The 2026 FIFA World Cup hasn’t even reached its second week, and crypto is already all over it. Kraken was announced as FIFA’s Official Crypto Exchange Supporter on June 9, making this the first World Cup in history to carry an official crypto sponsorship.
The sponsorship comes as the expanded 48-team tournament kicks into high gear, with Group A action including a Czechia vs. South Africa matchup scheduled for June 18 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with a 12:00 p.m. ET kickoff.
Crypto’s creep into the beautiful game
Chiliz, the blockchain platform that powers fan tokens for major football clubs, has established itself as the dominant player in the sports engagement space. Teams like Argentina and Portugal already have active fan tokens that let supporters vote on minor club decisions, access exclusive content, and generally feel like they’re part of something beyond just watching from the couch.
Then there’s FIFA Collect, the organization’s digital collectibles platform built on Avalanche’s blockchain. Think of it as FIFA’s answer to NBA Top Shot, offering officially licensed digital memorabilia tied to tournament moments. Avalanche provides the underlying infrastructure, which means every collectible transaction runs on a public blockchain rather than sitting in some opaque corporate database.
