Kraken Becomes First Crypto Exchange Partner in FIFA World Cup History

The 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule has been unveiled, featuring a significant expansion from 32 to 48 teams. The tournament will take place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with an increased number of matches.

This marks the first time that cryptocurrency exchange Kraken has partnered with FIFA as the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter for the World Cup. This historic moment signals the growing intersection of sports and cryptocurrency.

Kraken's sponsorship is not alone in its pursuit of World Cup relevance, as Chiliz, a blockchain platform behind the CHZ token, will provide fan tokens for national teams through its Socios.com platform. These tokens allow fans to engage more deeply with their favorite teams by participating in decisions and accessing exclusive content.

The increased number of teams and matches is expected to magnify the volatility associated with fan tokens, driven by factors like match results and roster changes.