Authorities in Hong Kong have confiscated a massive shipment of counterfeit 2026 FIFA World Cup gear, with the haul estimated to be worth roughly HK$156 million, or $19.91 million USD. The operation resulted in the seizure of approximately 230,000 individual items, including soccer jerseys and balls that were crafted to look nearly identical to official licensed products.

According to Wayne Chung, a senior investigator with the city’s Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau, the sheer volume of illicit goods was timed to capitalize on the global excitement surrounding the tournament, which kicked off this week in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Investigators noted that the vast majority of these fake goods—around 80 percent—were intended for export to the United States to meet the surging demand for team kits. Officials confirmed that the shipment was not intended for local distribution in Hong Kong, but rather served as a major attempt to flood the North American market with knock-off apparel.