The 2026 World Cup has kicked off with a bang, and it's not just about the football. The tournament has become the most crypto-integrated sporting event in history, with three major blockchain partnerships woven into its fabric.
One of these partnerships is with Kraken, which was announced as the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter on June 9. Just days later, the real action began, and Vinicius Jr scored a crucial equalizer for Brazil against Morocco in their Group C opener at MetLife Stadium on June 13.
The 2026 edition of the World Cup has expanded to 48 teams and will run through July 19. Chiliz is supplying fan tokens for national teams, granting holders governance rights and exclusive access to experiences. Chainlink, meanwhile, is facilitating on-chain prediction markets for every single match.