The 2026 FIFA World Cup has a round-of-16 matchup that cuts across two of the world’s most crypto-curious fan bases. Brazil faces Japan on June 29 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, with kickoff set for 1:00 PM ET. Both nations made it through the group stage, and now the stakes are higher in more ways than one.
FIFA went official with crypto this time
On June 9, FIFA named Kraken the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter of the 2026 World Cup. The partnership is designed to build crypto awareness among fans across North America and Europe, two regions where the tournament is being hosted.
FIFA Collect, the governing body’s NFT platform, has also migrated to an Avalanche-based EVM-compatible chain, positioning blockchain collectibles as a core part of the fan experience rather than an afterthought.
The numbers behind the fan frenzy
