FIFA's decision to partner with ExpressVPN as an official supporter of the 2026 World Cup has sparked a wave of protests from European rights holders. Spain's LaLiga, along with several French sports broadcasters, has officially sent a letter of objection to FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding a commercial partnership deemed to undermine the integrity of football audiovisual rights protection.
LaLiga President Javier Tebas emphasized that the collaboration sends a message inconsistent with global efforts to combat sports content piracy. The tension stems from a legal dispute in France, where ExpressVPN and several similar service providers were previously ordered by a court to block hundreds of domains illegally broadcasting competitions. Rights holders fear this partnership grants legitimacy to an entity whose services are perceived to still facilitate illegal access to premium sports broadcasts.
Echoing LaLiga's stance, the Association for the Protection of Sports Programs (APPS) also highlighted the effectiveness of blocking measures taken by ExpressVPN. According to APPS, the company has not been cooperative in executing French court rulings to safeguard the economic value of football competitions, including LFP Media's efforts to protect the broadcast exclusivity of Ligue 1.
On the other hand, ExpressVPN strongly denied the allegations. The VPN provider asserted that its technology is designed as a digital security and privacy tool and stated it has never been legally proven to facilitate piracy. They argued that VPN services serve as a data protection solution for fans against cyber threats during the tournament.
Responding to the growing controversy, FIFA stated that every commercial agreement undergoes a thorough evaluation and due diligence process. World football's governing body claimed it has taken mitigation steps to ensure the partnership does not hinder rights holders' efforts to combat illegal content, while preserving the economic value of the global football ecosystem.
