FIFA taps Kraken as official crypto partner for 2026 World Cup as Argentina prepares to face Cape Verde

FIFA taps Kraken as official crypto partner for 2026 World Cup as Argentina prepares to face Cape Verde The defending champions draw a historic underdog in the Round of 32 while FIFA deepens its blockchain commitments with Kraken and an Avalanche-based digital platform Share Add us on Google by Editorial Team Jun. 26, 2026 Argentina will face Cape Verde in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a matchup that pairs the tournament’s defending champions against a team making its first-ever appearance in the knockout stage. FIFA appointed Kraken as the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter of the 2026 World Cup on June 9, 2026.

It marks the first time a cryptocurrency exchange has held such a role at a World Cup. Cape Verde’s Cinderella run meets FIFA’s crypto ambitions The 2026 World Cup, running from June 11 to July 19 across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, features an expanded 48-team format, up from the previous 32. Advertisement The island nation advanced from Group H, a group that included Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia.

Cape Verde secured their passage with draws against both Uruguay and Spain. Projections give Argentina a 61% probability of facing Cape Verde in the Round of 32, with Saudi Arabia trailing at 25.6%.

Kraken breaks new ground as FIFA’s first crypto exchange partner The partnership arrives alongside another significant blockchain move from FIFA. The organization has migrated its digital collectibles platform, FIFA Collect, to a custom Avalanche-based blockchain. The platform, now running on what FIFA calls the “FIFA Blockchain,” is designed to support digital collectibles and ticketing features, with specific tools aimed at curbing ticket scalping and fraud.

What this means for crypto investors For tokens tied to fan engagement, CHZ, the token powering the Chiliz ecosystem and its Socios fan token platform, stands to benefit from heightened awareness around the intersection of crypto and sports fandom. The Avalanche ecosystem also deserves attention here. FIFA choosing an Avalanche-based chain for its collectibles and ticketing platform is a concrete enterprise use case.

The risk side is worth acknowledging too. The collapse of FTX torched its naming-rights deal with the Miami Heat’s arena. Crypto.

com’s $700 million Staples Center rebrand became an awkward reminder of bull-market excess. There’s also the question of timing. This deal lands during a World Cup cycle where Canada, Mexico, and the US each have distinct frameworks for digital assets, which could complicate how Kraken and FIFA Collect operate across venues.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy. SOCCER FIFA taps Kraken as official crypto partner for 2026 World Cup as Argentina prepares to face Cape Verde The defending champions draw a historic underdog in the Round of 32 while FIFA deepens its blockchain commitments with Kraken and an Avalanche-based digital platform by Editorial Team Jun.

26, 2026 Share Add us on Google Argentina will face Cape Verde in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a matchup that pairs the tournament’s defending champions against a team making its first-ever appearance in the knockout stage. FIFA appointed Kraken as the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter of the 2026 World Cup on June 9, 2026. It marks the first time a cryptocurrency exchange has held such a role at a World Cup.

Cape Verde’s Cinderella run meets FIFA’s crypto ambitions The 2026 World Cup, running from June 11 to July 19 across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, features an expanded 48-team format, up from the previous 32. Advertisement The island nation advanced from Group H, a group that included Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia. Cape Verde secured their passage with draws against both Uruguay and Spain.

Projections give Argentina a 61% probability of facing Cape Verde in the Round of 32, with Saudi Arabia trailing at 25.6%. Kraken breaks new ground as FIFA’s first crypto exchange partner The partnership arrives alongside another significant blockchain move from FIFA.

The organization has migrated its digital collectibles platform, FIFA Collect, to a custom Avalanche-based blockchain. The platform, now running on what FIFA calls the “FIFA Blockchain,” is designed to support digital collectibles and ticketing features, with specific tools aimed at curbing ticket scalping and fraud. What this means for crypto investors For tokens tied to fan engagement, CHZ, the token powering the Chiliz ecosystem and its Socios fan token platform, stands to benefit from heightened awareness around the intersection of crypto and sports fandom.

The Avalanche ecosystem also deserves attention here. FIFA choosing an Avalanche-based chain for its collectibles and ticketing platform is a concrete enterprise use case. The risk side is worth acknowledging too.

The collapse of FTX torched its naming-rights deal with the Miami Heat’s arena. Cryp