Kylian Mbappé and XQC (Image via Getty)
Streamer xQc was briefly suspended from Twitch after showing a five-second clip of French soccer star Kylian Mbappé during a live stream. The clip came from France’s 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Iraq and resulted in a DMCA copyright strike that was reportedly lifted by FIFA.
According to xQc, the suspension was temporary and lasted between 24 and 48 hours. He explained that Twitch took measures to prevent further copyright issues while reviewing the claim.
Why did Kylian Mbappé’s World Cup clip lead to xQc being shut down on Twitch?
The incident was revealed after xQc addressed the situation during a broadcast on Kick. Speaking to viewers, he said the problem started when he briefly showed highlights featuring Kylian Mbappe from the currently ongoing World Cup.“The DMCA is because of the Mbappé clip. It was like five seconds. FIFA claimed that. I think it’s a 24 to 48 hour suspension,” xQc said during the broadcast.According to him, the clip was originally circulated on X, formerly Twitter. Even though it was only shown for a few seconds, Twitch still enforced its copyright rules after receiving the claim.The comment quickly became a topic of discussion across the live streaming communities.
Many viewers were surprised that such a short clip of footage could lead to enforcement action. However, copyright systems on major platforms often work on the basis of ownership rights rather than the length of the clip being viewed.
xQc reaction, FIFA copyright claim and reports from Dexerto
Reports from Dexerto and Sportskeeda later supported xQc’s account of what happened. Both outlets reported that the temporary suspension was related to Mbappe’s spotlight in the France-Iraq World Cup match.The situation was also discussed on Reddit, where users shared clips of xQc explaining the ban and debated how copyright rules apply to live streaming. Many commentators noted that sports broadcasts are highly protected and that platforms usually act quickly when copyright holders file claims.At this point, there is no indication that xQc faces any longer suspension. His own comments indicate that the action was a short-term action specifically related to a DMCA claim involving footage owned by FIFA.This case has once again highlighted the challenges that streamers face when interacting with live sporting events. Even a few seconds of official match footage can lead to copyright enforcement if the rights holder decides to take action.