The 2026 FIFA World Cup just hit its first major milestone. All 48 teams have now completed their opening matches, with matchday one wrapping up on June 18, 2026, and the updated power rankings tell a familiar story at the top: France, Argentina, and England are sitting in the driver’s seat.
The biggest World Cup ever, and crypto has a front-row seat
This is the first World Cup in history to feature 48 teams, up from the traditional 32-team format. FIFA’s answer to fan demand includes blockchain. The organization’s FIFA Collect platform operates on the Avalanche Layer-1 network, handling both NFT collectibles and ticketing tools specifically designed to combat scalping.
On June 9, 2026, Kraken was announced as the official crypto exchange supporter of the tournament. No new FIFA-issued tokens have launched for this tournament. The organization appears to be focusing on utility, ticketing and collectibles, rather than spinning up speculative assets.
On the pitch: early power rankings and debut nations
