Former Champions Dominate Semifinals at Historic 2026 FIFA World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached its semifinal stage, and for the first time in history, all four remaining teams have previously won the tournament. France, Argentina, England, and Spain will compete against each other, with Argentina leading the pack with three World Cup titles under their belt.

These nations account for eight World Cup titles combined, with Argentina holding a slight edge. The 2026 edition of the World Cup is also notable for being co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, marking the first time this has occurred in the tournament's history. The field size has also increased to 48 teams from the previous 32-team format.

Kraken, appointed as FIFA's Official Crypto Exchange Supporter on June 9, is heavily involved in the tournament. Kraken's activations include ticket giveaways and fan engagement programming, among other initiatives. Additionally, FIFA has integrated blockchain technology into its ticketing system, using the Avalanche network to issue digital collectibles and tokens.

The adoption of blockchain infrastructure allows for the creation of verifiable claims on tournament tickets. However, it is worth noting that no single official World Cup token has been issued by FIFA, instead relying on fan tokens tied to national team ecosystems, particularly those linked to Chiliz.