FIFA and national broadcaster SBS are seeking details about pirate broadcasters of the World Cup, which are undermining their multimillion-dollar exclusive broadcast deal.

SBS's legal team is understood to be seeking details of numerous rogue operators live-streaming coverage of the World Cup from Europe and the Middle East into Australia. FIFA co-operates with exclusive rights holders on copyright breaches.

The World Cup has been a ratings winner for SBS, which has the rights to broadcast the year's biggest sporting event across television, radio and online.

A spokeswoman said its coverage had been ''incredibly successful and if a small number of people choose to pay for access through illegal means they are only doing themselves a disservice''.

SBS has not estimated the audience size it is losing to illegal broadcasts and has not said if it is worried about the viability of future exclusive broadcasts. But good money is on the line.