The people who decide the outcome of the biggest sporting event on the planet don’t know if they’re working until roughly 24 to 48 hours before kickoff. That’s the reality for referees at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the expansion to 48 teams has created an officiating challenge unlike anything the tournament has seen before.
And in a development that directly concerns the crypto industry: Kraken was named the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter of the FIFA World Cup on June 9, marking the first major crypto sponsorship in the tournament’s history.
104 matches, 170 officials, and a whole lot of pressure
The 2026 World Cup, running from June 11 to July 19 across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, is a logistical beast. The jump from 32 to 48 teams means 104 matches need to be officiated. FIFA’s solution: assemble a pool of 170 officials, broken down into 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video assistant referees.
Officials typically learn about their assignments just 24 to 48 hours before a match.
