Morocco just made history. The Atlas Lions dismantled Canada 3-0 in the Round of 16 on July 5, becoming the first African team to reach consecutive World Cup quarterfinals. They’ll face France on July 9 in what promises to be one of the tournament’s marquee matchups.
Kraken’s World Cup moment
On June 9, Kraken became FIFA’s Official Crypto Exchange Supporter. That’s not just a fancy title. It’s the first time a crypto exchange has ever secured an official sponsorship deal with the World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup features 48 teams, the largest edition in the tournament’s history. More teams means more games, more broadcast hours, and more sponsor impressions than any prior edition.
FIFA’s previous crypto experiment was decidedly more modest. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar featured Algorand-powered NFTs. The shift from collectible NFTs to a full exchange sponsorship tells you everything about where the industry thinks the real opportunity lies: not in digital collectibles, but in onboarding fans directly into trading.
