This article discusses a scam that impersonates FIFA. FIFA and its services are not involved in the scam. All brand names are trademarks of their respective owners.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is underway, and a fake recruitment website has been collecting job applicants’ identity documents since before the tournament began. The site lists roles like dishwasher, driver, and security guard as official FIFA openings, but it is not run by FIFA. It exists to harvest government IDs and passports. The FBI warned in May 2026 that criminals are creating fake FIFA recruitment pages, and this is one of several scams targeting World Cup fans. Here’s how the recruitment version works.

How the scam works

1. A professional-looking FIFA careers site lists temporary World Cup jobs

The website fifaworldcupjobs2026[.]com is designed to look like an official FIFA hiring platform. Its title reads “FIFA World Cup 2026 Jobs | Official Employment Opportunities.” It lists exactly the kind of temporary positions a real tournament needs: dishwashers, drivers, pitch security guards, uniform distribution assistants, laundry attendants, shuttle bus assistants, merchandise sales assistants, and more across all three host countries. An “About / How to Apply” page calls the site “official,” mentions FIFA throughout, and offers “Verified Agent Support.” Nothing on the site warns visitors that it has no connection to FIFA.

2. The application form asks for your national ID and passport

Choosing a role and clicking “Apply” opens a form that starts normally: name, contact details, and a résumé upload. But further down, the form requires a photo of the front of your national ID, a photo of the back, and your passport. It looks like just another step in the process, which is what makes it effective.

3. Your identity documents go to the scammers, not to FIFA

Everything you submit, including your ID photos, is sent to a server the scammers control. Clear photos of both sides of a government ID are exactly what criminals need to open bank accounts, pass identity-verification checks, or take out loans in your name.

4. Communication might move to WhatsApp with a “verified agent”

After submitting, the site says a “verified agent” will follow up. The application form already collected your WhatsApp number, and contact may shift to that channel. In similar recruitment scams, this is where applicants are asked to pay a “visa processing,” “relocation,” or “start-up” fee to secure the position. Whether or not a fee is requested, your identity documents have already been handed over.

How to tell it apart from the real thing

The most reliable check: real FIFA jobs are only on jobs.fifa.com. The scam uses a separate, made-up domain that just contains the words “fifa world cup jobs.” But the differences go deeper than the URL.

Job listings

On jobs.fifa.com, each role includes detailed requirements: experience level, language skills, willingness to relocate, and prior tournament work. A listing for an entry-level hospitality position runs several paragraphs with specific responsibilities and qualifications.

On the fake site, job listings are bare. A role like “Pitch Security Guard” shows little more than a title and an “Apply” button, with almost no detail about what the job involves, what qualifications are needed, or where exactly you would work.

Application form

The real FIFA application collects your résumé, work experience, language proficiency, and job-relevant questions like prior tournament experience. The only document it asks for is a CV.

The fake application collects your name, phone, WhatsApp, country, and résumé, then requires photos of the front and back of your national ID and your passport. No job-relevant questions are asked.

The bottom line: for the same kind of entry-level role, FIFA’s genuine site asks about your skills and experience. The fake site asks for your identity documents.

Red flags

You’ve got this. Here’s what to watch for:

1. A web address that is not jobs.fifa.com: FIFA’s real careers page lives at jobs.fifa.com. Any other domain containing “fifa” and “jobs” is not FIFA.
   
   
2. A requirement to upload your national ID to apply: Legitimate employers never ask for government ID at the application stage. That request only comes after a confirmed job offer.
   
   
3. A request for your passport scan: Same rule. No real application form asks for your passport before you’re hired.
   
   
4. A follow-up through WhatsApp with a “verified agent”: The site pushes applicants to continue on WhatsApp, where conversations are harder to trace and report.
   
   
5. No disclaimer about FIFA affiliation: The site calls itself “official” but carries no notice that it is unaffiliated with FIFA.
   
   
6. A fee to secure the job: Legitimate employers never charge you to be hired. If someone asks for a “visa processing” or “relocation” fee, it’s a scam.

How to stay safe

1. Apply only through jobs.fifa.com. That is FIFA’s real careers page. Go there directly instead of searching for World Cup jobs online.
   
   
2. Never upload identity documents to apply for a job. A national ID, driver’s license, or passport should only be shared after you have a confirmed, verified job offer. For more ways to tell real job offers from fake ones, see Online Job Scams Survival Kit.
   
   
3. Be cautious when recruitment moves to WhatsApp. Legitimate hiring processes stay on official platforms or company email.
   
   
4. Report the scam. File a report with the relevant authority in your country, such as the FTC or FBI IC3 (US), the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (Canada), or CONDUSEF (Mexico). Reporting helps authorities track these campaigns and warn others.
   
   
5. Use Trend Micro ScamCheck. It can flag suspicious websites and links before you share any personal information.

Now you know

This scam works because the World Cup is real, the jobs are real, and the excitement is real. A professional-looking careers page feels like a natural place to start. Even careful people can be caught off guard when a website looks legitimate and the roles match what they’re searching for. Now that you know what the fake site asks for and where the real FIFA jobs live, you’re already ahead. Take your time, check the URL, and never hand over your ID just to apply.