Hong Kong authorities have seized suspected counterfeit World Cup items, including soccer jerseys and balls, with an estimated value of HK$156 million ($19.91 million).
Wayne Chung, a senior investigator at the city's Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau, told reporters that 230,000 items were seized. Chung noted that many of the jerseys are uniforms of the participating countries and were so finely made that they were hard to distinguish from authentic team shirts.
All of the seized items were destined for overseas markets rather than the local market, with at least 80% set to be exported to the Americas. This region is jointly hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the United States, Canada, and Mexico serving as hosts.
The tournament is running from June 11 to July 19 and is due to get underway in Mexico City on Thursday. Officials said the seizure was driven by the high demand for jerseys as the event begins.