The 2026 FIFA World Cup opens today with Canada facing Bosnia and Herzegovina at BMO Field in Toronto, marking the first time Canada has ever hosted a men’s World Cup match on home soil. But for crypto watchers, the real story isn’t the starting lineup. It’s the sponsor sheet.
Kraken was announced as the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter of the tournament on June 9, just three days before kickoff. FIFA’s blockchain collectibles platform runs on Avalanche. And Chiliz-powered fan tokens are giving national teams a new way to monetize their fanbases.
What’s actually happening on the blockchain
FIFA Collect, the governing body’s digital collectibles platform, operates on the Avalanche network. The platform issues “Right-to-Buy” NFTs that grant holders access to ticket purchases and exclusive digital memorabilia. FIFA has already sold thousands of these Right-to-Buy NFTs through its platform, creating a parallel economy around tournament access that didn’t exist four years ago.
Then there’s the prediction market angle. An official partnership with ADI Predictstreet, built on ADI Chain, introduces blockchain-based forecasting for match outcomes.
