Houston-area law enforcement has seized more than 27,000 counterfeit FIFA-related items worth more than $6.1 million in roughly two weeks, according to KPRC 2.
The seizures stretched from a Sharpstown shopping center to the Port of Houston and the area near Houston Stadium, where fans gathered for World Cup matches.
KPRC reported that officials and court records tied the items to counterfeit jerseys, shorts, soccer balls, Apple-branded electronics with FIFA logos, and other merchandise.
Some of the cases have already produced arrests or charges. Others remain active investigations.
Undercover Officers Went To A Sharpstown Jersey Store
Houston police went undercover at a jersey store in Sharpstown on June 11 and June 17, according to KPRC’s summary of court records. Detectives reported problems with the packaging, tags, material, and quality of Adidas-branded jerseys that were being sold below suggested retail prices.
Police returned with a search warrant on June 18 and seized more than 8,000 items, including jerseys and shorts, according to the report.
The store’s owners, Maria Flores and Pedro Condor, are now wanted on felony trademark counterfeiting charges, KPRC reported. When the station went to the business Tuesday, it was open, but an employee said neither owner was there.
Houston police declined to release additional information because the investigation remains ongoing.
Police Also Made Arrests Near Houston Stadium
Three other people appeared in court after Houston police arrested them near Houston Stadium during the first FIFA match in Houston on June 14, according to KPRC.
Police said Saudy Cardona Ramos and Gustavo Diaz Henriquez had $45,950 worth of counterfeit jerseys and shorts when they were arrested. Both were released from jail on $20,000 bonds.
Police also arrested Diego Santamaria Funes near the stadium on June 14. Investigators alleged that he had $7,890 worth of counterfeit jerseys and shorts, KPRC reported.
Santamaria Funes pleaded guilty two days later, was sentenced to six days in county jail, and received credit for time served, according to records cited by KPRC.
CBP Seized Thousands More Items At The Port Of Houston
The largest haul came through U.S. Customs and Border Protection. At the Port of Houston, CBP agents seized 12,000 Adidas soccer jerseys, 4,500 soccer balls, and 2,200 Apple Watches and earbuds with FIFA branding, according to KPRC.
CBP’s separate release said Houston/Galveston Trade Enforcement officers seized more than $6 million in counterfeit FIFA World Cup 2026 merchandise, including approximately 12,000 Adidas soccer jerseys, 4,500 Adidas FIFA soccer balls, nearly 4,400 pairs of athletic shoes, 69 FIFA packages with more than 2,200 counterfeit Apple watches and earbuds with FIFA trademark logos, plus toys and perfumes.
The merchandise largely came from China and was headed for distribution in the United States and beyond, according to CBP.
Thomas Mahn, CBP’s Area Port Director for Houston and Galveston, said in the agency’s release that counterfeit sellers can be deceptive in scamming sports fans and harming consumers and businesses.
Texas Charges Depend On The Value Of The Merchandise
Texas law makes trademark counterfeiting an offense when a person intentionally manufactures, displays, advertises, distributes, offers for sale, sells, or possesses with intent to sell an item bearing a counterfeit mark.
The grade of the offense depends partly on the retail value of the counterfeit items. That is why the dollar amounts in the Houston cases matter.
The pending cases remain allegations unless proven in court. Police and prosecutors still have to prove that any defendants charged in the Houston cases knowingly sold or possessed counterfeit merchandise with the required criminal intent.
BBB Says Fans Should Check Tags, Stitching, And Prices
Carolina Petriciolet with the Better Business Bureau of Houston told KPRC that rushed, last-minute buying decisions are getting fans into trouble.
She said many verified vendors have already sold out of merchandise, which can make unofficial sellers look more tempting to fans still looking for jerseys, shorts, scarves, or other World Cup items before a match.
The BBB recommends checking tags for a manufacturer’s code that can be searched online, inspecting emblems and stitching, watching for misspellings, and being skeptical of unusually low prices. Petriciolet told KPRC that merchandise selling for $30, $40, or $50 is not legitimate FIFA merchandise.
The BBB also warned fans looking for last-minute FIFA tickets not to pay directly and upfront through apps such as Venmo or Zelle. Those payment methods can make it difficult to recover money if the seller disappears or the ticket is fake.
How Fans Can Avoid Fake World Cup Merchandise
Fans buying World Cup gear should start with official FIFA, team, stadium, or licensed retail channels. A seller standing near a stadium, using FIFA logos, or claiming to have last-minute merchandise is not automatically authorized.
Buyers should compare the price with official retailers, check the spelling and quality of logos, inspect tags and stitching, and avoid sellers who refuse normal payment protections. Cash-only deals, peer-to-peer payment demands, and prices far below normal retail should be treated as reasons to walk away.
Counterfeit goods can also create problems beyond a bad jersey. The Homeland Security Investigations intellectual-property program says intellectual property theft and commercial fraud are not victimless crimes and can take advantage of people looking for a good deal.
Anyone who believes they bought counterfeit merchandise should save receipts, screenshots, seller names, payment records, packaging, and photos of the item. Buyers can dispute the charge with their card issuer when possible, report the seller to the marketplace or payment platform, and file a report with the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center.
