Japan and Sweden face off today in a Group Stage match that could determine both teams’ fates at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But for the crypto market, the real action is happening off the pitch.
The expanded 48-team tournament, the largest in World Cup history, has become an unexpected accelerant for fan tokens, prediction markets, and a freshly minted partnership between FIFA and one of the industry’s biggest exchanges.
Kraken scores FIFA’s first crypto deal
On June 9, 2026, Kraken was named the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. That makes it the first crypto exchange to hold such a designation with global football’s governing body.
The partnership includes promotional campaigns and fan engagement initiatives, with ticket giveaways for the World Cup final among the headline perks.
