The biggest sporting event on the planet is about to double as crypto’s most visible mainstream stage. The 2026 FIFA World Cup, running from June 11 to July 19 across 16 venues in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, will feature 48 teams playing 104 matches. That alone makes it historic, the first World Cup co-hosted by three nations and the largest tournament format ever attempted.
Kraken was named the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter of the tournament on June 9, making it the first exchange-level sponsorship deal in FIFA’s history. The partnership includes fan activations across North America and Europe, positioning a crypto exchange alongside legacy sponsors that typically include automakers, banks, and soft drink companies.
Prediction markets, NFTs, and fan tokens take the field
Kraken’s deal is the headline, but it’s not the only crypto integration FIFA has lined up. ADI PredictStreet has been tapped as the first Official Prediction Market Partner for the World Cup, covering settlements on over 100 matches using Chainlink oracles to automate the process.
Fans can place predictions on match outcomes, and smart contracts handle the payouts automatically without a centralized intermediary deciding who gets what.
