The 2026 FIFA World Cup opened on June 11 in Mexico City with Mexico beating South Africa 2-0 at the iconic Estadio Azteca. Pre-Hispanic cultural celebrations set the tone inside the stadium. Shakira performed. Salma Hayek was in attendance. Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum was there too. Outside, roughly 18,000 protesters blocked access routes and clashed with police near fan zones, demanding justice for approximately 130,000 missing persons across the country. And quietly, in the background of all of it, crypto made its most significant entrance into mainstream global sports.
Kraken becomes FIFA’s first official crypto exchange supporter
Two days before kickoff, on June 9, Kraken was announced as FIFA’s first-ever Official Crypto Exchange Supporter. FIFA, the governing body of the world’s most popular sport, has never before partnered with a cryptocurrency exchange at the World Cup level.
Crypto integrations at this World Cup include fan tokens, prediction markets, and limited-edition NFTs designed to create new forms of fan engagement. The South African Football Association launched its own fan token, $SAFA, on May 21 through a partnership with Chiliz, the blockchain platform behind the Socios fan engagement ecosystem. Avalanche’s infrastructure was also reportedly involved in the digital transformation of fan interactions throughout the tournament.
