While FIFA rolls out its crypto exchange partnership with Kraken for the 2026 World Cup, the actual fan experience on the ground looks nothing like a Web3 activation. In Tripoli, Lebanon, crowds gathered to watch Brazil play, cheering in a scene that could have taken place in 1994 or 2006. No fan tokens, no NFT ticket stubs, no QR codes for wallet sign-ups. Just people watching football together.
Why Lebanon loves Brazil, and what it tells us about fan markets
Brazil is home to the world’s largest Lebanese diaspora community. That demographic reality has created a multi-generational loyalty to the Brazilian national football team that stretches across continents and decades. Lebanese fans have organized Brazil-supporting events during previous World Cup tournaments, including the 2014 and 2018 editions.
Brazil’s matches have generated significant interest and organized watch parties both in Lebanon and across diaspora communities worldwide. New York Times correspondent Abdi Latif Dahir visited one such gathering in Tripoli, capturing the scene of a community united by sport rather than speculation.
The Tripoli watch party had zero cryptocurrency elements. No tokens, no NFTs, no blockchain integrations of any kind.
