your identity. Check Point has identified several live examples of how these scams are being deployed.
Criminals have created highly professional sites to impersonate legitimate FIFA outlets. These sites use official branding and offer "too good to be true" deals, such as 80% off jerseys and souvenirs.
"These sites aren't just selling fake kits; they are harvesting credit card details and home addresses," Oseghale warns. "Once they have your payment info, the 'discount' you thought you got becomes a very expensive lesson in identity theft."
2. The Vote to Earn Gamble
Another sophisticated lure involves gamified platforms. One example, branded as a "World Cup Forum," promises users guaranteed daily profits (e.g., $3 profit on a $10 deposit) just for "voting" for teams like Mexico or the US. It mimics the look of a legitimate rewards app with "deposit" and "withdraw" buttons to build a false sense of security.
The threat isn't limited to North America. A cluster of fraudulent betting platforms, many hosted in Chinese, targets fans worldwide with promises of high bonuses and lottery style games. This proves that whether you are in Johannesburg or Mexico City, you are a potential target.
By early May 2026, Check Point found that 1 in every 41 newly registered World Cup domains was already confirmed as suspicious or malicious.
To stay safe, Hendrik de Bruin and the Check Point team recommend looking for these specific red flags:
Suspect URLs: Legitimate FIFA platforms use fifa.com. Be extremely wary of domains that add extra words or use unusual extensions like .shop or .cn.
Impossible Discounts: If a site offers the latest 2026 jersey for 80% off, it is likely a scam. Official merchandise rarely sees such deep discounts before the tournament even starts.
Guaranteed Returns: No legitimate platform will promise you a "daily profit" for voting on matches. These are classic Ponzi-style lures.
Aggressive Calls to Action: Be skeptical of sites that immediately push you to "Download now" or "Register free" to access content. These are often used to install malware or steal login credentials
As we count down the weeks to the opening ceremony, the digital landscape will only become more treacherous. Cybercriminals are betting on your excitement to cloud your judgment.
"The World Cup is a time of excitement, but in the digital world, it's a high-stakes match where you are the target," concludes de Bruin. "Our advice to fans in South Africa and abroad is simple: stay on the official channels. If a deal looks 'too good to be true,' it probably is. Double-check every link, use multi-factor authentication on your accounts, and never download apps from unverified websites. Let's keep the excitement on the pitch and the criminals out of our bank accounts."
By staying vigilant and recognising these common tactics, fans can ensure that the only thing stolen during the 2026 World Cup is a last-minute victory on the field and not their personal data.
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About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (www.checkpoint.com) is a global cyber security leader protecting more than 100,000 organizations worldwide. Its mission is to secure enterprises' AI transformation. With a prevention-first approach and an open ecosystem architecture, Check Point helps organizations block advanced threats, prioritize exposures, and automate security operations across complex digital environments. The unified architecture simplifies protection across hybrid networks, multi-cloud environments, digital workspaces, and AI systems. Structured around four strategic pillars, Hybrid Mesh Network Security, Workspace Security, Exposure Management, and AI Security, Check Point delivers consistent protection and visibility across multivendor environments, enabling organizations to reduce risk, improve efficiency, and accelerate innovation without increasing complexity.
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