Mercado Libre and FIFA Join Forces to Combat Counterfeiting and Piracy during the World Cup 2026

FIFA has joined the Mercado Libre Anti-Counterfeiting Alliance in an effort to fight against counterfeiting and digital piracy across Latin America. Through its involvement, FIFA and Mercado Libre are working together in combating the counterfeiting and piracy of World Cup-related products and merchandise. The scale of demand underscores the urgency of this effort: searches for World Cup-related products on Mercado Libre reached 105 per minute across the region in May 2026. 

Through this initiative, Mercado Libre and FIFA are not only working together to detect and remove listings within the platform that infringe FIFA’s intellectual property rights associated with its competitions within the platform, but are also  coordinating with law enforcement to facilitate the seizure of counterfeit products. These actions are focused on items such as footballs and sportswear jerseys, in order to disrupt and dismantle networks that prey on the consumers and devalue official brand's goodwill with inferior quality.

The aim of this partnership is to protect the millions of users who use Mercado Libre for their purchases, ensuring they have access to authentic products.

"At Mercado Libre, we play as a team. This alliance with FIFA allows us to continue protecting our users and the brands that trust our platform, promoting a more equitable and transparent commerce." said Paula Fernandez Pfizenmaier, Intellectual Property Director at Mercado Libre.

"This alliance with FIFA allows us to continue protecting our users and the brands that trust our platform, promoting a more equitable and transparent commerce."  

 

Paula Fernandez Pfizenmaier

Intellectual Property Director at Mercado Libre

"FIFA works hard to protect its intellectual property and the rights granted to FIFA’s official partners and licensees. The teamwork and leadership shown by Mercado Libre through this important and effective Alliance is a key pillar to FIFA's anti-counterfeiting program and an important step in ensuring  fans can have peace of mind that they are purchasing authentic, high-quality products." noted Lynn Carrillo, Director of Commercial Legal at FIFA.

"FIFA works hard to protect its intellectual property and the rights granted to FIFA’s official partners and licensees."

 

Lynn Carrillo

Director of Commercial Legal at FIFA

With this partnership, Mercado Libre and FIFA also mark a milestone in favor of fair play and innovation in e-commerce. This alliance complements a broader commercial partnership, with Mercado Libre serving as Official Supplier LATAM of the FIFA World Cup 2026™.