Toronto police seized counterfeit soccer merchandise valued at about C$3.56 million (approximately $2.53 million USD) from a warehouse in Mississauga on June 1, 2026. The haul included over 16,000 fake jerseys and flags bearing FIFA, Nike, Adidas, and Puma logos, along with two counterfeit World Cup trophies [1, 2, 3].
Two men were arrested and charged in connection with the seizure, described as the largest known counterfeit soccer jersey case in Canadian history [1, 2, 3]. Police estimated the street retail value of the merchandise at C$3,564,000 [1, 2, 3].
The fake merchandise was allegedly supplied to retail stores and widely distributed before the police crackdown [1, 2, 3]. The investigation began in May 2026 when a complaint was made to the Toronto Police Service FIFA Planning Team Investigative Unit about counterfeit World Cup products being sold [1, 2, 3].
The crackdown comes ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, for which Toronto expects over 300,000 visitors. The city will host six matches, including Canada’s opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12 [1, 2, 3]. Police action aims to protect fans and official sponsors from counterfeit goods during the event.
The arrests and seizure signal a heightened effort to combat counterfeit merchandise trafficking in the lead-up to the international tournament. Toronto police remain vigilant as the games approach.
