Christian Karembeu won the World Cup with France in 1998. He knows what a winning setup looks like. And after watching the United States men’s national team navigate a home World Cup run before falling to Belgium in the Round of 16, he came away impressed enough to suggest a USMNT final appearance in 2026 is not out of the question.
That kind of endorsement carries weight. It also arrives at a moment when the 2026 tournament, co-hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is shaping up to be something well beyond a soccer event.
The tournament as a market event
The 2026 World Cup is the first edition to feature 48 teams, up from the traditional 32. More teams means more matches, more fans, and, as it turns out, more crypto infrastructure than any FIFA tournament has seen before.
On June 9, 2026, Kraken was named FIFA’s first-ever Official Crypto Exchange Supporter. That title is not honorary. It positions Kraken as the primary gateway for fans looking to buy, sell, or hold digital assets during a tournament expected to draw a global audience in the billions.
