FIFA has handed Kraken the title of Official Crypto Exchange Supporter of the 2026 World Cup, making it the first partnership of its kind in the tournament’s 96-year history. The deal was announced on June 9, 2026, with activations rolling out the very next day as the global football spectacle prepared to commence across North America.
What the FIFA-Kraken deal actually involves
The partnership centers on fan education and cryptocurrency adoption, according to the announcement. Previous cycles saw fan token projects from the likes of Socios and Chiliz attempt to capture football audiences, but none secured an official FIFA-level partnership with an actual exchange.
The blockchain collectibles angle
While Kraken handles the exchange side, the intersection of football and blockchain extends further into the World Cup ecosystem. Panini, the iconic trading card company, has issued blockchain-based NFT trading cards for players in its 2025-26 La Liga Select collection. Among those featured is Pau Cubarsí, the 19-year-old Barcelona center-back who was named to Spain’s 26-man World Cup squad on May 25, 2026.
