Broadcasters and football authorities in France and Spain have submitted a formal complaint to FIFA over its decision to include ExpressVPN as an official World Cup sponsor. The virtual private network service, which protects user privacy online, was announced as a World Cup partner before the tournament and has appeared on advertising boards during matches.
La Liga president leads complaint
La Liga president Javier Tebas, who has spearheaded efforts to combat illegal football streaming in Spain, expressed strong opposition to the promotion of a VPN service at the World Cup. He argued that VPNs make it difficult for authorities to track individuals who illegally stream games. Tebas claimed last year that La Liga clubs lose up to €700 million (£597 million) in revenue annually due to illegal streaming.
In a letter seen by French newspaper L'Equipe, Tebas told FIFA president Gianni Infantino that promoting ExpressVPN 'sends a disastrous message to the entire football ecosystem'. The letter states: 'I am writing to you on behalf of La Liga to file a formal complaint regarding the recent announcement of the sponsorship agreement concluded between FIFA and ExpressVPN. La Liga believes that this agreement is manifestly incompatible with the principles of protecting football's audio-visual rights that should govern the actions of world football's governing body.'
French broadcasters join protest
The Association for the Protection of Sports Programs (APPS), which includes all major sports broadcasters in France, also sent a letter to Infantino expressing 'deep concern' over the sponsorship. The letter said: 'Given FIFA's role and responsibilities as the world governing body of football, we believe that particular vigilance is required to ensure that such partnerships are fully consistent with the broader objective of preserving the integrity, sustainability and value of sporting competitions, as well as their audio-visual exploitation.'
Last year, major French broadcaster Canal+ won a ruling from the Paris Judicial Court ordering five VPN providers, including ExpressVPN, to block 203 domain names associated with illegal sports streaming sites. La Liga, beIN Sports France, Canal+, and other organizations have filed lawsuits against ExpressVPN in several jurisdictions, according to Tebas's letter.
FIFA defends sponsorship deal
In response to the complaints, FIFA stated to L'Equipe: 'In accordance with regulations and best market practices, FIFA conducts due diligence and a thorough assessment before signing any new commercial partnership. It has carefully examined the potential implications of the sponsorship agreement and has taken steps to ensure that it does not undermine the efforts of rights holders or stakeholders.'
ExpressVPN, in a message to its customers, discourages the use of its service for illegal activities. The message reads: 'The internet should be a place of freedom, security, and privacy—but in many parts of the world, that's not always the case. Governments impose restrictions, ISPs track browsing habits, and cyber threats lurk around every corner. A VPN helps restore your right to online privacy, but using one wisely is key. While VPNs are legal in most countries, some governments restrict them to control information, enforce censorship, or monitor activity. That's why it's important to stay informed about local regulations before connecting. A VPN should be a tool for privacy and security, not a loophole for illegal activities.'
