The 2026 FIFA World Cup opens on June 11 at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, with co-host Mexico facing South Africa in a rematch of the 2010 edition’s opening fixture.
Kraken was named the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 9, with tournament activations rolling out across 16 host cities in Mexico, Canada, and the United States starting June 10.
Crypto’s World Cup playbook
Chiliz, the blockchain platform behind fan tokens for clubs like FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, partnered with the South African Football Association (SAFA) to launch a fan token on May 21. That means South Africa’s national team, Bafana Bafana, now has a blockchain-powered engagement layer for its supporters heading into the tournament.
Fan tokens typically give holders voting rights on minor club decisions, access to exclusive content, and gamified rewards. Chiliz has been building this niche for years, and a World Cup stage is about as high-profile a proving ground as it gets.
