The FIFA World Cup 2026 is officially underway, and the expanded 48-team tournament runs from June 11 to July 19 across 16 venues in the US, Canada, and Mexico, featuring 104 matches.
New ceremonies, new digital rails
FIFA debuted new 360-degree pre-match ceremonies for this tournament, designed to create immersive, interactive stadium experiences.
FIFA Collect, the organization’s platform for digital collectibles, migrated to the FIFA Blockchain built on Avalanche technology in mid-2025. That migration matters because it signals FIFA’s commitment to owning its blockchain infrastructure rather than renting it, with the shift to Avalanche providing faster transaction speeds and lower costs.
Chiliz lights fan tokens on fire. Literally.
