The 2026 FIFA World Cup opens today with Qatar taking on Switzerland at 12pm local time, and for the first time in the tournament’s history, blockchain infrastructure is embedded across multiple layers of the fan experience. From the official crypto exchange partnership to on-chain prediction markets, this is not a logo-on-a-banner deal. It is operational integration.
Kraken was named the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter of the 2026 World Cup on June 9, targeting fan engagement across North America and Europe. That makes it the headline crypto brand for what FIFA is billing as the largest World Cup ever staged, spanning venues across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
What’s actually on-chain this time
FIFA Collect, the organization’s digital asset platform for NFTs and collectibles, will run on Avalanche as its Layer-1 blockchain. That is a meaningful upgrade from previous iterations, moving to an EVM-compatible chain that supports faster, more interactive user experiences around ticketing and digital engagement.
Separately, Chainlink is powering official prediction markets through a partnership with ADI PredictStreet. This gives fans an on-chain mechanism to engage with match outcomes, a use case that has historically driven significant transaction volume during major sporting events.
