Morocco needed all of 120 seconds to make Scotland’s World Cup campaign significantly harder. Ismael Saibari found the net in the 2nd minute of their Group C clash at Boston Stadium on June 19, assisted by Brahim Díaz, sending shockwaves through prediction markets and sportsbooks alike.
Prediction markets are having their moment
Crypto prediction markets tracking the 2026 World Cup have already surpassed $2 billion in total volume. The outright winner market alone accounts for more than $1.7 billion of that figure. Forecasts suggest the full tournament could drive between $3 billion and $10 billion in additional crypto prediction market volume before the final whistle blows.
Crypto infrastructure is baked into this World Cup
Kraken was named FIFA’s first Official Crypto Exchange Supporter on June 9, just ten days before Morocco’s opener against Scotland. That deal marked the first time FIFA formally partnered with a cryptocurrency exchange. Avalanche is providing blockchain infrastructure support for various tournament-related applications, while Chiliz, through its Socios.com platform, continues to power fan tokens for select participating teams. Socios.com now offers governance-adjacent features that let token holders vote on minor club decisions, access exclusive content, and participate in reward programs.
