Counterfeit World Cup Merchandise Seized

Hours before the World Cup kickoff, Hong Kong authorities announced the seizure of 230,000 counterfeit items related to the tournament. The police raid, valued at approximately $20 million, primarily targeted replica kits of the finalist teams. The confiscated goods included around 30,000 jerseys, some so meticulously crafted that they were nearly indistinguishable from the originals.

These replicas were intended for export, with 80 percent of the fakes destined for North and South America, predominantly the World Cup host nations.