The FIFA World Cup 2026 is barely underway, and crypto markets are already treating it like a Super Bowl that lasts six weeks. As Czechia prepares to face South Africa in a Group A match on June 18 in Atlanta, the real scoreboard for digital asset enthusiasts sits elsewhere: prediction market volumes tied to the tournament have surpassed $2 billion.
Kraken takes the pitch
On June 9, 2026, Kraken was announced as FIFA’s first Official Crypto Exchange Supporter. That’s not a peripheral jersey patch deal. It’s a top-tier partnership category that puts a regulated US exchange at the center of the world’s most-watched sporting event.
For FIFA, the partnership represents a deliberate pivot. The organization’s previous crypto relationships were marred by association with firms that no longer exist. Choosing Kraken, a platform with deep liquidity and a longer track record, signals a more cautious approach to the space.
Prediction markets steal the show
