São Paulo police seize 50,000 fake World Cup stickers

São Paulo police have cracked down on counterfeit merchandise ahead of the 2026 World Cup, seizing around 50,000 fake stickers and 1,000 albums. The operation, conducted by the Civil Police's Criminal Investigations Department (DEIC), targeted commercial establishments in the Brás and Canindé neighborhoods, known for popular commerce.

In addition to the stickers and albums, authorities confiscated 1,039 suspected counterfeit Brazilian national team jerseys. Four individuals apprehended at the inspected businesses will face prosecution for crimes against industrial property. The State Secretariat of Public Security stated that increased enforcement is due to the growing demand for World Cup-related counterfeit goods.

This seizure marks the second major bust in São Paulo in recent weeks. At the end of May, police confiscated nearly 85,000 fake World Cup stickers and albums, along with about 2,000 pirated national team jerseys. Authorities in Rio de Janeiro also seized 200,000 counterfeit World Cup stickers and hundreds of fake Brazilian jerseys around the same time.

Panini, the official producer of the World Cup album and stickers, has warned about counterfeit items being sold online at lower prices. The widespread seizures highlight sophisticated counterfeiting networks operating amid the fervor for the World Cup album in Brazil.

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