The 2026 FIFA World Cup gets rolling on June 11 when South Korea takes on Czechia at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico, with kickoff set for 10:00 p.m. ET. It’s the second match of opening day, following co-host Mexico against South Africa earlier that afternoon.
The biggest World Cup ever, built for digital engagement
This edition marks a historic expansion from 32 to 48 teams, spread across three host nations: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
FIFA has been leaning into that opportunity. Its FIFA Collect NFT platform, which lets fans purchase and trade digital memorabilia tied to tournament moments, migrated to a new blockchain built on Avalanche technology in mid-2025. The move was designed to improve scalability and compatibility, two persistent pain points that plagued earlier NFT platforms during high-traffic sporting events.
Chiliz and fan tokens: the crypto play hiding in plain sight
