Spain just knocked France out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a clinical 2-0 semi-final victory, and an 18-year-old Barcelona defender named Pau Cubarsi became the internet’s main character overnight. A childhood photo of the 2007-born prodigy, round-cheeked and blue-eyed at about four years old, went viral across social media within hours of the final whistle.
Crypto’s front-row seat at the World Cup
Kraken secured the title of Official Crypto Exchange Supporter of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 9, 2026. That made it the first crypto exchange to hold such a designation for FIFA’s flagship event, a tournament running from June 11 through July 2026 across venues in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Fan tokens and the Cubarsi effect
Chiliz, through its Socios.com platform, operates fan tokens for various national football teams and major clubs. The fan token market reached a capitalization of $3.8 billion in 2025, according to industry projections. That same forecast estimates the sector could balloon to roughly $19 billion by 2034.
