The biggest sporting event of 2026 kicked off with a scene that looked more like a disaster drill than a celebration. Fans and media attempting to enter MetLife Stadium for the FIFA World Cup final on July 19 were met with what can only be described as organized chaos.
FIFA’s blockchain bet meets real-world logistics
On June 9, 2026, FIFA announced Kraken as its Official Crypto Exchange Supporter, the first time a crypto platform has ever held that title at a World Cup. Kraken’s role centered on fan education around digital assets, essentially using the world’s most-watched sporting event as a crypto onboarding funnel.
FIFA’s own NFT platform, FIFA Collect, built on the Avalanche network, generated over $25 million in sales and created more than 85,000 blockchain addresses as of mid-June 2026. The platform handles NFT ticketing alongside digital collectibles.
The crypto infrastructure running behind the scenes
